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THE CITY OF LONDON
History
The City of London occupies one square mile in the middle of the capital. It once made up entire town of London, surrounded by the wall first built by Romans . The Romans also built a bridge over the Thames and there has been one in the same area ever since . The Roman Londinium grew up on the northern side of the bridge. In AD 61 the native Celtic tribe , led by Queen Boudicca, rose up against the Romans. They burnt down Londinium to the ground and killed most of its inhabitants. Roman armies eventually defeated Boudicca and Londinium was rebuilt. At the end of the fourth century AD the Roman Empire began to crumble and the Roman armies were recalled from Britain to defend Rome itself. Once they had left , tribes such as Angles, Saxons and Jutes invaded and settled in from Holland , Germany and Denmark . Together they are known as Anglo-Saxons. They were farming people who preferred living outside towns. For a while London probably lay in ruins , but it eventually developed again , partly because its position on the river was good for trading. In 1666 most of the City of London was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.
London Bridge
The home of the London Bridge is the Thames River, and a bridge has existed on the spot for at least the last 2000 years . The first bridge on record was constructed by the Romans, and since then many bridges have risen at the hands of various empires. London Bridge today remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in Britain as well as an icon for the City of London. London Bridge history records the building of a wooden bridge by the Romans about 2000 years ago. Historians suspect that the location was chosen for its relatively convenient access to the deeper ocean waters , as well as the excellent land conditions available for bridge building. The home of the London Bridge as it appeared in Roman times was in virtually the same spot as the home of the London Bridge today, suspended over the Thames River. The Romans were not the only people in London Bridge history to construct a wooden bridge. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Saxons were known to have built at least one, if not many (due to destruction by fire and other calamities) timber bridges. The first stone structure in London Bridge history was built in the 12th century and took 33 years to complete . King John was in power when the bridge was finally completed, and it was King John who had the idea to build houses on the bridge itself. The history of the London Bridge goes on to reflect that scores of houses and shops quickly built up on the bridge. The number of people residing on the bridge eventually became so high that the bridge became its own district in London. Each side of the now stone bridge also had a stone gatehouse. The South gatehouse was the site of a more gruesome period in the history of the London Bridge. A tradition of displaying the severed heads of traitors, impaled on tall spikes, was begun sometime in the 16th century. Heads were dipped in tar to provide protection from the elements , and at some point a collection of at least 30 heads was collected at the South gatehouse. Everyone from William Wallace of Scotland to Thomas Cromwell was displayed in the gatehouse, until the practice stopped in 1660 when King Charles II took power. Eventually, the houses on the bridge created a congestion that resulted in serious safety hazards. The houses and shops were no longer inhabited, and in the early 18th century a system of traffic was developed to maintain order on the busy structure. The mayor of London asked that bridge passengers travel in particular directions, creating the system of traffic that still remains in place in London today. The history of the London Bridge structure in place today began in 1967 and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on March 17th , 1973. The modern bridge has sleek lines and is adorned with red lights . Guests travelling to London may choose to make a stay at the London Bridge Hotel , or possibly visit the bridge Monument to the Great Fire of London or the Monument tube station . No matter how you choose to spend your time viewing the London Bridge, the contrast of a modern thoroughfare to the ancient bridges that it has replaced creates an intriguing tourist experience .
Tower Bridge
Disliked by most when constructed in 1894, the Tower Bridge has become a symbol of London. The Tower Bridge, named after its two impressive towers , is one of London's best known landmarks. This Victorian Bridge is now more than 100 years old. It was designed by Wolfe Barry and Horace Jones, and completed in 1894. The middle of the bridge can be raised to permit large vessels to pass the Tower Bridge. It used to be raised about 50 times a day, but nowadays it is only raised 4 to 5 times a week. The bridge is 60 meter (197 ft) long and its towers rise to a height of 43 meter. From the top of the towers, you have a great view on the centre of London. You can also visit the inside of the tower, where you can observe the original mechanism which used to raise the bridge.
Tower of London
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror to protect and control the city of London. When it was first built it lay within the old Roman City Walls. In the 13th century it was enlarged beyond those walls. Including the moat, it now covers 18 acres. The White Tower is the only remaining Norman building. Since successive monarchs have modified it and added to it, most of the architectural styles popular over the centuries can be found within The Tower's walls. The Tower has been used as fortress, a palace , and a prison . It has housed the Royal Mint, the Public Records, and the Royal Observatory. And from the 13th century until 1834 it housed the Royal Menagerie. For centuries it was the arsenal for arms and armour. And, since it is one of the strongest fortresses in England , it has guarded and continues to guard the crown jewels . The Tower was occupied as a palace by all the Kings and Queens down to James I. It was customary for each monarch to lodge in the Tower before his coronation and to ride in procession to Westminster through the city of London from the Tower. John Stow wrote during the reign of Elizabeth I, The Tower of London was "...a citadel to defend or command the city, a royal palace for assemblies or treaties, a prison of state for the most dangerous offenders; the only place of coinage for all England...The armoury for warlike provision; the treasury of the ornaments and jewels of the crown; and general conserver of the most records of the queen's courts of justice". In fact the Tower was no longer used as a royal residence, except before coronations, when Stow wrote those words. The Tudors had changed all that.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul's Cathedral has had an eventful history. The first records date from 604 AD, when Mellitus, Bishop of the East Saxons built the first wooden church on the summit of one of London's hills. At the end of the 7th century, it was built in stone by Erkenwald, Bishop of London. In 962 and 1087, the Cathedral was destroyed by fires, but each time it was rebuilt. By that time, it was one of the largest cathedrals in Europe . Rebuilding and extensions in the 13th and 14th century enlarged the cathedral even more. But disaster struck again on the night of the 2nd of September 1666, when the great fire of London destroyed 4/5th of all of London, wiping 13,200 houses and 89 churches, including the St. Paul's Cathedral off the map. In 1669 , Christopher Wren designed the so-called 'Great Model' for the new St. Paul's Cathedral. In this model, the cathedral was shaped like a Greek cross, with a portico, consisting of Corinthian columns, on the entrance. The model was topped by a striking large dome, the largest in the world after Michelangelo 's dome of the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The design was approved in 1675, but it took until 1711 before the Cathedral was finally finished .
Monument
The Monument was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London which broke out at Pudding Lane bakery on the 2nd of September, 1666. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and erected in 1677. The column of white stone is 62 metres high. Its highest is said to be the exact distance from the place where the fire started. At the top of the Monument there is a viewing platform from where one can have a great view of the City. There are 311 stairs inside the Monument which the visitors can climb to the top. Above the viewing platform, at the very top of the Monument, there is a brass ball covered with brass flames. At the pedestal of the Monument there is a stone relief depicting Charles II dressed in Roman costume helping Londoners to rebuild their city.
Barbican Centre
The Barbican takes its name from the ancient fortifications that used to surround the City. (A barbican is a watchtower that hangs upon a gate .) It remained an upper -class part of town for much of the 17th-century, but by Victorian times the working class had taken over. Due to its proximity to the docks, it suffered plenty of punishing raids in the Blitz – German bombs demolished a third of the buildings. When the armistice came in 1945 the area north of St. Paul’s resembled a square mile of rubble. The high cost of reconstruction work delayed the diggers for a decade, and it wasn’t completed until 1982. The resulting wash of concrete has been much derided down the years, but the original plans were of considerable note . They planned 2,000 apartments for 6,500 people – some in tower blocks over 400- foot high (the tallest in Europe at the time). They also included a Museum of London, the Guildhall School of Music, and a fully-featured arts centre. Very few of the finished buildings are pleasing to the eye – the complex is deathly grey and cramped , and it’s all too easy to get lost in a dreary world of concrete constructs. The ugly Barbican redeems itself when it comes to culture. The Museum of London has its buildings in the grounds , and you can catch concerts by the London Symphony Orchestra. A lively set of jazz , classical and contemporary pieces are played in the 2,000-seater concert hall. Contemporary art displays are held in The Curve, and the gallery on Level 3, and art-house movies are screened in the art centre’s three cinemas. They even have some stage- plays and shows in the Barbican Theatre . Tucked away amongst the block solid walls is St. Giles Cripplegate. It is one of the very few churches to survive both the Great Fire in 1666 and the Luftwaffe ’s bombs.
It is the jewel in the Barbican Centre’s concrete crown: Oliver Cromwell was married here in 1620 , and the grave of poet John Milton is hidden in the crypt.