london history facts

Between 1613 and 1754, a legal loophole meant that on-the-spot marriages could be carried out in an area surrounding the Fleet Debtors’ Prison known as the ‘Liberties of the Fleet’. Briefly used for magic-lantern shows, the Colosseum was demolished in 1874 or 1875, and is now covered by Cambridge Gate. Share your result in the comment section! Considering that it is perhaps the most famous theatre in the world, the original Globe had a surprisingly short – though highly eventful – existence. The history of London England was directly impacted by the continuous exchanges of power in the greater country as a whole. They even went as far as using a hawk to keep them at bay, which evidently turned out to be successful. – facts about this historic city…. Now with a population of over 8.9 million, the number of people living in London is larger than the number of people living in Austria. The (national) flag: Official name: London: Surface : It is hard to determine the exact surface of London. In 2003, London Mayor Ken Livingstone banned feeding them or selling feed near the square. The Olympic stadium in London is unique in that with 10,000 tons of steel used in construction it is one of the “lightest” in the world. And no, the reason for it is not to look good on pictures. When Euston station was first opened in 1837, its entrance was dominated by Euston Arch, which stood 70ft high and was supported by four Doric columns, to make it the largest arch in Great Britain. It was then sadly demolished in 1907, 91 years before construction started on the London Eye. Another for our facts about London, has to be the numerous famous people that have lived there. ), What To Consider When Paying For Student Accommodation, 7 Secluded and Secret Galleries to See in London, Information for Parents & Resident Welfare, 20 Interesting History Facts About London To Tell Your Friends. Possibly the most disturbing in our facts about London is that 1000 bodies apparently lie under Aldgate station, near Urbanest’s Tower Bridge property. It even found popularity among royalty, with both George II and George III visiting with their wives and children. Beginning their occupation of Britain under Emperor Claudius in ad 43, the Roman armies soon gained control of much of the southeast of Britain. Such as Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Sylvia Plath, Charles Dickens, Jimi Hendrix, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Florence Nightingale and 100’s of others. This is why it is such a heavily visited city, with over 17 million people flocking to London in 2014 alone, according to the BBC. The Tower of London is one of the city’s most famous historical landmarks, and has a fascinating history. Surprisingly, it is actually meant to go by the name ‘The Clock Tower’, while ‘Big Ben’ is the name of the bell. In fact, the 1908 event achieved another record in its own right. There is suspicion that some illicit matches took place, against the will of one or other of the parties, but judging from the number of unions made (estimated to be almost 250,000 in just 60 years up to 1753), it seems more likely that the ability to marry without parental consent might well have been the more common motivation. Such as Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Sylvia Plath, Charles Dickens, Jimi Hendrix, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Florence Nightingale and 100’s of others. The fashionable suburbs spread north along Tottenham Court Road and north west to the village of Paddington. Blue plaques now hang where these people lived. 1) The Romans first built London nearly 2000 years ago – but Boudicca, the queen of a Celtic tribe, burnt it to the ground a … Do you have any you’d add to the list? 2. Here are 10 Tower of London facts. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences, Sign up to our free newsletter to get the latest articles, podcasts and more. So there you have it, our favourite 7 facts about London that you’ve probably never heard before. The official website for BBC History Magazine, BBC History Revealed and BBC World Histories Magazine, Save 50% on a BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed subscription, How much do you know about the history of London? 2. London was home to many famous faces. In order for a person to become a black cab driver, they must complete a rigorous test called ‘The Knowledge’, which involves memorising every single street in the capital. From underground Roman streets and the invention of Chelsea buns, to impaled heads on London Bridge and the very first Globe theatre, here history writer and filmmaker Richard Guard reveals the forgotten landmarks and traditions of England's capital, In his book Lost London (Michael O’Mara Books, 2012), Guard reveals intriguing stories that lie beneath the city’s familiar streets, to take readers on a journey through London’s overlooked past. While living there, Ralegh was memorably drenched with beer by a servant who feared that his master had caught fire when he found him smoking. With over 2,000 years of history, London is bursting at the seams with stories of how we used to live in this wonderful city. Fascinating London History Facts . 10 things you (probably) didn’t know about the history of London. London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom London is the largest city in the United Kingdom. In the south the city spread to Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Walworth and Kennington. Everything you know about 17th-century London is wrong, 10 things you (probably) didn’t know about the Great Fire of London, The earthquakes that rocked Georgian London, From politics to pleasure gardens: the real history behind Poldark’s 18th-century London, 5 facts about Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, The Globe theatre fire of 1613: when Shakespeare’s playhouse burned down, A drink for the devil: 8 facts about the history of coffee, Coffee, plague and the Great Fire: the pleasures and perils of Restoration London, Accidental explosions: gunpowder in Tudor and Stuart London, Touring London with Shakespeare, Dickens and Oscar Wilde: 7 must-see literary landmarks. London is formed by two ancient cities – City of London and City of Westminster, both cities forming the region of Greater London 1. With rich history and culture, world class architecture and many captivating galleries and museums, London has something for everyone. Here are some interesting facts about London that are worth knowing: 1. An ideal place to make a settlement. Menu. Also known as Eleanor’s Cross, the original Charing Cross was erected by Edward I following the death of his wife of 36 years, Eleanor of Castile, in 1290. The Great Fire in 1666 devastated London. For comparison, the stadium is 75% lighter than its “big brother” in Beijing. Monument, the 203ft stone obelisk located 203 ft away from where the fire broke out, commemorates those who died. It was made like that so a mob can never surround it. As well as the 300 languages spoken in London, the amount of museums in the capital adds to the culture of this city. It was renamed the Stock Exchange in 1773. It went on to serve as residence to both Cardinal Wolsey and Anne Boleyn, and eventually became the home of Sir Walter Ralegh. As one of the most diverse cities in the world, London houses over 8 million residents, who collectively speak over 300 languages, including Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien and of course English. You will shortly receive a receipt for your purchase via email. Opened in 1599, the Globe played host to Shakespeare for 14 years, during which time he wrote many of his greatest works. Its proprietor, Richard Hand, decorated the interior with clocks and curious artefacts. The theatre was destroyed by fire in 1613 after its thatch was accidentally set alight by a cannon during a performance of Henry VIII. Shops and Markets . In fact, The Great Wheel earns this title. Table of Contents. Here, writing for History Extra, Guard lists 10 surprising facts about the history of London… 1 The origin of Charing Cross Also known as Eleanor’s Cross, the original Charing Cross was erected by Edward I following the death of his wife of 36 years, Eleanor of Castile, in 1290. 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