Werkstuk: A SHORT HISTORY OF LONDON
A SHORT HISTORY OF LONDON
London was founded by the Romans around AD 43 by Claudius, and the Roman town occupied roughly the same area as the “square mile”of the “City” today. The Romans built their town here as it was the furthest point up the Thames that ships could easily reach on the tide, and the geological conditions also meant that the river could be bridged here too.
The Romans were temporarily removed when Queen Boudicca sacked their town in AD 60. However, the Romans returned and strengthened their settlement with a wall about 2 miles in perimeter, 20 feet high and 9 feet thick.
The Roman wall still was large enough to contain the city 1000 years later, when William the Conqueror arrived in the town, fresh from his victory at the Battle of Hastings. By now the city of Westminster was developing to the west of the City of London. Edward the Confessor has built his palace there and had established Westminster Abbey.
William the Conqueror set about building a great castle, the Tower of London. The White Tower, in the centre of the present complex, is the oldest and most impressive building from this period. In its time it has been a fortress, palace and prison. It has seen many famous prisoners and many executions.
By 1616 London was a busy capital city. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre had recently opened. Most of the buildings were made of wood. And being made of wood was the problem when a baker’s oven overheated in Pudding Lane on 2nd September 1666. The fire quickly spread. The fire lasted five days and almost destroyed the city. Only 4 people were killed, but 13,000 houses were destroyed. And a new law was immediately passed decreeing that all new buildings had to be in stone or brick! And by the late 17th century an entirely new city had arisen on the site of the old. Christopher Wren played a large role in rebuilding the city. He designed more than 51 churches, including St. Paul’s Cathedral.
London’s population now started to grow rapidly. In the 19th century London began a period of extraordinary growth. The area of present day Greater London had about 1.1 million people in 1801 and by 1901 it increased to 6.6 million. London became the capital of the British Empire.
Many buildings of central London were destroyed or damaged in air raids during World War II. These include the Guildhall; No. 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s residence; the Inns of Court; Westminster Hall and the Houses of Parliament and many more historical buildings.
Development has continued in the 80s and 90s with some, but not many skyscrapers. London has remained more immune to this form of development than most modern cities.
CITY OF LONDON
The City of London refers to the “square mile”or the original area of the walled town. Credit for this foundation is given to the Roman General Aulus Plautius in AD 43. He bridged the Thames, started the town, and in a few years it was a great trading centre. Boudicca and her warriors destroyed it in AD 60, but the town was soon rebuilt. It continued to be an important town for the next 1000 years, and after the Norman conquest, became the capital of England.
In fact the capital developed with two centres:
? Westminster - the political centre
? The City - as the merchant or trading centre
The Great Fire in 1666 destroyed 13,000 houses in the old town, but gave a marvellous opportunity for rebuilding – note particularly ST Paul’s Cathedral. The area continued to develop as a financial centre of the world.
Bombing destroyed
London was founded by the Romans around AD 43 by Claudius, and the Roman town occupied roughly the same area as the “square mile”of the “City” today. The Romans built their town here as it was the furthest point up the Thames that ships could easily reach on the tide, and the geological conditions also meant that the river could be bridged here too.
The Romans were temporarily removed when Queen Boudicca sacked their town in AD 60. However, the Romans returned and strengthened their settlement with a wall about 2 miles in perimeter, 20 feet high and 9 feet thick.
The Roman wall still was large enough to contain the city 1000 years later, when William the Conqueror arrived in the town, fresh from his victory at the Battle of Hastings. By now the city of Westminster was developing to the west of the City of London. Edward the Confessor has built his palace there and had established Westminster Abbey.
William the Conqueror set about building a great castle, the Tower of London. The White Tower, in the centre of the present complex, is the oldest and most impressive building from this period. In its time it has been a fortress, palace and prison. It has seen many famous prisoners and many executions.
By 1616 London was a busy capital city. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre had recently opened. Most of the buildings were made of wood. And being made of wood was the problem when a baker’s oven overheated in Pudding Lane on 2nd September 1666. The fire quickly spread. The fire lasted five days and almost destroyed the city. Only 4 people were killed, but 13,000 houses were destroyed. And a new law was immediately passed decreeing that all new buildings had to be in stone or brick! And by the late 17th century an entirely new city had arisen on the site of the old. Christopher Wren played a large role in rebuilding the city. He designed more than 51 churches, including St. Paul’s Cathedral.
London’s population now started to grow rapidly. In the 19th century London began a period of extraordinary growth. The area of present day Greater London had about 1.1 million people in 1801 and by 1901 it increased to 6.6 million. London became the capital of the British Empire.
Many buildings of central London were destroyed or damaged in air raids during World War II. These include the Guildhall; No. 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s residence; the Inns of Court; Westminster Hall and the Houses of Parliament and many more historical buildings.
Development has continued in the 80s and 90s with some, but not many skyscrapers. London has remained more immune to this form of development than most modern cities.
CITY OF LONDON
The City of London refers to the “square mile”or the original area of the walled town. Credit for this foundation is given to the Roman General Aulus Plautius in AD 43. He bridged the Thames, started the town, and in a few years it was a great trading centre. Boudicca and her warriors destroyed it in AD 60, but the town was soon rebuilt. It continued to be an important town for the next 1000 years, and after the Norman conquest, became the capital of England.
In fact the capital developed with two centres:
? Westminster - the political centre
? The City - as the merchant or trading centre
The Great Fire in 1666 destroyed 13,000 houses in the old town, but gave a marvellous opportunity for rebuilding – note particularly ST Paul’s Cathedral. The area continued to develop as a financial centre of the world.
Bombing destroyed