History

Alongside the founding of the Bank of England, the making of London as the City of Finance can be traced to two other key developments that occurred at the same time: the opening of an insurance centre and a stock exchange. Coincidentally, all of these things happened around the same time: the Bank of England…

Following the disaster of Charles II’s spending under the Stuarts, the newly reformed operations were stabilised under the new monarch, King William III. Realising that his purse was haemorrhaging and that he couldn’t do the same as Charles, as in just default, William decided to create a new Bank that would enable funding whilst being…

Following the disaster of Charles II’s spending under the Stuarts, the newly reformed operations were stabilised under the new monarch, King William III. Realising that his purse was haemorrhaging and that he couldn’t do the same as Charles, as in just default, William decided to create a new Bank that would enable funding whilst being…

After the Tudors, England went through a period of massive turmoil under the new Royal Household of the Stuarts. Throughout the 17th Century, the Royal Household (the Crown) and Government (Parliament) were at war, both figuratively and literally. The 1640s saw a massive revolution in the country, with the execution of King Charles I, and…

After the Tudors, England went through a period of massive turmoil under the new Royal Household of the Stuarts. Throughout the 17th Century, the Royal Household (the Crown) and Government (Parliament) were at war, both figuratively and literally. The 1640s saw a massive revolution in the country, with the execution of King Charles I, and…

We finished Part Three of our History of the City with a nod to Sir Thomas Gresham, Banker to Queen Elizabeth I and forefather of all things in the City of London today. Thomas was the son of Sir Richard Gresham, a merchant who also became Lord Mayor of London in 1537. Richard had a partnership…

The first proper bridge in London was built in 1176 and completed in 1209. There had been other bridges built by the Romans and Vikings, but these were always of wood and generally got burnt and pulled down. The bridge of 1209 was built of stone, and had longevity. In fact, it was the only…

Following on from yesterday’s post about the Romans building London, they left in 410 A.D. and the City went to rack and ruin over the following centuries as the buildings were left untended. Then, in the ninth century, the Vikings came to rape and pillage and used Lundenwic and Lundenberg as their base, settling in…

Following on from yesterday’s post about the Romans building London, they left in 410 A.D. and the City went to rack and ruin over the following centuries as the buildings were left untended. Then, in the ninth century, the Vikings came to rape and pillage and used Lundenwic and Lundenberg as their base, settling in…

I’m just reading a few books about London in the olden days, with one particularly good read: City of London Past, by Richard Tames (1995). For some reason, in these uncertain future times, it’s interesting to look back to the past. Here’s a few excerpts that give you an idea as to how our modern…