Buckingham Palace began as a relatively modest mansion in the early 17thC. It evolved and grew in the following two centuries, with Queen Victoria the first monarch to take up residence. Read the history of the palace here thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/buckingham-pal…
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For almost 10 years from 2001, Brian Haw staged a highly visible daily one-person protest in Parliament Square against UK and US policies and the wars in Iran and Afghanistan. He died in 2011 and this small statue was erected at Lambeth Road, facing the Imperial War Museum.
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In the early 19th century London's water companies formed an illegal cartel. They reduced their costs and increased prices, to the benefit of their shareholders and detriment of consumers. Read about it here thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-water-…
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The riverside Mayflower pub at Rotherhithe is named after the ship that began its voyage from there in 1620 to carry the Pilgrim Fathers to New England. The current building dates from the 17thC but stands on the site of the 16thC Shippe tavern.
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The Virginia Company of London played a brief but important role in the founding of English colonies in North America. Read here about the Virginia Company thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-virginia-c…
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With the population of West Ham increasing rapidly in the second half of the 19thC, this pumping station opened to pump local sewage up to the higher level of Joseph Bazalgette's Northern Outfall Sewer, using two beam engines. It fell out of use but is currently being restored.
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Today in 1605 the Gunpowder Plot conspirators met to make final plans to assassinate King James I. Read here about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-gunpowder-…
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The world’s first regular high-definition television service began from Alexandra Palace today in 1936. Read the history of Alexandra Palace palace thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/alexandra-pala…
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All Jews were forced by Edward I to leave England today in 1290 or face death. Read here about the Jews of medieval London and their expulsion from the country. thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-jews-of-me…
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The foundation stone of the original Blackfriars Bridge was laid today in 1760 by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Thomas Chitty. Remarkably, it was the first work of a young (and then unknown) Scotsman. Read here about the creation of the bridge thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-b…
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The coronation of Henry VII took place today at Westminster Abbey in 1485. To help legitimize his right to the crown Henry commissioned the abbey's incredible Lady Chapel. Read here about Westminster Abbey in the Tudor period thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/westminster-ab…
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These almshouses at Highgate were founded in the mid-17thC by merchant Sir John Wollaston for 6 men and 6 women of the parish of Hornsey. Rebuilt in 1722 by Sir Edward Pauncefort for 12 women, with a school added for girls. Now merged into larger sheltered homes for the elderly.
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Today in 1647 the Putney debates began between Oliver Cromwell and the army commanders and the rank and file of the New Model Army. Read here about London and Parliament following the defeat and imprisonment of Charles I thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/towardstheseco…
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By the 19thC the churchyards of the City were overflowing, bodies buried on top of others. Land owned by the 2nd Duke of Wellington at Manor Park was purchased and the City of London Cemetery opened for new burials. Many remains from City churchyards have also been reinterred.
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The London-born artist William Hogarth died at his home at Leicester Square today in 1764. Read here about his life thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/william-hogart…
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The St. Katharine Docks were opened today in 1828. To create them 11,000 people were displaced from their homes and an ancient and historic church destroyed. Read here about the creation of the St. Katharine Docks thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-katharines-…
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The opulent Dudley House is one of the last surviving grand houses on Park Lane. It was rebuilt for the Earl of Dudley in the 1820s, replacing the former house of the Earls of Dudley that was acquired by the family in the 1740s. It remains as a private residence.
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The East India Docks were opened at Blackwall in East London in 1806 for ships bringing tea, spices, silk and other goods from the Far East. Read the history of the East India Docks here thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-east-india…
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This wall survives from the notorious Marshalsea Prison at Borough in South London, which closed in 1842. The father of Charles Dickens was imprisoned there in 1824 and it features in two of his books, David Copperfield and Little Dorrit.
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Fulham Palace, beside the Thames in West London, was the home of the Bishops of London for almost 1,300 years. Read the history of the palace here thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-bishops-of…
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David Garrick, the most famous actor of his time, made his London stage debut today in 1741 at Goodman’s Field Theatre playing his celebrated role of Richard III. Read here about the life of David Garrick thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/david-garrick/
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Bedford Square, east of Tottenham Court Road, was laid out in the 1770s on land owned by the Duke of Bedford to provide residences for London's upper middle class. The last house was completed in 1784. It remains as one of the capital's best-preserved and scenic garden squares.
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By serendipity, came across the statue of MP, journalist and activist John Wilkes in Fetter Lane today on his 299th birthday.
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Serious anti-German riots took place in Deptford today in 1914 following the outbreak of the First World War. Read here about London's thriving German community before the war thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-german-com…
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The Dorchester on Park Lane opened as a luxury hotel on the site of the former 19thC Dorchester House. It was built by Sir Robert McAlpine using the new steel and reinforced concrete method. It was opened in April 1931 by Lord Astor.
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Holborn Viaduct, and the street that passes across it, were constructed in the 1860s as part of a major road improvement scheme. It created a bridge over the River Fleet (which had already been covered over), to avoid the difficult descent or ascent of the sides of the valley.
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The oldest part of the Tower of London was initiated by William the Conqueror to guard against the hostile Saxon people of London. It was enlarged by various kings in later centuries. It has been a defence, menagerie, mint, prison, and secure storage of royal jewels and costumes.
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The earliest references to St. George the Martyr church at Borough date from the 12th century, long before George became patron saint of England. It was where London's aldermen welcomed Henry V following the Battle of Agincourt. The present building was completed in 1736.
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The first stone of the original Waterloo Bridge was laid today in 1811. The Italian sculptor Antonio Canova declared it worth visiting London just to witness the completed bridge. Read here about the original Waterloo Bridge thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-w…
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Today in 1874 a major explosion destroyed Macclesfield Bridge on the Regent's Canal. Read here about the creation of the Regent's Canal thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-regents-ca…
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In the 16thC a wide wall was created along the side of the Thames to protect the low-lying marshy area at Wapping from flooding. Wapping High Street developed on top of the wall, eventually lined with tall wharves and warehouses. Many have now been converted into apartments.
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The original Hammersmith Bridge was opened today in 1827. It was the first suspension bridge in the London area, something quite new at that time. Read here about the original Hammersmith Bridge. thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-h…
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During WW2 a bunker was constructed below Goodge Street tube station, completed in 1942, for use by the Allied forces, with this separate entrance in Chenies Street. Prior to D-Day it was used by the US Army Signal Corps (but not by General Eisenhower as is often stated).
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Milner Square at Islington was laid out between 1841 and 1850 to attract middle class residents who wished to live away from the dirty, noisy City. By the early 20thC the middle class families had moved away. In the 1970s Islington Council acquired the houses for regeneration.
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King Harold and his Saxon army rested in London today in 1066 before marching south for defeat at the Battle of Hastings. Read here about the Norman Conquest thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-norman-con…
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The Coroners Act was passed in 1887, ending the practice of carrying out post-mortems in public places such as pubs. The Westminster Coroners Court was constructed in 1893, with the foundation stone laid by the Duke of Westminster, serving a wide area of west London.
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In the 16thC London's Hyde Park was part of a network of Henry VIII's hunting grounds. It gradually became a private royal park where the aristocracy and affluent could parade and be seen. Read here about the playground of Tudor and Stuart monarchs thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/hyde-park-play…
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The Heal's furniture company was founded in 1810 by John Harris Heal. Eight years later it opened in Tottenham Court Road, where other furniture retailers were located, and in 1840 moved to this site.
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The Festival of Britain closed today in 1951. It was the big event in London that year, intended as 'a tonic for the nation' that had suffered years of war and rationing. Read about the Festival of Britain here thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-festival-o…
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The New River was opened today in 1613, bringing fresh water to London from Hertfordshire; and after 400 years it continues to do so. Read the history of the New River here thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-new-river-…
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A Second World War 'pillbox' can still be found at Putney Bridge station. It was one of many of these fortifications created to form a defensive ring around the capital in anticipation of an invasion.
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Staple Inn was established in the 14th century when it was known as le Stapledhalle, where merchants weighed and traded wool. In the 15th century the buildings became part of an Inn of Chancery for the legal profession. The part on what is now High holborn dates from 1585.
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Dramatic and sometimes violent events took place in Westminster Abbey during the Middle Ages, while Henry III began the construction of a magnificent new building that was to take two centuries to complete. Read here about the abbey in the Middle Ages thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/westminster-ab…
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The ideas of philosopher and social reformer Jeremy Bentham and his collaborators led to the modern police, prisons, and London's first university. His wish was for his body to be preserved after his death in 1832 and it remains on display within University College London.
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The Metropolitan Railway from Paddington to Farringdon was opened in 1863, the world's first underground railway. Read about it here thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-first-…
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Belgrave Square was created by Thomas Cubitt in the 1820s on the marshy 'Five Fields', land owned by the Grosvenor family, the Dukes of Westminster. It takes its name from the village of Belgrave in Cheshire near the Grosvenor's ancestral home.
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In 1887 the current Hammersmith Bridge replaced its predecessor, which had opened in 1827. That had been the first suspension bridge over the Thames, designed by William Tierney Clark. Sadly, the bridge is now closed to vehicle traffic due to structural problems.
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Henry FitzAilwin, the very first Mayor of London, remained in office until his death, today in 1212. Read about here about London's earliest mayor thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/henry-fitzailw…
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In 1935 Allen Lane and his brothers began re-publishing books as inexpensive paperbacks under the Penguin imprint from this office at Vigo Street, Mayfair. The books were initially sold through the Woolworths stores and revolutionised the reading habits of people in Britain.
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The completed London & Birmingham railway opened today in 1838, with its London terminus at Euston. Read here about London's first long-distance railway thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-earlie…
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The Marble Arch was designed by John Nash as a gate into Buckingham Palace and installed there in the 1830s. The palace was then remodelled and Marble Arch was removed to its current location at the north-east corner of Hyde Park.
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Isambard Kingdom Brunel died today in 1859 at his home at Duke Street, Westminster. Read here about the Thames Tunnel, one of his great achievements in London thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-thames-tun…
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Take a train between Wapping and Rotherhithe stations and you are travelling through the world's first (now oldest) tunnel under a river. It was constructed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and father Marc. The tunnel originally opened for pedestrians in 1843 and railway in the 1860s.
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In the 16th century English ships were trading in slaves, while at the same time Africans were living freely in London. Read here about England's early slave trade and Africans in Tudor London thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/africans-in-lo…
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Hatch End station originally opened in 1840 on the London & Birmingham Railway. It was rebuilt in 1911, and poet John Betjemen described it as "half-way between a bank and a medium-sized country house".
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Hatch End station originally opened in 1840 on the London & Birmingham Railway. It was rebuilt in 1911, and poet John Betjemen described it as "half-way between a bank and a medium-sized country house".
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London was re-established in the 10th century following centuries of abandonment after the Romans. Yet it remained under constant threat from Viking attack. Read here about London before the Norman conquest thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/saxons-and-vik…
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What appears to be a Victorian monument at the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Bucklersbury in the City of London is actually a ventilation shaft for the underground railway below. It dates from 1987 when the Docklands Light Railway was being contructed.
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William the Conqueror died at Rouen in France today in 1087, having ruled Normandy and England. Read here about London and Westminster during the Norman period thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/london-and-wes…
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Tomorrow I’ll be emailing the monthly newsletter with updates on my latest London history projects. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list there’s still time. Just click on this link and insert your name and email address thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/newsletter
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