Section 1. Brief History of London: the 20th century London

London grew even bigger. Many more people went to live in the city suburbs and travelled to work by train, bus or car. The city changed too, with new buildings replacing those damaged by bombs during the war years.

The First World War began in 1914. The first air raid hit London in 1915 and during the war over 835 people were killed in air attacks.

In 1939 the Second World War broke out and some 690.000 children were moved out of London. The blitz began in 1940 and caused a lot of damage to London, with some of the worst damage being done around (and including) St. Paul's Cathedral. By the end of the war 30.000 people had been killed in London and much of the city's buildings lay in ruins. During both wars, women started working in factories for the first time.

Later in the 20th century, air travel became more important. New airports were built to link London with the rest of the world.

At the start of the new millenium, London has a population of over seven million!!!

Section 1: Brief History of London: Victorian London

In 1837, Victoria became Queen at the age of 18. The time while she was Queen is called the Victorian era. London was busy with trade and industry, and it grew fast. Better lighting, plumbing and transport developed too. By the time she died in 1901, London was a very different city.

Up until the 19th century, the city was a similar size as the Roman Londinium. From 1820 the green areas around were absorved by new arrivers, workers attracted by industrialism. This growth caused problems: the first cholera epidemic broke out in 1832 and in 1858 the Thames was so dirty and it stank - The Great Stench- that the Parliament had to close! The new sewer and river drain system by Joseph Bazalgette (1875) solved the problem.

Railways were built linking much of Britain to the capital. London was the centre of the world trade and had a large powerful empire.

Many of the buildings in London today were built in Victorian times. The most famous is probably the Houses of Parliament, built after a fire destroyed the original buildings.

Electric light was first used in Holborn in 1883. By the 1840's there were also horse drawn buses and from the 1870's horse drawn trams.

The World first underground railway ("The Tube") opened in 1862. At first carriages were pulled by steam trains. The system was electrified in 1890-1905.

A Christmas tradition started in this era still continues: the Pantomime.

Sites from this times:
- Train stations
- The Kensington Museum
- The Royal Albert Hall
- The Leighton House
- The Victoria and Albert Museum
- The London Transport Museum

Section 1. Brief History of London: Georgian London

George I became king in 1714 and began a line, the Hannovers. At this time, Britain was one of the most powerful countries in the world, with London at the heart of its trade.

London quickly grew in size and population during the Georgian era. In 1801 the population reached about one million. Merchants and bankers grew rich and many lived in the West End in elegant squares (the plan of the West End nowadays is very similar to the West End in 1828.) Other people suffered terrible poverty. Thousands lived in filthy East End slums, where disease, crime and drunkenness were common.

Many new town houses were built. These houses were tall and three windows wide. They had arched doorways , with a window above called fanlight. You can still see this kind of house today.

The streets of London were badly lit and full of beggars and thieves.

Several hospitals were founded in during the Georgian era including Westminster, Guys, St. Georges, London and Middlesex.

Sites that belong to this era:
- Berkeley Square
- The Royal Haymarket Theatre portal
- Reform and Travellers Clubs in Pall Mall.
- Fournier Street
- The Victoria and Albert Museum
- The Tate Britain
- Sir John Soane's Museum

Can you upload a picture of a typical Georgian (rich) house and its doorway?

Section 1. Brief History of London: Stuart London

The first Stuart king, James I, came to the throne in 1603. He was already King James VI of Scotland. He united the two countries under one king. A group of men tried to blow up both him and the Houses of Parliament. This Gunpowder plot failed.

Charles II opened Hyde Park to the public and created Richmond Park for hunting.

Civil war broke out in 1642 between supporters of the king and parliamentary forces, led by a Puritan called Oliver Cromwell. The king lost and was beheaded. Britain became a republic known as the Commonwealth. In 1660 the monarchy was returned. Oliver Cromwell forbid theatre and dance, so the monarchy was very welcome.

London suffered two disasters in later Stuart years. In 1665 the Great Plague killed about 70.000 people. The bubonic plague was brought to London by rats on board of trading ships. It spread very quickly because people lived very close quarters and hygiene standards were very low.

In 1666 the Great Fire of London destroyed two thirds of the City: 13.200 houses, 430 streets and 89 churches. The fire could be seen from 40 miles round the capital. It started as a small fire accidentally in Pudding Lane in the City of London, and raged for five days as an enormous fire.

To prevent such a disaster happening again, King Charles II commanded that all new houses in London should be of stone and brick, not wood.

Christopher Wren constructed St. Paul's Cathedral as well as many churches. Buckingham was built for the Duke of Buckingham.

Monuments, sites and remains from the time:

- Wren's achitecture:
*Saint Paul's Cathedral
*The Monument (the Great Fire Memmorial)
*Wren's churches: Christ Church's tower, St. Andrew (Holborn), St. Bride's, St.Mary-at-Hill, St. Mary-le-Bow, etc.
*Kensington Palace
*Marlborough House
*Old Royal Naval College
*Royal Hospital
- The Banking House
- Lincoln's Inn
- Cloth Fair
- The Museum of London
- The British Museum
- The Victoria and Albert Museum

Section 1. Brief History of London: Tudor London

London grew in importance under the Tudor rule. It became the centre of trade and government. By the end of the Tudor era, there were about 200.000 people living in London.

The Tudors brought peace to the country and supported art and trade. They were very hard upon the social and religious dissidents. These were hanged, drowned or burned.

King Henry VIII created palaces as St. James. He is also famous for closing monasteries after the Roman Catholic Church refused to grant him a divorce. During the reign of Elisabeth I, London was wealthy and successfull. Theatre became popular, with Shakespeare and Marlowe. The most famous theatre is The Globe. It was burnt down in 1613, immediately rebuilt, but closed by the Puritans in 1642. In the 1990's a new Globe Theatre was built, as close to the original as possible.

The river Thames was very important in Tudor times as Britain's navy was expanded. Dockyards were built and ships were sent to explore the world.

Sites and remains:

- Middle Temple Hall
- Staple Inn
- Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey
- The Museum of London
- The Victoria and Albert Museum
- The Geffrye Museum
- The Hampton Court astronomical clock

Section 1. Brief History of London: Medieval London

Edward the Confessor built a wooden palace at Westminster. He also built Westminster Abbey.

The historical division between the commercial centre (The City) and the government (Westminster) started in the middle of the 11th century.

Plagues happened often and constantly, so the population was never higher than the 50.000 inhabitants from the Roman times. The Black Death ((1348) killed half the population of London.

The first made-of-stone London Bridge was built in 1209 and lasted 600 years. It was the only bridge over the Thames until 1750, when Westmister Bridge was built.

Little survived the Great Fire of 1666, but you can find sites and remains from this time in:

The Tower of London
Westminster Abbey
The Museum of London
Tate Britain
National Gallery
The Clink Prison Museum's rose window

Section 1. Brief History of London: Saxon and Vicking London

Later in the 5th century, Anglo-Saxons settled just west of Londinium. It consisted of many wooden huts with thatched roofs.

In 842 Danish Vickings looted London and a few years later they returned to burn a large part of the town. In 1016 they tried to do it again, but they were fought off by the Saxons.

London Bridge is falling down,
falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

This nursery rhyme probably records an attack against London by the Vicking Olaf of Norway at the beginning of the 11th century. He was unable to sail up the Thames past London Bridge, which was made of wood at the time. Olaf and his men tied ropes to it, but when they rowed away, London Bridge collapsed.

Christianity grew stronger in Anglo-Saxon Britain. In 604 AD a cathedral was founded in London and named after the apostle, Saint Paul. There is still a cathedral on the site.

In 1042 Edward the Confessor became king of both the Vickings and Saxons.

You can find information and remains of the time at:

- The Museum of London
- The British Museum

Can you upload a picture of a thatched-roof cottage nowadays? Can you find a listening or a video with the nursery rhyme?

Section 1. Brief History of London: Roman London

Julius Caesar invaded England in 55 AD.He reached the Thames up to Southwark in London. On the other side of the river, there was a very small indigenous settlement. But it was with the second invasion in 43 AD that Londinium, as Romans called it, became the capital of Roman Britain. They decided to build a settlement on the north bank. They chose a spot in two small hills and where the river became narrower. They built a bridge over the Thames, and there has been a "London Bridge" in the same area ever since.

Some years later, a native tribe led by Queen Boudicca rose up against the Romans. They burnt Londinium to the ground and killed all its inhabitants. You can see a statue of Boudicca by Westminster Bridge in London.

The Romans regained control and rebuilt London, this time adding a Forum (market) and Basilica (a business centre), and slowly building a wall around the city to protect it. The Romans ruled in Britain until 410.

Introduction to the blog

Dear 1st batxillerat students,

Here you have a brief explanation of how we are going to start working in this blog.

ALL the students in 1st bat WILL participate. You can do it on your own, in pairs or in groups up to 4 people, always signing your names. Obviously, it must be in English. This information can be a text, a recorded conversation or speech, a video of yours or from You-tube for example, a link, etc. Use your imagination.

Here is a map of central London.



It is divided in areas to make it easier to work with and find your possible daily routes.

In the LondonCallingTrip blog, there will be several sections. Let me introduce the first two to you.

In section #1 we will learn "a little" about London's history. We will learn about:


1.- Roman London (Londinium)
2.- Saxon and Viking London
3.- Medieval London
4.- Tudor London
5.- Stuart London
6.- Victorian London
7.- Between Wars London
8.- Post-war London

I will mention sites you can see in London that belong to the different historical times. You will upload (basic-not too basic)information on them. Try not to talk about the same unless it is complementary or adds information.

In section 2, we will see each different area. Again, I will mention sites; you can choose which ones you would like to visit and upload information about them. Certainly, you can also add other sites you are interested in.

Ogroprofe will give you her information about what she wants her "Let's Talk" Students to do.

Lady Caterpillar