London

**London** is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population just under 9 million, accounting for 13.4% of the UK population, and more than 16% of the English population. It stands on the River Thames, and has been a major settlement for 2,000 years. The city of London was founded by the Romans as *Londoninium*.

Westminster, to the west of London, has housed the national government and parliament for centuries. The name "London" also refers to the metropolis comprised of the Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hertfordshire counties, which comprise the region of Greater London.

As a major global city, London has a strong influence in the realms of art, entertainment, fashion, commerce, finance, education, healthcare, media, science, technology, tourism, transport, and communications. It is the largest urban economy in Europe, and is home to a handful of the highest-ranked academic institutions in the world, such as Imperial College London, the London School of Economics, and the University College London. It is the most visited city in Europe, and has the busiest airport (Heathrow) in the world. The London Underground is the oldest rapid transit system on Earth.

## Brief History

The first major settlement in the London area was founded by the Romans in 47 CE, four years after their invasion in 43 CE. Their reign lasted until 61 CE, when the Iceni tribe stormed the city and burnt it to the ground.

With the collapse of the Roman rule, Londinium was abandoned. In 500 CE, an Anglo-Saxon settlement known as Lundenwic appeared west of the city. By 680, it had become a major port again, but declined due to repeated Viking assaults in the 820's. The Vikings controlled much of eastern and northern England. They refounded London in 886, by abandoning Lundenwic and reviving life and trade within the city walls. By the 11th century, it had become the largest town in England. During this time, William, Duke of Normandy was crowned King of England in the newly-completed Westminster Abbey (1066 CE). In 1097, construction began on Westminster Hall, which became the base for the Palace of Westminster.

In the mid-14th century, London lost 1/3 of its population to the Black Death, and was the focus of the Peasants' Revolt in 1381.

During the Tudor period, the Reformation brought a gradual shift to Protestantism. Much of London's property was passed from church to private ownership, accelerating the growth of trade and business. In 1475, the Hanseatic League set up their main trading base in London, called the Steelyard. The Royal Exchange was founded, as well as the East India Company, as trade expanded to the New World.

In the 16th century, William Shakespeare and his contemporaries lived in London. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was constructed in 1599, in Southwark. In 1665 - 1666, the Great Plague wiped out 1/5 of the population (100,000 people). The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed many parts of the city, and rebuilding took over a decade. In 1708, St. Paul's Cathedral was completed. Around 1817, the Royal Navy became the world's leading war fleet.

With the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1831, London became the world's largest city until 1925. The overcrowded conditions led to cholera epidemics, and rising traffic congestion led to the creation of the first urban rail network. London was bombed by the Germans in WWI, and during WWII, the Blitz killed 30,000 Londoners. During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, London was hit by Provisional IRA bombings beginning in 1973. The population declined after WWII. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986, leaving the city with no central administration until 2000, with the creation of the Greater London Authority.

To mark the beginning of the 21st century, the Millennium Dome, London Eye, and Millennium Bridge were built. In 2005, they were awarded the 2012 Summer Olympics, and became the first city to host the Olympic Games three times.

In 2008, *Time* Magazine named London one of the top three most influential cities in the world. In 2015, the population had returned to 8.63 million. During the Brexit referendum in 2016, the Uk decided to leave the European Union.

## Locations Within London

* Claridge House (Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge)

## Canon Residents

* William Pierre Malakoff (formerly)
* Henry Claridge
* Annalise Claridge-Albrecht
* James & Juliet Claridge