Neglect of Windsor Castle and It's Renovation

Illustration of Windsor in the 1700s

Throughout the 18^th Century, during the reigns of George I and George II, Windsor Castle experienced varying times of un-use and neglect. Both monarchs preferred other homes such as St. James’s, Kensington, or Hampton Court. These locations were more central to the city of London, as Windsor is more far removed (around 20 miles or so outside of the city). By staying close to the capital city of London, these monarchs claimed they were able to be more in tune with the latest social and political life of the city than they could have been at Windsor Castle. The early 1700s was a particularly important time in London’s history as The Bank of England was just founded in 1694.

Obviously, from long periods of little to no occupation from the royal family, Windsor Castle experienced some neglect and disrepair, as well as the apartments generally falling out of the trends of the time. Some of the apartments were offered to friends of the Crown, but it was largely un-used. Additionally, during this time, the castle was opened for wealthy tourists who wanted to tour the inside of the castle, until eventually the general public was also able to take tours of the grounds and property.

However, following the ascension of George III in 1760, this narrative changed. George III much rather preferred Windsor to any of the properties in London. He did some major renovations to the castle to help repair some of the aforementioned disrepair and outdated elements. He also purchased properties around Windsor such as the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, which became a hunting lodge and country retreat for the royal family. George III would often go out of his way to remain in Windsor as much as possible, and his admiration for the town was reflected back at him. During his reign at Windsor, the children of the town were often seen playing on the grounds of the castle and King George III and his wife were often seen around the town doing their shopping. His love of Windsor set the scene for Queen Victoria to use it as her primary residence in the following century.

Ditchfield, William Page. “Windsor Castle: History | British History Online.” Www.british-History.ac.uk, 1923, www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol3/pp5-29. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

McQuillian, Kate. “The Legacy of King George III - College of St George.” College of St George, 29 Jan. 2020, www.stgeorges-windsor.org/image_of_the_month/the-legacy-of-king-george-iii/. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Royal Collection Trust. “Visiting Windsor Castle through the Centuries.” Www.rct.uk, www.rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle/visiting-windsor-castle-through-the-cent.... Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Zatz, Sydney. “Windsor Castle: Its Origins as a Royal Residence - Royal Central.” Royal Central, 12 Mar. 2022, royalcentral.co.uk/features/windsor-castle-its-origins-as-a-royal-residence-173728/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

St. Paul's Cathedral and Its Audience

Because of The Great Fire in 1666 that destroyed approximately 13,500 houses and Old St. Paul’s Cathedral, and other priceless architecture, the 1700s were marked as a period of reconstruction and modernization of the previous medieval city. While the emphasis was placed on rebuilding the city, the displacement and new homelessness of London’s population were severe. Considering the fire occurred pre-insurance, a specific, The Fire Court, was designated for property disputes and financial hardships.  The Great Fire led to today’s insurance industry. The New St. Paul’s Cathedral was constructed by architect Christopher Wren and consultations with the church.  Today, it consists of baroque ornamentation with neo-gothic features such as Portland stone. The church reflected the shift from Catholicism to Protestantism. The church was completed in 1710. Wren oversaw the reconstruction of fifty-two churches In London, twenty-five of which have survived time. Inside the church there is a miniature and layout of Wren’s original design for the church as well as Wren’s gravestone which reads ‘ if you seek his memorial, look about you’. Wren experienced financial constraints for the rebuilding of the cathedral. Within the church, a Nigerian installation titled Still Standing by Victor Ehikhamenor rests next to a plaque that commemorates a British admiral that led the 1897 expedition to gather the African artifacts from the Benin Empire. Current discussion around the return of symbolic and stolen objects is debated, as the British have frequently sought out to control, displace, and capture artifacts from cultures/countries. Within the crypts of St. Paul, colonialism figureheads of the British Empire are housed. Including Horatio Nelson who frequented British occupied Honduras, Nicaragua, and Caicos Islands.  This erasure and blatant celebration of the horrors of colonialism is, personally, one of the most striking features the cathedral has to offer. What privilege it must have been to pillage sacred symbols for display in St. Paul’s, a church that took thirty years to finish construction outliving several generations of children as 74% of children died before the age of five in London during the 1700s(“The History…).St. Paul’s Cathedral remains a social and political hub for reformers to ideally create a greater London.

Davies, Sian. “Five Ways the Great Fire Changed London.” BBC News, BBC, 22 July 2016, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-36774166.

Jhala, Kabir. “Nigerian Installation in London's St Paul's Cathedral Provokes Debate around Restitution and Colonial Monuments.” The Art Newspaper - International Art News and Events, The Art Newspaper - International Art News and Events, 18 Feb. 2022, https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/02/17/nigerian-installation-in-lond....

“The History of London.” London's History, https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-early-georgian-london/3/.

St. Anne's Church Limehouse

St. Anne's Limehouse is a church in the Church of England built between 1714-1727 under the direction of an Act of parliament in 1711 (St. Anne's Limehouse). It was created as “St. Anne’s Limehouse” by the Limehouse Parish Act (1729) and officially consecrated in 1730 (Cryer). The idea was to serve a growing population of East London. Queen Anne, who had ordered the building of this church, decreed that the captains could register events that happened at sea since the church was not far from the River Thames. This same reason (being close to the Thames) is why the clocktower is the highest in London. Additionally, thanks to the special status afforded to this church as a registry of happenings on naval ships, it can fly the White Ensign of the British Navy all year round, which is a formal flag consisting of the Union Jack in an upper left corner and the St. George's cross (Munks). (This flag has a long history going back to the Tudors, which used to more colorful, but the colors changed to red, white, and blue. The White Ensign now looks the same as it did then, just that the cross is smaller in dimension (Jamieson, Zubova).)

At the time, England and Scotland had joined together as the Kingdom of Great Britain, so building a church means that the Anglicans can reach more people to proselytize. The church serving as a place for naval captains to register events that occurred on their ships also supports the fledgling British Empire, which would soon have its footholds in the Indian Subcontinent, West Africa, North America, and the Caribbean. The people working in Poplar would likely have been white ethnics (Irish, Italians, Eastern Europeans) or people of color (British History Online), and non-Protestants or non-Christians who would be doing domestic work (nannying, cooking, laundry), manual labor (building ships, unloading ships, etc.), or other types of labor that didn’t pay well, which entrenched the cycle of poverty into the East End.

Cryer, A.B. “St. Anne’s Limehouse Explained.” Everything Explained Today, n.d., https://everything.explained.today/St_Anne%27s_Limehouse/.

Jamieson, Kate. “History of the Naval Ensign.” The Trafalgar Way, 17 Oct. 2019, https://www.thetrafalgarway.org/blog/history-of-the-naval-ensign.

Munks, Holly. Photograph of St. Anne’s Limehouse, showing the clocktower. Poplarlondon.co.uk, n.d., https://poplarlondon.co.uk/st-anne-s-church-limehouse-history/.

Munks, Holly. “Watching over Limehouse: the secret history of St Anne’s Church.” Poplar LDN, 21 May 2024, https://poplarlondon.co.uk/st-anne-s-church-limehouse-history/.

"Pennyfields". Survey of London: Volumes 43 and 44, Poplar, Blackwall and Isle of Dogs. Ed. Hermione Hobhouse (London, 1994), British History Online. Web. 24 April 2025. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols43-4/pp111-113.

“St. Anne’s Limehouse.” St. Anne’s Limehouse [organization], n.d., https://web.archive.org/web/20141222162558/http://stanneslimehouse.org/history.html.

Zubova, Xenia. “The White Ensign: A brief history of the iconic Royal Navy flag.” Forces News, 2 Sep. 2022, https://www.forcesnews.com/services/navy/white-ensign-brief-history-iconic-royal-navy-flag.

The London Infirmary opens

London Hospital, 1888

Since its founding in the autumn of 1740, the Royal London Hospital, initially known as The London Infirmary and then The London Hospital, has been one of the most extensive charities of its kind. According to its website, its aim was “the relief of all sick and diseased persons and, in particular, manufacturers, seamen in the merchant service and their wives and children". As such, it gave much-needed aid to those who needed it the most, i.e. the lower-class individuals that often made their home in the Whitechapel area.
Originally, the hospital was run by a committee of "financial subscribers," but soon switched to a Court of Governors in which a house committee reported to. This would remain the same until 1948 with the founding of the NHS (National Health Service).
In 1990, in commemoration of its 250th anniversary, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted the hospital a royal title, thus making it the Royal London Hospital.
NHS Choices, NHS, https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/the-royal-london-our-history.

Chelsea Porcelain Factory Founded

Boucher, François. The Music Lesson. ca. 1765.

In the 18th century suburb of Chelsea, the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory created some of the finest pieces of British porcelain. The factory, founded by Frenchmen Nicholas Sprimont and Charles Gouyn, catered to wealthy Londoners. Being founded by two Frenchmen is symbolic of the large French population in the area, as many Huguenots chose to settle in the city and specifically in that area. Chelsea China was produced at 16 Lawrence Street, Chelsea from 1745 to 1784. The area of Chelsea was a fashionable area, a trait that would continue for the area’s history. Notions of class and wealth have proved to be key areas of discussion for much of the area’s history, as even today there is notable wealth inequality.
The production of porcelain was divided into three periods, each with their own markings, but without changes to the production methods. As their porcelain has become even more important, these markings have become more notable as well. The earliest period used a triangle, the symbol for fire, and many subsequent symbols were of anchors. The factory worked to improve their soft-paste porcelain, making many important improvements to the technical aspects of production. Many aspects of the porcelain were inspired by Japanese work as well, and their products were often compared to those from Japan with praise. However, influences from the continent were still strongly felt, as different styles were adopted during the different periods of the factory’s work. Rococo design elements and fine gilding are seen in many fine examples of figures or scenes, while some pieces are finely sculpted animals created as depictions of loved pets.
Eventually, the factory was sold to William Duesbury of Durby in 1770, which started the “Chelsea-Derby” or “Derby-Chelsea” period of the factory’s production. Later, the factory moved, and many molds were destroyed in the process.

Boucher, François. The Music Lesson. ca. 1765. The Met. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/203386. Accessed 18 April 2023.

“Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory: Finch: British, Chelsea.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/658952. Accessed 18 April 2023.
“Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory: The Music Lesson: British, Chelsea.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/203386. Accessed 18 April 2023.
“Chelsea Porcelain.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/art/Chelsea-porcelain. Accessed 18 April 2023.
“Collections Online: British Museum.” Collections Online | British Museum, https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG67142. Accessed 18 April 2023.
A History of the French in London. Edited by Debra Kelly and Martyn Cornick, School of Advanced Study, 2013, https://sas-space.sas.ac.uk/6460/1/FrenchLondonKellyCornick.pdf. Accessed 18 April 2023.
“Tobias Smollett: Novelist: Blue Plaques.” English Heritage, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/chelsea-china/. Accessed 18 April 2023.

Kenwood House is purchased by the 1st Earl of Mansfield

Kenwood House, estimated to have been originally built in 1616 and was home to the Earls of Mansfeild. It was later demolished and rebuilt by the Surveyor-General of the Ordnance, William Bridges and sold in 1704 and shifted many owners until the Earl of Mansfield, William Murray,  purchased it in 1754. In 1764, Murray commissioned Robert Adam to remodel the house for him. He added the most iconic and well-known area of the house: the library.  It was donated to the London City Council and opened to the public in 1927 as a museum of sorts. 

In mid-1790, the house was ransacked as part of the Gordon Riots. While most of the rioters just stole food, many items such as mirrors and paintings were ransacked as well. Murray and his wife fled the house during this time, which allowed the ransacking of the space. The Gordon Riots took place in London over several days to protest anti-catholic sentiments. The riots were a response to the Popery Act of 1698 which enforced stricter laws onto the British people. Kenwood was just one of the casualties of the Riots, as British Banks and Prisons were targeted too. 

After Murray’s death in 1793, Kenwood was inherited by his son, David Murray the 2nd Earl of Mansfeild. It was passed down for generations until the 6th Earl of Mansfielddecided to sell it in 1906 and leased it to the exiled Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia. It was finally bought in 1922 by the Kenwood Preservation council and opened to the public as it contains many historical and art pieces. 

Today, Kenwood still contains paintings like Self Portrait with Two Circles, by Rembrandt, along with many other classical pieces. It is currently under the ownership of the Friends of Kenwood and The English Heritage Trust. 

Work Cited

“Friends of Kenwood Archive .” Friends_of_Kenwood, 20 Oct. 2019, https://web.archive.org/web/20191020115019/http://www.friendsofkenwood.o.... Accessed 18 Feb. 2023.

“Kenwood.” English Heritage, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenwood/?utm_source=awi.... Accessed 18 Feb. 2023. 

“Kenwood House front with extensions.” 27 Nov. 2005 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kenwood_House_front_with_extensions_2005.jpg Accessed 18 Feb. 2023.

“Kenwood House (Iveagh Bequest), Non Civil Parish - 1379242: Historic England.” , Non Civil Parish - 1379242 | Historic England, https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1379242. Accessed 18 Feb 2023.

Opening of the London Tavern

Engraving of the London Tavern in 1809

            During the 18^th century, London was home to many coaching inns and taverns that served as places of rest for travelers. Bishopsgate and surrounding regions were ideal spots for such inns, as, upon the popularization of stagecoach travel in the 17^th century, travelers often entered through Bishop’s Gate, an old Roman entrance to the city (McLachlan). One notable inn from this period is the London Tavern, built in September 1768 on the former site of the White Lion Tavern, which had been destroyed in a fire three years prior. The London Tavern notably featured a large dining room with ornate Corinthian columns and other elaborate ornamentation. According to the contemporary account of John Timbs in his Club Life of London, Vol. II, this dining room could hold at least 300 dinner guests for banquets (274). Timbs also further elaborates on the tavern’s decoration, writing, “The walls are throughout hung with paintings; and the large room has an organ,” (274).

            Even shortly after its opening, the London Tavern was the site of numerous important meetings and events. In 1769, for instance, around 400 men formed the Society of the Supporters of the Bill of Rights in the London Tavern (Cash 249). The Society was dedicated to supporting John Wilkes, a controversial member of parliament who championed the individual rights of people associated with the American Revolution and who introduced the first ever motion in the House of Commons to allow for the voting rights of all adult males (Cash 2). Another London Tavern meeting of historical importance is that of the Revolution Society, a group sympathetic to the ideals of the French Revolution that celebrated the cause of the Glorious Revolution, which met in the tavern in 1789 shortly after the fall of the Bastille (Abstract of History 8).

            In the subsequent century, the London Tavern was also visited by Charles Dickens, who presided over a meeting there in 1841 for the benefit of the Sanatorium for Sick Authors and Artists, and who also attended another dinner there in 1851 for the General Theatrical Fund (“London Tavern”). The London Tavern also makes a direct appearance in Dicken’s novel Nicholas Nickleby (Dickens).

Abstract of the History and Proceedings of the Revolution Society, in London. Revolution

Society, 1790, https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_an-abstract-of-the-histo_revolution-society-lond_1790/mode/2up. Pamphlet.

Cash, Arthur H. John Wilkes: The Scandalous Father of Civil Liberty. Yale University Press,

2007.

Dickens, Charles. The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, 1839. Project Gutenberg, 2016.

Engraving of the London Tavern in 1809. Wikipedia, 1809.

https://d245m47bicpi64.cloudfront.net/_imager/files/Activities/Archives/46476/WR-3_36ec1335269ad97502c26586ba96154b.png. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

“The London Tavern.” The Worshipful Company of Bowyers,

https://www.bowyers.com/meetingPlaces_londonTavern.php. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

McLachlan, Sean. “Travel Through Time at England’s Coaching Inns.” British Heritage Travel,

10 Apr. 2023, https://britishheritage.com/travel/travel-englands-coaching-inns. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

Timbs, John. Club Life of London, Vol. II. Richard Bentley, 1866.

The Gordon Riots

           The Gordon Riots of 1780 serve as some of the most violent pieces of recorded Westminster history, displaying the horrid effects of intersecting religion and politics, or church and state in 18^th-century England. The riots began as an aggressively anti-Catholic response to the Catholic Relief Act (Papists Act) of 1778.

            The Catholic Relief Act aimed to cut back on the discrimination against Roman Catholics, allowing these individuals to join the army and own property, among other basic rights. However, the Protestants did not agree with this new way of life, as they viewed Roman Catholics as being a threat to Britain’s identity. The leader of the Protestant Association, Lord George Gordon, became the face of this backlash, acting as a voice for the Protestants who decided that Catholics would now be able to infiltrate the military and commit treason.

            All of the anger and backlash from the Protestants culminated on June 2^nd, 1780. Nearly 60,000 of the protestors gathered in St. George’s fields, then were led to Parliament by Gordon himself to present to them a petition to repeal the Catholic Relief Act. The main idea to keep in mind is the fact that the confrontation started out peacefully. However, this peace was short-lived. Their demonstration quickly turned extremely violent, with members of Parliament being attacked, Catholic churches and homes being targeted, etc. Over the following few days, the chaos only got worse. June 7^th of the same year came to be known as “Black Wednesday,” due to the sheer amount of dark violence brought on by the rioters. Prisons such as Newgate were burned to the ground, freeing prisoners and harming others, and the Bank of England was nearly stormed, leading King George III to declare martial law on the country. By that Friday, the riots had ended, but not without significant loss. Aside from the damages caused by looting and arson, it is estimated that 300 people lost their lives in the short time span.

            Luckily, some justice was brought to these people, as about 450 rioters were arrested afterward, with 25 of them being hanged. As for Lord Gordon himself, he was sentenced to eight years in prison and was tried for high treason, though acquitted as they could not hold him solely responsible for the rioters’ actions.

            In the end, the Gordon riots displayed to the public the sheer scope of violence that can occur when civilians band together. They proved to the country that effective law enforcement is crucial, and they starkly underlined class tensions in Great Britain, where issues of religion, government, and social class intersected harshly. These riots serve us today as a clear example of a time in history not worth repeating.

Resources:

“Spotlight on: Gordon Riots.” The National Archives, The National Archives, 28 Mar. 2025, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/students/videos/spotlight-on/spotlight-on-gordon-riots/. 

“The Gordon Riots: How an Anti-Catholic Petition Escalated into the Most Destructive Riots in London’s History.” HistoryExtra, HistoryExtra, 20 Aug. 2024, www.historyextra.com/period/georgian/gordon-riots/#.

“The Gordon Riots: London in Flames.” London Walks, www.walks.com/blog/gordon-riots-london.

“History of the Gordon Riots.” EBSCO Research Starters, www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/gordon-riots.

Gresham College. “The Gordon Riots of 1780: London in Flames, a Nation in Ruins.” Gresham College, www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/gordon-riots-1780-london-flames-nation-ruins.

“Gordon Riots.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Riots

Establishment of Russell Square

Russell Square was established in 1801 by Francis Russell, the fifth Duke of Bedford. He commissioned James Burton, the most successful developer at the time, to design and construct the buildings. Russell square was the centerpiece of Russell’s development plan for Bloomsbury to increase economic activity. This plan was extremely successful. Russell Square was the largest square in London at the time, and one of the most desirable places to live in. Not only was Russell Square built in Bloomsbury, the intellectual and literary capital of London, but the square is also within walking distance of The British Museum and Oxford Street. Russell Square quickly became home to the highest of society. Some of the famous residents of Russell Square include the influential poets Thomas Grey, William Cowper, and T.S. Eliot. After the establishment of Russell Square in 1801, Bloomsbury became filled with countless scientists and artists, as shown in Michael Boulter’s novel, “Bloomsbury Scientists."

Sources:

“Russell Square.” Hidden London, https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/russell-square/. 

“Russell Square.” Bloomsbury Squares & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2021, https://bloomsburysquares.com/the-squares/russell-square/. 

Trimatis, Killian. “A Brief History of Bloomsbury.” TripTide, https://triptide.london/journals/bloomsbury-history. 

Boulter, Michael. Bloomsbury Scientists PDF. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1573504/1/Bloomsbury-Scientists.pdf. 

The St. Giles Beer Flood

The London Beer Flood occurred on October 17th, 1814 when the pressure from a 1 million pint beer barrel exploded in the Meux & Co's Horse Shoe Brewery, causing many other barrels to break and begin to flood the brewery, into the streets. Around 570 liquid tons of beer crashed into other barrels quickly flooding the brewery. The force of the explosion caused the bricks of the building to collapse and flood St. Giles neighborhoods, killing eight people. 

The clerk in charge of maintenance that day was George Crick, who survived the flood. He noticed a broken 700- pound hoop on the barrel that had slipped off and decided to let another employee fix it the next day. Before long the barrel had exploded from the pressure, covering the St. Giles Neighborhood in mere minutes. Despite his negligence, the clerk and the brewery were cleared of any wrongdoing by a jury and declared that the caulsties lost their lives by an “act of God,” and that they had died  “casually, accidentally and by misfortune.” All of the people inside the brewery survived. 

Anne Saville was one of the casualties, along with four other people mourning the loss of her two year old son at his wake near to the brewery. The people of St. Giles took to the streets, wading through nearly two feet of beer, in search of people who survived by climbing onto furniture. 

The flood occurred in St. Giles which was a parish of Holbourn that would later form the Borough of Camden. The brewery stood on the corner of Tottenham Court Road, and became an attraction after the flood for a short period of time. Watchmen would charge two-pence for people to see the rubble of the accident. The Brewery would suffer an economic loss, but received a break on the taxes that they had already paid the government. 

Works Cited

“Horseshoe Brewery, London, c. 1800.jpg.” 15 Feb. 1906. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Horseshoe_Brewery,_London,_c._1800.jpg Accessed 18 Feb. 2023. 

KLEIN, CHRISTOPHER. “The London Beer Flood.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Oct. 2019, https://www.history.com/news/london-beer-flood. Accessed 18 Feb. 2023. 

Tingle, Rory. “What Really Happened in the London Beer Flood 200 Years Ago?” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 17 Oct. 2014, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/what-re.... Accessed 18 Feb. 2023. 

Queen Victoria Moves Into Windsor

Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Statue

Queen Victoria took the throne in 1837, at only 18 years old, and chose Windsor Castle as her primary royal residence. Windsor held many of Queen Victoria’s important milestone events. She held her 20^th birthday ball at the castle, her honeymoon with Prince Albert, and Windsor became a headquarters for her family life as they raised their children. Throughout their time at Windsor, the castle underwent many renovations and modernizations. Many of these renovations followed along with what is now known as Victorian architecture and design, named after the queen herself. During this time, Queen Victoria influenced the shift of royal family burials from Westminster Abbey to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor.

In 1861, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, passed away at Windsor Castle. This caused her immense grief and changed her opinion of Windsor Castle. She described the castle as “prison-like” and likened it to a dungeon. Prince Albert’s death in Windsor caused Queen Victoria to memorialize The Blue Room, where he died, and turned it into a sacred shrine to honor him and some other royals who passed away in the room including King William IV and King George IV.

Queen Victoria’s milestones continued in 1897 when she celebrated her 60^th year on the throne with her diamond jubilee at Windsor. The monumental occasion was held on June 20^th, 1897 with a private celebration in St. George’s Chapel. This marked the end of her long relationship with Windsor, as she passed away 4 years later. At the time, she was the longest reigning British monarch, serving for 64 years.

Bell, Nicola. Queen Victoria Statue. www.windsor.gov.uk/ideas-and-inspiration/royal-connections/queen-victori.... Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Royal Collection Trust. “Queen Victoria.” Www.rct.uk, 2024, www.rct.uk/collection/stories/royal-jubilees/queen-victoria-0. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Timms, Elizabeth Jane. “Queen Victoria and Windsor Castle.” Royal Central, 1 Apr. 2018, royalcentral.co.uk/features/queen-victoria-and-windsor-castle-99279/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Wicks, Lauren. “A Brief History of Windsor Castle, the World’s Longest-Occupied Palace.” Veranda, 9 Nov. 2022, www.veranda.com/decorating-ideas/a36077169/windsor-castle-history/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Harrods Grand Opening in Knightsbridge

Image of Harrods in 1849

In 1849, Henry Charles Harrod founded and opened Harrods department store in Knightsbridge. Harrods has been a staple in Knightbridge ever since this time. It has played a very large role in the affluent environment and society that is still present in Knightsbridge today. Harrods department store started as a one room grocery store in Knightsbridge, and by the 1880s it had expanded into clothing, perfume, food, and medicine. It has now turned into a seven-story luxury department store with over 300 departments where the wealthiest people throughout London and surrounding areas shop. In 1883, Harrods was the scene of a devastating fire which burnt the entire building to the ground. However, Harrods came back bigger and better than ever with a very large expansion encapsulating over one million square feet, allowing it to expand into more departments and cater to larger groups of people. Over the course of the last 200 years, Harrods has changed ownership multiple times, with the most recent owner being the state of Qatar. Throughout the years, Harrods has faced many ups and downs, its existence has played a very prevalent and major role in the history of the Knightsbridge area in London.

The Separation of Classes Through Rookeries and Palaces

The 1800s ushered in the Regency period from 1811-1820 of architecture with figurehead John Nash prompting Regency Classism through the dominant use of stucco. During this period industrial labor migration flourished and poverty grew as an outcome to the changes in the labor market. The discrepancy between the housing of the royals versus those of the slums was prominent during this time. A slum was referred to as a rookery during the 18^th and 19^th centuries with a famous rookery located within the St. Giles area of London. Those who enjoyed this era of British culture were the wealthy few.  The most defining aspect of John Nash’s legacy, ignoring his messy relationship with his first wife, was the transformation of Buckingham Palace, as well as the Roya Pavilion and Marble Arch. The Marble Arch was originally designed as the entrance to Buckingham Palace, but today it stands as the entrance to Hyde Park and The Great Expedition. Originally known as Buckingham House, it was privately owned by the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. Today, Buckingham Palace hosts the administrative headquarters of the monarchy since 1837 with Queen Victoria. With the addition of a Cour d’honneur, or an open formal forecourt and bath stone beginning in 1825 and completed in 1853. Henry Mayhew visits the rookery of St. Giles in 1860 and writes:

The parish of St. Giles, with its nests of close and narrow alleys and courts inhabited by the lowest class of Irish costermongers, has passed into a byword as the synonym of filth and squalor. And although New Oxford Street has been carried straight through the middle of the worst part of its slums—"the Rookery"—yet, especially on the south side, there still are streets which demand to be swept away in the interest of health and cleanliness... They [are] a noisy and riotous lot, fond of street brawls, equally "fat, ragged and saucy;" and the courts abound in pedlars, fish-women, newscriers, and corn-cutters.

Government during the 1830s-1870s demolished part of St. Giles for improved transportation routes and sanitation with the specific street being New Oxford Street. The outcome was that the slum was pushed farther back, and It failed to achieve its goal until late 1900s.

“Buckingham Palace.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/history-of-buckingham-pa....

Mayhew, Henry. A VISIT TO THE ROOKERY OF ST. GILES AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD . 1860, pg 5. https://web.archive.org/web/20061010065924/http://learning.north.londonm....

Photograph of The Rookery of St Giles, London, 1850 by Print Collector. Photos.com, https://photos.com/featured/the-rookery-of-st-giles-london-1850-print-co....

Private Ownership and Early Preservation

Stonehenge in the 1870s

In 1874, Sir Edmund Antrobus, a member of the British aristocracy, purchased the land on which Stonehenge stands. Although Stonehenge had long been in private hands, the Antrobus family's acquisition of the site corresponded with growing national interest in Britain’s ancient monuments and laid the groundwork for future preservation efforts and archeological discoveries.

Throughout the 19th century, Stonehenge unfortunately suffered significant degradation. Because there was no legal protection, visitors frequently removed pieces of stone as souvenirs, carved names into the megaliths, or simply disrupted the site. Archaeological interest in prehistoric Britain was increasing during this period, but there remained little consensus or infrastructure to support systematic conservation. The Antrobus family, though not archaeologists nor scholars, recognized Stonehenge’s historical importance and took steps to protect the site within the limitations of Victorian-era understanding and practice.

Under Sir Edmund Antrobus’s ownership, modest preservation efforts were initiated. These included hiring local caretakers to monitor the monument and restricting unfettered public access to reduce vandalism. The family also allowed limited archaeological investigations, though the methods used would not meet modern scientific standards today (Greaney).

The Antrobus ownership of Stonehenge marked a transitional period for the site.  Although their preservation efforts were not comprehensive, the family’s actions helped stabilize Stonehenge during a time when few legal or governmental mechanisms existed to protect such sites. In this way, their ownership served as a bridge between centuries of neglect and the more formalized conservation practices that would come.

During this time period, life was relatively hard for rural communities in Wiltshire. The Industrial Revolution hadn’t brought much prosperity to agricultural laborers, education was minimal, and most villagers had little interaction with Stonehenge except for shepherding nearby. However, this was also the age of Romanticism and Victorian curiosity, meaning increasing numbers of upper-class visitors came to the site, often on the new railways. The contrast between wealthy landowners and impoverished locals was stark. Locals might serve as guides or caretakers but had little agency in the monument’s fate (“Agriculture…”).

Sources

“Agriculture 1793-1870.” A History of the County of Wiltshire. Ed. Elizabeth Crittall (London, 1959), British History Online, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol4/pp65-91.

Greaney, Susan. “Stonehenge: A Monumental Auction.” English Heritage, 20, Sept. 2015, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/blog/blog-posts/stonehenge-monumental-auction/.

The Adoption of the Greenwich Meridian

The Delegates

With the study of navigation and astronomy as a major focus of the prior century, many remained dedicated to solving the issue of inconsistent longitude as many places measured it at different points. To do this, officials had to determine the best geological location for a point zero and to rationalize the measurement of time across the globe (Dolan).

The inception of the train system in the 1830s introduced a need for a stricter time system. This way rail companies could communicate across the country and run efficiently. The need for different time zones in North America also forced a stricter sense of time keeping (Dolan). The needs of geographers, navigators, and astronomers were all considered. According to Sandford Fleming, a railway engineer invested in reforming the time system, published a paper in 1879 in which he analyzed the meridians ships from around the world would use. He found that the Greenwich meridian was utilized by 65% of ships that used the main eleven meridians, making it the primary meridian. The top second and third meridians, Paris and Cadiz, were utilized by 10% and 5% respectively (Dolan). This study offered logical reasons as to why the Greenwich Meridian was a prime choice for the standard meridian.

In October 1884, U.S. President Chester Arthur invited delegates from 25 nations to meet in Washington, DC for the International Meridian Conference (The International…”). At this conference, seven resolutions were enacted:

1. “It was desirable to adopt a single world meridian to replace the numerous ones already in existence.
2. The Meridian passing through the principal Transit Instrument at the Observatory at Greenwich was to be the 'initial meridian'.
3. That all longitude would be calculated both east and west from this meridian up to 180°.
4. All countries would adopt a universal day.
5. The universal day would be a Mean Solar Day, beginning at the Mean Midnight at Greenwich and counted on a 24 hour clock.
6. That nautical and astronomical days everywhere would begin at mean midnight.
7. All technical studies to regulate and extend the application of the decimal system to the division of time and space would be supported” (The International…”).

All except France had accepted the Greenwich meridian after this conference (“History”). Progress in implementation was slow-going, especially with the transition from astronomical time to current time. However, France was the first to place a transmitter on the Eiffel Tower, taking the first step to widely disseminate time signals. To solidify a leadership role, Paris adopted Greenwich Mean Time in 1911 (Dolan).

The adoption of the Greenwich Meridian appears to be a pride point for some of those on the peninsula. For example, the Plume of Feathers, a pub that’s been around since 1961, proudly includes this in their history section, “In 1884 Greenwich’s meridian was adopted by the world as the prime meridian of the world (except the French, who continued to use the Paris one until 1911) and in that moment the Plume of Feathers became the first pub in the Eastern hemisphere (or at least one of them). And to this day it continues to serve beer and food on its original site, which now sits on the edge of the UNESCO Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site” (“History”).

Works Cited:

Dolan, Graham. “The Adoption of a Prime Meridian and the International Meridian Conference of 1884.” Greenwich Meridian, http://www.thegreenwichmeridian.org/tgm/articles.php?article=10

“History of the Plume.” The Plume of Feathers, https://plumegreenwich.com/history

“The International Meridian Conference, Washington, 1884” Greenwich Mean Time, https://greenwichmeantime.com/articles/history/conference/

Opening of the Bishopsgate Institute

Image of the Exterior of the Bishopsgate Institute on Opening Day, 1895

            On New Years Day, 1895, the Bishopsgate Institute first opened its doors to the public. Police were required to manage the nearly 8,000 people who attended the Institute on its opening day. The Bishopsgate Institute itself is the creation primarily of Reverend William Rogers, the rector of St. Botolph’s Church on Bishopsgate beginning in 1863. At this point, Bishopsgate served the unique position as the border between the wealthy region of the City of London and the much poorer East End. Rogers, even before attaining his position as rector, was concerned with the lack of opportunity afforded to the poor of London—particular in their lack of extra income that would provide educational enrichment. Rogers, seeing the conditions of the poor, hoped to create a network of polytechnics that would provide public classes, libraries, and lectures to all. In seeking the realization of this vision, Rogers pressured government officials to allow the use of charitable income to be diverted to educational initiatives, culminating in the City of London Parochial Charities Act in 1883 that allowed for the creation of three learning institutions, including the Bishopsgate Institute (“William Rogers”).

            By 1891, a former stable was selected as the site for Rogers’s proposed Institute in Bishopsgate, but the small site was enclosed by numerous shops and businesses that presented design challenges. Through anonymous submission, seven architects’ designs were considered, with the ultimate commission going to Charles Harrison Townsend. Townsend was a proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement, an influence that championed simple and authentic design inspired by craftspeople, illustrators, and artists rather than industrial or mass-produced styles. Townsend’s influence is shown in the building even today, as his mosaics and Art Nouveau-inspired style has remained unchanged throughout the past century. Notable especially is the building’s frontage, meant to be bold enough to draw attention from the distracting shops throughout the rest of Bishopsgate (“Charles Harrison Townsend”).

            Also of note is the Institute’s first librarian, Ronald Heaton. Heaton was hired in 1894 and managed the Bishopsgate Library during its first two years of operation. Interestingly, the primary workers of the library were teenage boys from local schools, selected because they were cheaper to hire than the women usually used for library work in academic settings and because of the physically demanding nature of the job. By 1897, though, Heaton resigned due to conflicts between his expected duties organizing the library, lectures, and classes and his preferred scholarly research capabilities (“Charles Goss”).

“Charles Goss and Our Library.” Bishopsgate Institute,

https://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/our-history/charles-goss. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

“Charles Harrison Townsend and Our Architecture.” Bishopsgate Institute,

https://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/our-history/charles-harrison-townsend. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

Image of Exterior of the Bishopsgate Institute on Opening Day. Bishopsgate Institute, 1895.

https://d245m47bicpi64.cloudfront.net/_imager/files/Activities/Archives/46476/WR-3_36ec1335269ad97502c26586ba96154b.png. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

“William Rogers and Our Origins.” Bishopsgate Institute,

https://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/our-history/william-rogers. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

The Camden Town Murder

The Camden Town murder took place on September 11th, 1907, when, allegedly, artist Robert Wood killed part-time sex worker Emily Dimmock. Murdered in her home at Agar Grove (then 29 St Paul’s Road) Camden, Dimmock’s throat was slit from ear to ear in her apparent sleep after sex and her body remained unfound for until her partner returned on the evening of the 12th to find the room locked. After borrowing a key from a neighbor, he discovered her dead body on the bed. Due to the lack of stolen items, the locked door, and the lack of any witnesses to the crime, the murder quickly became a sensational mystery. Robert Wood was eventually named a suspect after his handwriting was identified on a postcard in Dimmock’s room by a former girlfriend of his, but he was acquitted at trial. The murder became the source of many different forms of media over the years, including the series of paintings which adopted the phrase The Camden Town Murder by Walter Sickert only a year after Dimmock’s death, each depicting a clothed man beside a nude woman. The quickness of their release, along with their shocking contents, caused a stir, though Sickert had been painting female nudes for several years at that point in an approach to challenge the conventional style of life painting. Sickert had also been obsessed with serial killer Jack the Ripper, for whom he had also done paintings for, which added fuel to the fire; Sickert had even been argued to be the Ripper himself, but the theory was not taken seriously due to the likelihood of Sickert being in France at the time of the murders. (Personally, it seems more likely to me that Sickert may have been the one behind Dimmock’s murder, but this is just mostly pure speculation on my part.)

“Camden Town Murder.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Feb. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camden_Town_Murder

Public Ownership and Restoration

Repairs to Stonehenge in the 20th c.

The year 1918 shifted the history of Stonehenge, as it moved from centuries of private ownership into the hands of the British public. This change was made possible by Cecil Chubb, a barrister and local landowner from the nearby village of Shrewton, who had purchased the monument three years earlier. His decision to donate Stonehenge to the British government represented not only an act of individual generosity but also a strong gesture toward the protection of ancient monuments.

Cecil Chubb was not a nobleman or scholar, but rather a self-made man who was educated at Cambridge and successful in both law and business. In 1915, he attended an auction in Salisbury where Stonehenge was unexpectedly put up for sale by the Antrobus estate, following the death of Sir Edmund Antrobus. Chubb reportedly bought the site on a whim for £6,600, perhaps as a romantic gesture for his wife, who is said to have been less than thrilled with the gift because “Mary wanted Cecil to buy a set of curtains at the auction” (“Stonehenge: Who Owns It and Why?”).

Though not a trained archaeologist, Chubb recognized the significance of the monument and believed it should be preserved for public benefit. On October 26, 1918, he formally donated Stonehenge to the nation, on the condition that it was to be maintained in good order and made accessible to the public at a reasonable cost. This act turned what had long been a privately managed and inconsistently protected site into a national treasure under state care (“Stonehenge 100”).

The transfer of Stonehenge to the state occurred within the context of post-World War I Britain, a nation emerging from profound social, economic, and emotional upheaval. The war had deeply affected the region of Wiltshire, as Salisbury Plain had been used extensively by the military for training and encampments (Spender).  Just as anywhere, many local men had served and died in the war, and rural communities were struggling with loss and poverty.  

The Office of Works, which later evolved into English Heritage, took charge of the site and initiated a series of conservation efforts including stabilizing the stones, installing fencing and paths, and allowing archaeological excavations to better understand the site's structure and phases of construction. Thanks to the newly introduced public access policies, people could visit and learn about Stonehenge in a more structured and respectful way than before (“Stonehenge 100”).

For people living in and around Wiltshire, public ownership brought change as well. While it meant the end of free, unrestricted access to the stones, it also meant an influx of tourism, employment opportunities related to site maintenance and guiding, and greater investment in local infrastructure. At the same time, tensions occasionally arose over land use, spiritual access (particularly for Druids and neo-pagan groups), and the commercialization of the site (“Modern Wiltshire”).

Sources

"Modern Wiltshire." Wilcuma, https://www.wilcuma.org.uk/the-history-of-wiltshire-after-1066/modern-wiltshire/.

Spender, Humphrey. Salisbury Plain 1942. 1942, Imperial War Museums, https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/25309.

"Stonehenge 100." English Heritage, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge100#:~:text=A%20generous%20donation,auction%20just%20three%20years%20previously.

"Stonehenge: Who Owns It and Why?" BBC News, 17 Sept. 2015, https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34282849.

Poplar Rates Rebellion

Poplar, much like the rest of east London, is fairly impoverished, unemployed, and overcrowded. Labour came into power on the Poplar Borough Council, with one of these council members being George Lansbury. The way that the taxes worked was that Poplar would have had to pay more money compared to other richer boroughs, so the council itself would have had to raise the rates derived from property values (Alchetron). In response, the council raised the rates for expenses of the Poplar Council itself and refused to pay the central rates (which would go to the Metro police and the like), which the London City Council and Metro Asylums Board responded to by taking things the High Court and imprisoning the councillors for six weeks. (Men were imprisoned in Brixton and the women were put up in Holloway, where they received comparatively better treatment.) Bethnal Green and Stepney (an historical part of Poplar) both joined Poplar's refusal to pay the rates (National Archives). This led to widespread support among the working-class base of Poplar and marching in the streets (Alchetron). Battersea was going to join in on the joint strike as well, but then the rebellion came to an end once the councillors were released, and Parliament rushed through an Act to equally distribute the rates between the richer and poorer boroughs (Hartland, Local Authorities [Financial Provisions Bill], National Archives). George Lansbury would go on to be the leader of the Labour Party (Alchetron).

Nowadays Poplar is almost equally white/POC and majority Muslim; the ratios probably would have been even higher majority POC and Muslim (Tower Hamlets Corporate Research Unit) - as such this area would be subjected to the same issues as a majority POC neighborhood in the US would: poor health, high child mortality, reliance on social safety nets, etc. These workers would have been working on railways, in factories, on the docks building or unloading ships, or in domestic work (nannying, cooking, etc.).

Hartland, Nicole. "Parliament and the 1921 Poplar Rates Rebellion." UK Parliament, 16 Aug. 2021, https://archives.blog.parliament.uk/2021/08/16/parliament-and-the-1921-p.... Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Iglikowski-Broad, Vicky. “The rebel councillors: The 1921 Poplar Rates Rebellion.” The National Archives, 29 Jul. 2021, https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/the-rebel-councillors-1921-poplar-rates-rebellion/. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Joly, Gordon. Mural in support of Poplar Rates Rebellion. Wikipedia, 21 June 2006, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mural_Poplar_Rates.jpg. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

“Local Authorities (Financial Provisions) Bill.” Parliament, 8 Nov. 1921, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1921/nov/08/local-authorities-financial-provisions. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

“Poplar Rates Rebellion.” Alchetron, 10 Dec. 2024, https://alchetron.com/Poplar-Rates-Rebellion. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

“Poplar Ward Profile.” Tower Hamlets Corporate Research Unit, May 2014, https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/Documents/Borough_statistics/Ward_profiles/Poplar-FINAL-10062014.pdf. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

The London Blitz

The damage at the Palace of Westminster

The Blitz was a bombing campaign from Germany against the United Kingdom during World War two. It started on September 7th, 1940, known as “Black Saturday”. After that, the bombing continued for 57 days, and then regular intermittent bombing after that. The bombings on May 10-11 of 1941 were the worst of them all. 

During The Blitz civilians hid in air raid shelters and in the tube, however over fourty-three thousand civilians were killed over the course of the raids, 1436 of those on May 10-11 - not including the wounded. Citizens were terrorized nightly by these raids, which scattered all across Britain, not just London. The raids happened day or night. After they were finished, many civilians were homeless.

On the night of May 10, over seven hours, Germans dropped over 700 tons of bombs and 86,000 incendiary bombs across London. The House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster, which had been hit once before, was hit again and the building caught on fire. Throughout the night, there were attempts to stop the fire, but it ultimately destroyed the House of Commons. It was eventually rebuilt, and although the room was ruined, parliament was not deterred and continued to meet elsewhere in the palace after the raids.

Impressively enough, Big Ben, the clock tower also on the Palace of Westminster, remained mostly unharmed. It was hit and lightly damaged, but never destroyed during the Blitz. It stood as a source of hope for the people in London.

“The Blitz around Britain.” Imperial War Museums, https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-blitz-around-britain#:~:text=The%20Bl...

“The London Blitz and the Palace of Westminster.” Building of Britain - UK Parliament. https://heritagecollections.parliament.uk/. 

Development of Kings Road

In the 1900s, a section of Knightsbridge called Kings Road took root. Kings Road was the home to numerous music halls, fashion boutiques, salons, and the like. These types of establishments were truly able to flourish in the affluent environment that Knightsbridge had become by this point. Kings Road saw the opening of Mary Quant's first boutique in the 1960s and the opening of Vivienne Westwood's first boutique in 1971. Kings Road also became the site for gay rights activists in the late 1970s. Kings Road played a tremendous role in helping the whole district of Knightsbridge become what it is today.

Post-WWII Renovation and Modernization of the Victoria and Albert Museum

In the aftermath of World War II, the Victoria and Albert Museum, like many institutions in London, faced significant damage and needed repair. The late 20th century became a period of reinvention for the V&A, as it embraced modernization and adapted to the rapidly changing cultural landscape of the United Kingdom. Renovation efforts included improving accessibility, updating galleries, and digitizing parts of the collection, which aligned with broader shifts in museum culture toward inclusion and public engagement.

The museum began to prioritize educational programming, multicultural exhibitions, and community involvement. This transformation coincided with the demographic evolution of Kensington and Chelsea, which became one of the most diverse boroughs in London due to post-war immigration. Communities from the Caribbean, South Asia, and Africa increasingly settled in the area, contributing to the cultural richness of the borough and redefining its identity.

The V&A’s changing exhibits began to reflect this diversity, featuring more global art and inclusive narratives. This shift was not only symbolic of the museum's institutional changes but also of the social transformation of the surrounding area. The museum evolved from a traditional Victorian institution into a modern center of art and design that continues to serve a wide and varied audience.

"V&A's History and Mission." Victoria and Albert Museum, www.vam.ac.uk/info/about-us. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

IRA Bombing of Bishopsgate

Image of Aftermath of 1993 Bishopsgate Bombing

            On April 24, 1993, the Irish Republican Army detonated a car bomb outside of 99 Bishopsgate that caused massive damage to London’s financial district, injuring 44 and killing one (“Bishopsgate Bomb”). According to witnesses, most of the windows from nearby skyscrapers were shattered, spreading glass and debris throughout the streets. The explosion also created a large crater near the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation building (Schmidt). Additionally, the medieval St. Ethelburga’s church and the nearby Liverpool Street station were reduced to rubble. The explosion came a year after another IRA bombing destroyed the nearby Baltic Exchange, while the Warrington IRA bomb killed three children just a month prior (“BBC on This Day”).

            About an hour prior to the explosion, the police received a coded telephone call from the IRA warning about the bomb. Despite some evacuations, a significant number of people were still affected by the blast, often being knocked unconscious (Schmidt). In response to the Bishopsgate explosion and other IRA bombings, the City of London police created a “ring of steel” around the financial district, creating roadblocks and other security measures meant to prevent terrorism (“BBC on This Day”). Many roads into the City were closed or made exit-only, and police monitored routes into the area 24 hours a day (“Bishopsgate Bomb”). Such checkpoints, however, were phased out following a ceasefire with the IRA in 1994 (“New ‘Ring of Steel’”). As a final note, over 2,000 rubbish bins were also phased out following the attack as an added security measure. Rubbish bin totals for the region remain below 100 (“Bishopsgate Gets Bins”).

            As Bishopsgate serves primarily as a financial district, those injured by the blast were predominantly office workers, security, and tourists rather than permanent residents (Schmidt). A security guard at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation building was knocked unconscious by the blast, for instance. In the Moorgate Underground station, commuters and other passengers likewise felt the blast—though it caused primarily panic rather than any injury (Schmidt). In total, the IRA bombing of Bishopsgate cost £350 million in repairs, and the “ring of steel” created in response served as a model for later security measures by the City of London police following the 2016 truck attack in Berlin (“BBC on This Day”; “New ‘Ring of Steel’”).

“BBC on This Day | 24 April | 1993: Ira Bomb Devastates City of London.” BBC News, BBC,

24 Apr. 1993, http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/24/newsid_2523000/2523345.stm. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

“Bishopsgate Bomb: Photos Issued on 25th Anniversary.” BBC News, BBC, 24 Apr. 2018,

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-43878479. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

“Bishopsgate Gets Bins Back 20 Years After IRA explosion.” BBC News, BBC, 14 Aug. 2023.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-23695239. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

Image of Aftermath of 1993 Bishopsgate Bombing. BBC News, 24 Apr. 2018.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/7FC7/production/_101011723_29.png.webp. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

“New 'Ring of Steel' Planned for London Square Mile.” BBC News, BBC, 24 Dec. 2016,

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-38418877. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

Schmidt, William E. “1 Dead, 40 Hurt as a Blast Rips Central London.” The New York Times,

The New York Times, 25 Apr. 1993, https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/25/world/1-dead-40-hurt-as-a-blast-rips-central-london.html. Accessed 17 Apr. 2023.

Maritime Greenwich

Moleitau. Greenwich Park, Royal Observatory Greenwich and National Maritime Museum in the Snow. 2 February 2009.

Greenwich London has always been home to the Royal Observatory and many other groundbreaking times for the Royal Navy. Despite Greenwich not properly being a part of London until much later in time, the area has served a significant purpose for a while. The official naming of Maritime Greenwich encompasses Royal Greenwich Observatory, the National Maritime Museum, and the Old Royal Naval College. As of 1997, the area was dedicated as a World Heritage site and recognized for its longstanding history of maritime ventures. As I’ve researched and done more and more digging in Greenwich, I have found that it is the ugly stepsister of London. The borough’s traffic of people pales in comparison to other more prominent boroughs, but the people of the borough keep its history intact. The Maritime Greenwich represents a glowing achievement for the British in many fields of science and technology. The observatory is still functioning today and has tons of invaluable information that anyone can visit and see. It is also home to the Prime Meridian Line which sets the standard for everyone else in the world. The National Maritime Museum has on display some of the oldest British, and not British, ships that are still together. The glimpse into the past is amazing to see how ships have changed and how Britain dominated the seas for hundreds of years. Finally, the Old Royal Naval College was one of the most pristine colleges that the Navy had. The college produced thousands of officers for the Navy and even had a section for women to train and join the Navy. The encirclement of all the historical sites under the Maritime Greenwich title and its becoming a World Heritage Site shows the distance traveled by the people of Greenwich. The museums serve as a timestamp of where Greenwich was and where it is going to go. 

sources:

“Greenwich.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/place/Greenwich-borough-London.