18th April 2020
This blog was suggested by a special student, Ms Ngoc – thank you for the idea.
London is nearly 2 000 years old. It was founded by the Romans in about the year 50 (We say 50 AD or 50 CE), and the Romans built the first bridge across the River Thames.
The Romans built walls to protect the city, and parts of them can still be seen today:
A very important date in the history of the UK is 1066 – the Battle of Hastings, when the Normans, from France, beat the English and became the rulers.
Very near the Roman wall in the first picture is the Tower of London, built by the Normans:
The oldest part of the Tower was built in 1078, but it was continually expanded for the next three hundred years. The Crown Jewels are kept here:
Moving onto the Medieval period, we have St Bartholomew the Great Church, from 1123:
This church was used in the famous British film ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’
One of the most famous kings was Henry VIII (married six times). His father, Henry VII started the Tudor dynasty (1485 – 1603). The last Tudor was Queen Elizabeth I and under her rule, England started to become a world power. Explorers went to the USA, while at home Shakespeare was writing and acting.
This building, in the centre of London, is from the Tudor period.
The church of St Andrew Undershaft, built 1520 – 1535 with modern Gherkin building in the background.
The Stuarts were the next dynasty, from 1603 – 1714. England had a civil war, and in 1649 King Charles 1 was executed. This took place at the Banqueting House.
The Kings and Queens lived here from 1530 – 1698. The famous ceiling is by the painter Peter Paul Rubens.
A very well-known pub, The Olde Cheshire Cheese, is also from the Stuart period.
How would you like to have a drink here ? Many important writers such as Dr Johnson and Charles Dickens drank here.
Following the Stuarts, who came from Scotland, the Georgians from Germany became the monarch (king or queen). There is a lot of Georgian architecture surviving in London. Here are some examples:
One of the most famous, iconic London buildings is where the monarch now lives – Buckingham Palace
Britain was the first industrial nation, and under Queen Victoria, expanded her empire, including Australia, Canada, parts of Africa and India. The British love tea, so this was an important import. This ship, the Cutty Sark, was built in 1869 and was one of the fastest ships in the world. It is now a museum.
Warehouses had to be built next to the river to store all the goods from overseas. Some of these have been converted into modern offices or restaurants.
However, life was extremely hard for many people at this time. Low wages, hard work and unhealthy living conditions made life in London a constant struggle for survival. This has been captured by the art of Gustav Dore, the social writing of Henry Mayhew and the novels of Charles Dickens
By 1825, London had reached over one million people, and became the world’s most populated city for the next hundred years.
Now we start to get into the modern age. We see the arrival of motor vehicles, cars and buses.
From 1939 – 1945, Britain was at war with Germany. London suffered heavy bombing. This famous picture shows St Paul’s Cathedral, covered in smoke, but undamaged.
Society changed in the 1960s with new films, clothes, and of course, music. Carnaby Street became the place to go for clothes and to hang out and be seen.
London Today
London is a mixture of architectural styles, reflecting the different historical periods. As you walk around, you can sense the spirit of the millions of people who went about their lives, just as we do.
What buildings do you like most and can you tell me why
What time period appeals to you the most ?
Do you think you could live in London ?
Thay Paul's Notes 