Celebrate London History!

WHY IS HISTORY IMPORTANT? It helps us to understand why we live the way we are living. It allows us to learn from the mistakes of previous generations. History helps us understand how our population has evolved.

EARLY SETTLERS 500 BC The early settlers - in the area that is now London - arrived over half a million years ago. They lived alongside herds of mammoths, horses and giant deer. By 500BC, the Celts had arrived in London.

THE ROMANS AD 43-410 Almost 2,000 years ago, Julius Caesar led the first Roman invasion of Britain. A hundred years later, the Romans built a fortified town beside the Thames. They called it Londinium. For the next 300 years,London became the centre of government and law as well as trade.

VIKING RAIDERS AD 865-1066 London’s new wealth made it a tempting target for Viking raiders (from Denmark & Sweden) who sailed up the Thames in their dragon-headed long ships. In 871 AD, the Viking army took over London.

THE SAXONS 15 years later, the Saxons fought back – under King Alfred the Great – and recaptured the city.

MEDIEVAL TIMES 1066 - 1485 William the Conqueror (ruler of the Normans) was crowned king in 1066 – after he defeated Harold (the Anglo-Saxon leader) at the Battle of Hastings. The Normans were great builders: They turned London into a ‘real’ capital city – building London landmarks, such as the Great Hall at Westminster.

TUDORS 1485 - 1603 London became one of the biggest, and most important, cities in Europe during the reign of the Tudors. Henry VII was the first Tudor king; his son – Henry VIII – broke from the Catholic church and made himself head of the new church.

STUARTS 1603 - 1714 The 17th century was a troubled time for London. In 1605, Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up King James I – inside the Houses of Parliament. During the 1660s, England was torn apart by a civil war fought between James’s son – Charles I and Parliament – led by Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell won; the king was beheaded in 1649. In 1660, Charles II was restored to the throne.

1665 was the year of the ‘Great Plague 1665 was the year of the ‘Great Plague. By the end of the year, over 100,000 people had died. In 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed many landmarks – including St Paul’s Cathedral. Sir Christopher Wren designed a new St Paul’s. By 1714 – it has been built.

GEORGIANS 1714 – 1837 During this period, London’s prosperity continued. London became a world banking centre. Famous London landmarks, such as Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery were all built at this time. King George III bought Buckingham Palace in 1761.

VICTORIANS 1837 – 1901 The Victorian era saw the height of the Industrial Revolution, as well as the expansion of the British Empire. In the 1840s, the coming of the railways transformed London. Within 20 years, London was linked to the rest of the country by a network of railways.

THE PEELERS In 1829, Sir Robert Peel (who was Home Secretary) set up the Metropolitan Police force. Members of this police force – which was formed especially for London - were known as ‘Peelers’ or ‘Bobbies’.

Why do you think the London Mayor was so keen for us to celebrate London history?