146-648: The London Trained Bands (LTBs) were a part-time military force in the City of London from 1559 until they were reconstituted as conventional Militia regiments in 1794. They were periodically embodied for home defence, for example in the army mustered at Tilbury during the Armada Campaign of 1588. They saw a great deal of active service during the English Civil War , including the First and Second Battles of Newbury , and
292-587: A councillor ) to the Court of Common Council of the corporation. Only electors who are Freemen of the City of London are eligible to stand. The number of commoners a ward sends to the Common Council varies from two to ten, depending on the number of electors in each ward. Since the 2003 review it has been agreed that the four more residential wards: Portsoken , Queenhithe , Aldersgate and Cripplegate together elect 20 of
438-461: A 'Great Muster' across the country, when the 16,000-strong 'Citie Forces' marched through London from their muster at Mile End and Stepney . The legal basis of the Shire levy was updated by two acts of 1557 ( 4 & 5 Ph. & M. cc. 2 and 3), which placed the county militia under a Lord Lieutenant appointed by the monarch. The entry into force of these Acts in 1558 is seen as the starting date for
584-513: A Bulwark and rampire to defend the rest. With Essex's line still holding the edge of the plateau, fighting died down for the night about 19.00. The Parliamentarians were prepared to renew the battle next morning, but the Royalists, short of gunpowder, had withdrawn towards Oxford, leaving the London road open. Essex's army marched on towards Reading. It was harried by Rupert's cavalry at Aldermaston , but
730-399: A business district, the City has a small resident population of 8,583 based on 2021 census figures, but over 500,000 are employed there (as of 2019) and some estimates put the number of workers in the City to be over 1 million. About three-quarters of the jobs in the City of London are in the financial, professional, and associated business services sectors. The Roman legions established
876-473: A church dedicated to St Paul in London, as the seat of the new bishop. It is assumed, although unproven, that this first Anglo-Saxon cathedral stood on the same site as the later medieval and the present cathedrals. Alfred the Great , King of Wessex occupied and began the resettlement of the old Roman walled area, in 886, and appointed his son-in-law Earl Æthelred of Mercia over it as part of their reconquest of
1022-574: A day facing Essex and Skippon, it retired to Hounslow under cover of darkness rather than make a frontal attack. The Battle of Turnham Green had ended with barely a shot fired. Unsure of Royalist intentions, three of the LTB regiments were warned to go to Blackheath to link up with the Kent TBs to prevent an incursion into that county from south of London. Instead the Royalists withdrew to Reading and then Oxford , where they established winter quarters within
1168-451: A detachment of 12 companies of the LTBs (two from each regiment) to secure Windsor Castle, for Parliament. The Berkshire and Surrey TBs soon arrived to take over garrisoning the castle under Venn and the LTBs returned home on 25 October. Venn's permanent regiment, recruited in London and officered by former LTB officers, arrived to garrison Windsor four days later. When Prince Rupert arrived with
1314-622: A month. In addition there were the City Horse of 6 Troops , raised from October 1642, though it is not clear whether their service was full- or part-time. These were formed into a regiment in early 1643 and a second regiment was authorised in August. Lieutenant-Colonel Randall Mainwaring of the Red Regiment of TBs also commanded a regular regiment of foot (Mainwaring's Redcoats) recruited from and normally stationed in London. As Sergeant-Major-General of
1460-785: A new London brigade had to be provided before Waller's army could take the field. The London Militia Committee sent the Southwark White Auxiliaries and the Tower Hamlets TBs, later joined by the Westminster Yellow Auxiliaries, all commanded by Maj-Gen Harrington. It sent three of the City auxiliary regiments to join Essex, followed by the other three as a reserve. Accordingly, in mid-May the Green, Yellow and Orange Auxiliaries joined Essex at Reading, which had been abandoned by
1606-669: A number of cannon to Wandsworth and Clapham on 4 January, were joined by the Yellow Regiment next day, and together they moved out to Kingston upon Thames to secure the bridge. They were then ordered to join Waller's army besieging Arundel. Heavy snow delayed their march for several days at Guildford , and they did not reach Petworth until 29 January, after Arundel had fallen. Here Browne fortified Petworth House in case Hopton's army threatened. The brigade remained there for two months before moving to Midhurst on 20 March and then joining
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#17328479868391752-483: A proportion of men for the Trained Bands , who were mustered for regular drills. Even so, there was resistance throughout the country to the costs involved, especially for firearms and training ammunition, and when London tried to get its quota of 2000 'shot' reduced to 500 in 1574, the government increased it to 4000. To reach that total the Court of Aldermen had to exert pressure on the city livery companies to raise
1898-641: A purely Roman foundation of London are now common and uncontroversial." At its height, the Roman city had a population of approximately 45,000–60,000 inhabitants. Londinium was an ethnically diverse city, with inhabitants from across the Roman Empire, including natives of Britannia, continental Europe , the Middle East, and North Africa. The Romans built the London Wall some time between AD 190 and 225. The boundaries of
2044-523: A rapid march for home. This time he chose to move round the south of the Oxford zone, overrunning a small Royalist garrison and supply train in Cirencester and marching via Cricklade , Swindon and Aldbourne . Rupert caught up at Aldbourne on 18 September and there was a cavalry skirmish involving the City Horse, watched by the LTBs. This delayed Essex's army, which only reached Hungerford that night. Next day
2190-427: A representative fashion. Bodies employing fewer than 10 people may appoint 1 voter; those employing 10 to 50 people 1 voter for every 5 employees; those employing more than 50 people 10 voters and 1 additional voter for each 50 employees beyond the first 50. The Act also changed other aspects of an earlier act relating to elections in the city, from 1957. Inner Temple and Middle Temple (which neighbour each other) in
2336-453: A ring of garrisons. From his advanced HQ at Windsor, Essex also disposed his regular troops to cover the western approaches to London, while the LTBs returned to their homes. The City reluctantly allowed Skippon to be seconded to Essex's army as Sergeant-Major-General of Foot. London had long outgrown the old city walls. During the Edgehill campaign the citizens had erected breastworks across all
2482-556: A settlement known as "Londinium" on the current site of the City of London around AD 43. Its bridge over the River Thames turned the city into a road nexus and major port , serving as a major commercial centre in Roman Britain until its abandonment during the 5th century . Archaeologist Leslie Wallace notes that, because extensive archaeological excavation has not revealed any signs of a significant pre-Roman presence, "arguments for
2628-448: A small part of the metropolis of Greater London , though it remains a notable part of central London . The City of London is not one of the London boroughs , a status reserved for the other 32 districts (including Greater London's only other city, the City of Westminster ). It is also a separate ceremonial county, being an enclave surrounded by the ceremonial county of Greater London , and
2774-531: A speech to the LTBs and led them out to Turnham Green where they went into the line alongside's Essex's battered and weary regiments. Come my boys, my brave boys, let us pray heartily and fight heartily. I will run the same fortunes and hazards with you. Remember the Cause is for God; and for the defence of your selves, your wives, and children. Come my honest brave boys, pray heartily, and God will bless us. The King's army found itself outnumbered and out-gunned; after
2920-634: Is also unusual in having responsibilities and ownerships beyond its boundaries, e.g. Hampstead Heath . The corporation is headed by the Lord Mayor of the City of London (an office separate from, and much older than, the Mayor of London ). The Lord Mayor, as of November 2023, is Michael Mainelli . The City is made up of 25 wards , with administration at the historic Guildhall . Other historic sites include St Paul's Cathedral , Royal Exchange , Mansion House , Old Bailey , and Smithfield Market . Although not within
3066-467: Is located at Smithfield , and is undergoing a long-awaited regeneration after doubts as to its continuing use during the 1990s. The city is the third largest UK patron of the arts. It oversees the Barbican Centre and subsidises several important performing arts companies. The London Port Health Authority, which is the responsibility of the corporation, is responsible for all port health functions on
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#17328479868393212-444: Is now ordinarily used for a far wider area than just the City. London most often denotes the sprawling London metropolis, or the 32 Greater London boroughs, in addition to the City of London itself. The local authority for the City, namely the City of London Corporation , is unique in the UK and has some unusual responsibilities for a local council, such as being the police authority. It
3358-586: Is sometimes called the "great refusal", the Corporation said no to the King, which in part accounts for its unique government structure to the present. By the late 16th century, London increasingly became a major centre for banking, international trade and commerce. The Royal Exchange was founded in 1565 by Sir Thomas Gresham as a centre of commerce for London's merchants, and gained Royal patronage in 1571. Although no longer used for its original purpose, its location at
3504-475: Is the case for all other wards in Great Britain . Particular churches, livery company halls and other historic buildings and structures are associated with a ward, such as St Paul's Cathedral with Castle Baynard , and London Bridge with Bridge; boundary changes in 2003 removed some of these historic connections. Each ward elects an alderman to the Court of Aldermen , and commoners (the City equivalent of
3650-506: Is the smallest ceremonial county in England. The City of London is known colloquially as the Square Mile , as it is 1.12 sq mi (716.80 acres; 2.90 km ) in area. Both the terms the City and the Square Mile are often used as metonyms for the UK's trading and financial services industries, which continue a notable history of being largely based in the City. The name London
3796-403: The 1993 Bishopsgate bombing ( IRA ) and the 7 July 2005 London bombings ( Islamist ). In response to the 1993 bombing, a system of road barriers, checkpoints and surveillance cameras referred to as the " ring of steel " has been maintained to control entry points to the city. The 1970s saw the construction of tall office buildings including the 600-foot (183 m), 47-storey NatWest Tower ,
3942-675: The City of London Police —the Common Council (the main body of the corporation) is the police authority . The corporation also run the Hampstead Heath Constabulary , Epping Forest Keepers and the City of London market constabularies (whose members are no longer attested as constables but retain the historic title). The majority of Greater London is policed by the Metropolitan Police Service , based at New Scotland Yard . The city has one hospital, St Bartholomew's Hospital , also known as 'Barts'. Founded in 1123, it
4088-532: The Crown . Historically its system of government was not unusual, but it was not reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 and little changed by later reforms, so that it is the only local government in the UK where elections are not run on the basis of one vote for every adult citizen. It is administered by the City of London Corporation , headed by the Lord Mayor of London (not to be confused with
4234-536: The Great Fire. After the fire of 1666, a number of plans were drawn up to remodel the city and its street pattern into a renaissance -style city with planned urban blocks, squares and boulevards. These plans were almost entirely not taken up, and the medieval street pattern re-emerged almost intact. In the 1630s the Crown sought to have the Corporation of the City of London extend its jurisdiction to surrounding areas. In what
4380-537: The London Stock Exchange based in the City. Throughout the 19th century, the City was the world's primary business centre, and it continues to be a major meeting point for businesses. London was ranked second (after New York) in the Global Financial Centres Index , published in 2022. The insurance industry is concentrated in the eastern side of the city, around Lloyd's building . Since about
4526-465: The ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Bishop of London . Within the city, the Corporation owns and runs both Smithfield Market and Leadenhall Market . It owns land beyond its boundaries, including open spaces (parks, forests and commons) in and around Greater London, including most of Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath . The Corporation owns Old Spitalfields Market and Billingsgate Fish Market , in
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4672-582: The tidal part of the Thames , including the Port of London and related seaports, and London City Airport . The Corporation oversees the Bridge House Estates , which maintains Blackfriars Bridge , Millennium Bridge , Southwark Bridge , London Bridge and Tower Bridge . The City's flag flies over Tower Bridge, although neither footing is in the city. Beaumont and Fletcher Beaumont and Fletcher were
4818-679: The 'Artillery Company of London' (later the Honourable Artillery Company , HAC) with a drill ground and firing ranges at the Old Artillery Garden outside the city walls at Spitalfields . It attracted keen citizens who learned drill and studied the military arts as a hobby under the tutelage of hired professional captains. The Artillery Company and similar groups such as the Military Garden in St Martin's Fields provided much of
4964-452: The 'London Greycoats', Col Lord Brooke 's Regiment of Foot (purple coats) and Col Denzil Holles ' Regiment of Foot (red coats), and Col Richard Browne 's Regiment of Dragoons. The departure of Essex's army in September was another excuse for an LTB parade and civic occasion. However, Parliament was lucky also to retain the reliable LTBs in hand as a strategic reserve. John Venn was sent with
5110-400: The 'square mile' and held 86% of the population, and these were in fact similar to and named after four City of London wards: The city has a unique electoral system. Most of its voters are representatives of businesses and other bodies that occupy premises in the city. Its ancient wards have very unequal numbers of voters. In elections, both the businesses based in the city and the residents of
5256-433: The 100 commoners, whereas the business-dominated remainder elect the remaining 80 commoners. 2003 and 2013 boundary changes have increased the residential emphasis of the mentioned four wards. Census data provides eight nominal rather than 25 real wards, all of varying size and population. Being subject to renaming and definition at any time, these census 'wards' are notable in that four of the eight wards accounted for 67% of
5402-503: The 1980s, a secondary financial district has existed outside the city, at Canary Wharf, 2.5 miles (4 km) to the east. The legal profession has a major presence in the northern and western sides of the City, especially in the Temple and Chancery Lane areas where the Inns of Court are located, two of which ( Inner Temple and Middle Temple ) fall within the City of London boundary. Primarily
5548-512: The 19th century, with London growing in all directions. To the East the Port of London grew rapidly during the century, with the construction of many docks, needed as the Thames at the City could not cope with the volume of trade. The arrival of the railways and the Tube meant that London could expand over a much greater area. By the mid-19th century, with London still rapidly expanding in population and area,
5694-589: The 40 City companies, each with an establishment of 150 men, comprised 2000 pikemen and 4000 armed with the caliver , a kind of light musket. In addition the 'Out Liberties' of the Tower Hamlets , Westminster and Southwark provided a further 5 companies with 350 pikes and 750 calivers. (Another breakdown of the LTBs' weapons in April 1588 listed 1000 muskets, 2000 pikes, 2400 calivers and 600 bills , with 4000 armed but untrained men listed as pioneers ). It appears that
5840-785: The Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy , the London area came in turn under the Kingdoms of Essex , Mercia , and later Wessex , though from the mid 8th century it was frequently under threat from raids by different groups including the Vikings . Bede records that in AD 604 St Augustine consecrated Mellitus as the first bishop to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the East Saxons and their king, Sæberht . Sæberht's uncle and overlord, Æthelberht , king of Kent , built
5986-587: The Blitz . Whilst St Paul's Cathedral survived the onslaught, large swathes of the area did not and the particularly heavy raids of late December 1940 led to a firestorm called the Second Great Fire of London . There was a major rebuilding programme in the decades following the war, in some parts (such as at the Barbican) dramatically altering the urban landscape. But the destruction of the older historic fabric allowed
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6132-570: The Cherwell were withdrawn. With Oxford partially encircled, the King and the Royalist field army left the city and moved to Evesham , followed by Essex and Waller to Stow-on-the-Wold . At this point the two Parliamentarian armies separated. Essex's army, accompanied by the Auxiliary brigade, marched west to relieve the besieged garrison of Lyme Regis , while Waller with Harrington's Suburban brigade shadowed
6278-603: The City Green Auxiliaries and Westminster Red TBs were quartered at Windsor and Datchet , where they were joined by the Tower Hamlets. The brigade was commanded by Sir James Harrington , colonel of the Westminster TBs. It left on 30 October marching via Bagshot and on through the night to Farnham. On 3 November it moved to Alton, Hampshire , where it rendezvoused with Waller's army. The projected move to Winchester
6424-479: The City Horse, and Mainwaring's Redcoats for the campaign. The regiments mustered at the New Artillery Ground on 23 August and marched out that night, proceeding via Chalfont and Chesham to rendezvous with Essex's army on Brackley Heath on 1 September. Bolstered by these reinforcements, Essex was strong enough to march through Royalist-held country via Bicester and Chipping Norton , skirting north of
6570-465: The City and Middlesex were regarded as one administratively for addressing crime and keeping the peace (not that the county was a dependency of the city). London's sheriffs continued to serve Middlesex until the county was given its own sheriffs again following the Local Government Act 1888 . By 1141 the whole body of the citizenry was considered to constitute a single community. This ' commune '
6716-484: The City during Jack Cade's Rebellion before being ousted by London citizens following a bloody battle on London Bridge. In 1550, the area south of London Bridge in Southwark came under the control of the City with the establishment of the ward of Bridge Without . The city was burnt severely on a number of occasions, the worst being in 1123 and in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Both of these fires were referred to as
6862-518: The City had already become only a small part of the wider metropolis. An attempt was made in 1894 with the Royal Commission on the Amalgamation of the City and County of London to end the distinction between the city and the surrounding County of London, but a change of government at Westminster meant the option was not taken up. The city as a distinct polity survived despite its position within
7008-697: The City in succession to Skippon, Mainwaring used the City Horse and his Redcoats for police duties. At the end of May 1643 the LTBs and Auxiliaries were called upon to seize the suspects in Edmund Waller 's plot and to guard the prisons and subsequent executions. On 20 July 1643, Col Richard Browne of the Dragoons led Mainwaring's Redcoats and the Green Auxiliaries to break up an assembly of Royalists at Sevenoaks in Kent. The Royalists retreated to Tonbridge where there
7154-594: The City regiments were temporary – no colonels were appointed (except to the Tower Hamlets and Westminster contingents) – and the 40 companies were the sole permanent organisations. Formally, the Southwark Trained Bands were under the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey , but since 1550 the heart of the borough had formed Bridge Without ward of the city, and its regiment generally cooperated with the LTBs. The LTBs marched out behind their captains and ensigns to join
7300-678: The City today is the Barbican Estate , constructed between 1965 and 1976. The Museum of London was based there until March 2023 (due to reopen in West Smithfield in 2026), whilst a number of other services provided by the corporation are still maintained on the Barbican Estate. The city has a unique political status, a legacy of its uninterrupted integrity as a corporate city since the Anglo-Saxon period and its singular relationship with
7446-406: The City vote. The City of London Corporation was not reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 , because it had a more extensive electoral franchise than any other borough or city; in fact, it widened this further with its own equivalent legislation allowing one to become a freeman without being a liveryman . In 1801, the city had a population of about 130,000, but increasing development of
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#17328479868397592-515: The City, the adjacent Tower of London , built to dominate the City, is part of its old defensive perimeter. The City has responsibility for five bridges across the Thames in its capacity as trustee of the Bridge House Estates : Blackfriars Bridge , Millennium Bridge , Southwark Bridge , London Bridge and Tower Bridge . The City is a major business and financial centre, with both the Bank of England and
7738-418: The Common Council increased the LTBs to 40 companies of 200 men, now organised in six rather than four regiments, and under the authority of the Militia Committee rather than the Lord Mayor. The new regiments took their names from the colour of their ensigns, and took their precedence from the seniority of the aldermen who were appointed as their colonels. A large number of new officers were appointed, mainly from
7884-405: The Conqueror marched on London, reaching as far as Southwark , but failed to get across London Bridge or defeat the Londoners. He eventually crossed the River Thames at Wallingford , pillaging the land as he went. Rather than continuing the war, Edgar the Ætheling , Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria surrendered at Berkhamsted . William granted the citizens of London a charter in 1075;
8030-453: The Corporation holds the ancient office of Town Clerk of London . The city is a ceremonial county which has a Commission of Lieutenancy headed by the Lord Mayor instead of a Lord-Lieutenant and has two Sheriffs instead of a High Sheriff (see list of Sheriffs of London ), quasi-judicial offices appointed by the livery companies , an ancient political system based on the representation and protection of trades ( guilds ). Senior members of
8176-410: The Earl of Essex's Parliamentary army were wholly or partly recruited in London, and it is safe to assume that a proportion of the men and certainly some of the officers were members or former members of the LTBs and HAC. Many of the other recruits were apprentices, promised freedom from their indentures at the completion of their service. These regiments included Col Sir John Merrick 's Regiment of Foot,
8322-506: The English dramatists Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher , who collaborated in their writing during the reign of James I (1603–25). They became known as a team early in their association, so much so that their joined names were applied to the total canon of Fletcher, including his solo works and the plays he composed with various other collaborators including Philip Massinger and Nathan Field . The first Beaumont and Fletcher folio of 1647 contained 35 plays; 53 plays were included in
8468-442: The HAC. The regiments were organised as follows: The first muster of the six regiments was held on 10 May 1642 as a public celebration attended by thousands of Londoners and members of both Houses of Parliament. Once the First English Civil War broke out in 1642, neither side made much further use of the Trained Bands outside London except as a source of recruits and weapons for their own full-time regiments. A number of regiments in
8614-427: The King's force. Waller bombarded Sudeley Castle and forced its surrender on 8 June. There followed three weeks' pursuit of the King round the West Midlands before reaching the area of Banbury on 27 June. Having drawn reinforcements from Oxford the King's army was now prepared to give battle to Waller. The two sides skirmished across the Cherwell on 28 June. Next day the two armies marched parallel to each other on
8760-400: The LTBs drove them off with musket fire. After resting for three days at Reading, the City Brigade marched home via Maidenhead and Brentford. The men made a ceremonial entry into the City at Temple Bar on 28 September with sprigs of greenery in their hats to signify victory. The Red Regiment resolved to give thanks at St Botolph's Aldgate every year on 20 September. While one City Brigade
8906-417: The LTBs, but the officers were active in the HAC and the growing number of other military societies. Trained bands were called out in 1639 and 1640 for the Bishops' Wars , The LTBs were ordered to muster in Spring 1639 and the king demanded 3000 selected men for his projected campaign. However, the City asserted the right that its trained bands could not be compelled to serve outside London. The following year
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#17328479868399052-400: The LTBs, even though the London Militia Committee felt that their men could be better employed elsewhere. Just before Christmas Skippon set out with the Green and Orange Regiments to join the siege of Grafton House. They arrived on 22 December and after two days of skirmishing the artillery had destroyed the mansion's roof. The garrison accepted terms of surrender and the Londoners then entered
9198-421: The LTBs. After Charles failed to arrest the leaders of the opposition in Parliament (the Five Members ) and then fled London, Skippon led a parade of eight companies of the LTBs down the Strand to honour the returning five members. He also seized the Tower of London (guarded by the Tower Hamlets TBs and was given joint authority (with the Sheriff of Surrey) over the Southwark Trained Bands . On 12 February 1642
9344-416: The London Militia Committee took over full responsibility for the City and Suburbs in August 1643, it controlled 18 regiments of Foot, about 20,000 men at full strength. Not all could be called away at once – the need to man the defences and continue the economic life of the City precluded that – but during the active campaigning season the regiments took turns to do tours of duty in the field, receiving pay for
9490-409: The London conurbation and numerous local government reforms . Supporting this status, the city was a special parliamentary borough that elected four members to the unreformed House of Commons , who were retained after the Reform Act 1832 ; reduced to two under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 ; and ceased to be a separate constituency under the Representation of the People Act 1948 . Since then
9636-535: The London regiments asked Waller to be allowed to withdraw because of the bad weather, while the paid substitutes had run out of money. Waller compromised by allowing them into Basingstoke for rest. He then advanced against Basing House again on 12 November, in two columns, the Londoners being directed against the earthworks facing Basing Park, which they attacked vigorously, employing ladders and Petards . The Westminster TB musketeers got their Volley fire drill mixed up, with numerous front rank men killed and wounded by
9782-437: The London regiments. Although their officers voted to fight Hopton's approaching army, the trained bandsmen refused (there had been rumours that they were to march to relieve the Siege of Plymouth ). Waller abandoned this first Siege of Basing House and retired to Farnham, where food and pay was received. Hopton followed, but after some skirmishing under the guns of Farnham Castle he sent a force to capture Arundel Castle and
9928-417: The Lord Mayor to muster the LTBs, inspect the weapons and fill vacancies. In 1616 the four regiments were formally established (with slightly different recruiting areas), each consisting of five companies of 300 men. Until the late 1630s the LTBs' duties were largely ceremonial, or to maintain order amongst the unruly apprentices during holidays. It appears that the annual muster was the only regular training for
10074-409: The Red Regiment alone, including Lt-Col William Tucker commanding the regiment). The London Train'd-bands and Auxiliary Regiments (of whose inexperience of danger, or any kind of Service beyond the easy practice of their Postures in the Artillery Garden, Men had 'till then too cheap an estimation) behaved themselves to wonder; and were, in truth, the preservation of that Army that day. For they stood as
10220-408: The Roman city were similar to those of the City of London today, though the City extends further west than Londinium's Ludgate , and the Thames was undredged and thus wider than it is today, with Londinium's shoreline slightly north of the city's present shoreline. The Romans built a bridge across the river, as early as AD 50, near to today's London Bridge. By the time the London Wall was constructed,
10366-402: The Roman public buildings in Londinium by this time had fallen into decay and disuse, and gradually after the formal withdrawal the city became almost (if not, at times, entirely) uninhabited. The centre of trade and population moved away from the walled Londinium to Lundenwic ("London market"), a settlement to the west, roughly in the modern-day Strand / Aldwych / Covent Garden area. During
10512-588: The Royal Court) under the command of the Royalist Earl of Dorset , and that subsequently there were clashes between the new guards and the London apprentices. However, this story has been refuted in the most detailed history of the LTBs, which points out that the guards were provided by the Westminster TBs all along, supported by the other Middlesex TBs and it was only the commanders who were exchanged. The clashes between TBs and apprentices may have been orchestrated by
10658-535: The Royalists. The two armies rendezvoused at Abingdon-on-Thames , which had also been abandoned by the Royalists, who were calling in their garrisons to form a field army. From 30 May to 1 June the London Auxiliaries were engaged in skirmishes as Essex tried to seize crossings over the River Cherwell at Gosford and Enslow , but on 1 June Waller got across the Thames at Newbridge , and the Royalist guards on
10804-937: The Standard (1138). The force was reorganised under the Assizes of Arms of 1181 and 1252 , and again by King Edward I 's Statute of Winchester of 1285. Levies from London were engaged at the Battle of Lewes in 1264, and defended the city in the Siege of London in 1471 during the Wars of the Roses . King Henry VIII strengthened the military capability of the country: in Acts of 1511 (An Act concerning shooting in Long Bows., 3 Hen. 8 . c. 3), 1514 ( 6 Hen. 8 . c. 2) and 1541 ( The Unlawful Games Act ), Parliament reiterating
10950-559: The Thames, and laying a new city street plan. Alfred's taking of London and the rebuilding of the old Roman city was a turning point in history, not only as the permanent establishment of the City of London, but also as part of a unifying moment in early England, with Wessex becoming the dominant English kingdom and the repelling (to some degree) of the Viking occupation and raids. While London, and indeed England, were afterwards subjected to further periods of Viking and Danish raids and occupation,
11096-588: The Trained Bands and their sham fights at Mile End ( Beaumont and Fletcher ridiculed them in their 1607 play The Knight of the Burning Pestle ), but London was in fact the exception to the rule: its regiments were well trained, capable of putting up a stout defence, and the men were even prepared to leave their businesses for short campaigns. Under Queen Elizabeth I the Fraternity of St George had developed into
11242-461: The Trained Bands of Buckinghamshire , Essex , Hertfordshire and Surrey to guard the suburbs against disorder during Essex's trial and subsequent execution. Similarly, the accession of King James I in 1603 saw 100 Surrey trained bandsmen summoned to help guard the City of Westminster during the coronation. The militia was neglected during James's reign, but in 1614 the Privy Council ordered
11388-456: The Viking occupied parts of England. The refortified Anglo-Saxon settlement was known as Lundenburh ("London Fort", a borough ). The historian Asser said that "Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, restored the city of London splendidly ... and made it habitable once more." Alfred's "restoration" entailed reoccupying and refurbishing the nearly deserted Roman walled city, building quays along
11534-506: The Wardmote the ward's Alderman appoints at least one Deputy for the year ahead, and Wardmotes are also held during elections. Each ward also has a Ward Club, which is similar to a residents' association . The wards are ancient and their number has changed three times since time immemorial : Following boundary changes in 1994, and later reform of the business vote in the city, there was a major boundary and electoral representation revision of
11680-452: The advance guard of the Royalist army on 7 November after the inconclusive Battle of Edgehill , Windsor rejected his summons and he continued towards London, joining the King's main body at Brentford , west of the city, on 11 November. Essex's army had reached London first, and held Brentford. Rupert attacked the village early on 12 November (the Battle of Brentford ) and destroyed the two regiments of Brooke and Holles. Next day Skippon gave
11826-597: The advanced troops of the Royalist Army got ahead of the Parliamentarians and reached Newbury , cutting Essex's route. The Royalists camped on the plateau of Wash Common, just south of the town, while the Parliamentarians halted at Enborne . The Royalists were in a good position, but the Parliamentarians moved before dawn on 20 September, crossed the valley separating the armies, and Skippon's and Lord Robartes ' brigades with two light guns were deployed on Round Hill at
11972-452: The afternoon the Royalists began to give way, pursued by musketry and artillery fire, but made a reasonably orderly retreat to Basing, covered by a rearguard in Alresford. Waller entered Winchester on 30 March, although the castle remained in Royalist hands, and he began clearing the surrounding countryside. On 6 April Browne's City Brigade was engaged at Bishop's Waltham , where they forced
12118-512: The ancient centre, and constitutes, along with Canary Wharf , the primary central business district (CBD) of London and one of the leading financial centres of the world. It constituted most of London from its settlement by the Romans in the 1st century AD to the Middle Ages , but the modern area referred to as London has since grown far beyond the City of London boundary. The City is now only
12264-658: The anti-Royalist faction in Parliament, especially the City of London MP John Venn (captain of the Cripplegate Within company and in the HAC). The LTBs, meanwhile, were maintaining order in the City itself. Later, the House of Commons did petition the king for a guard from the LTBs, which was denied. The standoff between King and Parliament over control of the TBs across the country was one of
12410-605: The area, particularly in Lime Street . In 1708, Christopher Wren 's masterpiece, St Paul's Cathedral , was completed on his birthday. The first service had been held on 2 December 1697, more than 10 years earlier. It replaced the original St Paul's, which had been completely destroyed in the Great Fire of London, and is considered to be one of the finest cathedrals in Britain and a fine example of Baroque architecture . The 18th century
12556-513: The army moved to Tewkesbury to cover the Gloucester garrison and citizens' foraging, leaving Mainwaring and two of his regiments in Gloucester. Essex then began building a bridge over the River Severn as if he intended to move against the Royalist stronghold of Worcester . The Royalists moved to cover Worcester, but having successfully feinted and gained a day's march on his opponents, Essex began
12702-511: The battles of Alton , Cheriton , Cropredy Bridge and Lostwithiel . Throughout their history they were used to suppress civil disorder and insurrection around the capital. The English militia was descended from the Anglo-Saxon Fyrd , the military force raised from the freemen of the shires under command of their Sheriff . It continued under the Norman kings , notably at the Battle of
12848-625: The church and the Royalists surrendered after their colonel was killed. After the Battle of Alton Waller returned to Farnham and proposed to recapture Arundel Castle, but the London Brigade refused, and Waller allowed them to march home on 20 December. The three regiments held a service of thanksgiving in Christ Church, Newgate Street , on 2 January 1644. Meanwhile, the London Brigade with Essex's army had rendezvoused at St Albans on 25 October 1643. Essex sent Skippon with 400 London musketeers and
12994-656: The city as a central business district led to this falling to below 5,000 after the Second World War. It has risen slightly to around 9,000 since, largely due to the development of the Barbican Estate . In 2009, the business vote was about 24,000, greatly exceeding residential voters. As the City of London Corporation has not been affected by other municipal legislation over the period of time since then, its electoral practice has become increasingly anomalous. Uniquely for city or borough elections, its elections remain independent-dominated. The business or " non-residential vote "
13140-554: The city is a minority (in terms of population and area) of the Cities of London and Westminster . The city's population fell rapidly in the 19th century and through most of the 20th century, as people moved outwards in all directions to London's vast suburbs , and many residential buildings were demolished to make way for office blocks. Like many areas of London and other British cities, the City fell victim to large scale and highly destructive aerial bombing during World War II , especially in
13286-530: The city was one of a few examples of the English retaining some authority. The city was not covered by the Domesday Book . William built three castles around the city, to keep Londoners subdued: Around 1132 the City was given the right to appoint its own sheriffs rather than having sheriffs appointed by the monarch. London's chosen sheriffs also served as the sheriffs for the county of Middlesex . This meant that
13432-424: The city was ordered to levy 4000 men for the next campaign, but they were not to be drawn from the trained bands. Instead, the LTBs were to secure the suburbs where riots against Royal policies were becoming frequent (though the men were reluctant to act against the rioters with whom they sympathised). As the crisis worsened, the LTBs did duty at Westminster for long periods, for example for 55 days and 10 nights during
13578-520: The city's fortunes were in decline, and it faced problems of plague and fire. The Roman Empire entered a long period of instability and decline , including the Carausian Revolt in Britain. In the 3rd and 4th centuries, the city was under attack from Picts , Scots, and Saxon raiders. The decline continued, both for Londinium and the Empire, and in AD 410 the Romans withdrew entirely from Britain. Many of
13724-482: The city. Each ward has an Alderman , who until the mid-1960s held office for life but since put themselves up for re-election at least every 6 years, and are the only directly elected Aldermen in the United Kingdom . Wards continue to have a Beadle , an ancient position which is now largely ceremonial whose main remaining function is the running of an annual Wardmote of electors, representatives and officials. At
13870-438: The construction of modern and larger-scale developments, whereas in those parts not so badly affected by bomb damage the City retains its older character of smaller buildings. The street pattern, which is still largely medieval, was altered slightly in places, although there is a more recent trend of reversing some of the post-war modernist changes made, such as at Paternoster Square . The City suffered terrorist attacks including
14016-502: The corner of Cornhill and Threadneedle Street continues to be the geographical centre of the city's core of banking and financial services, with the Bank of England moving to its present site in 1734, opposite the Royal Exchange. Immediately to the south of Cornhill, Lombard Street was the location from 1691 of Lloyd's Coffee House , which became the world-leading insurance market. London's insurance sector continues to be based in
14162-455: The defeat of the Armada, the army at Tilbury was dispersed and the Trained Bands returned to their homes. They continued to train, but by the 1599 muster the numbers from the 25 wards and the out-liberty of St Martin-le-Grand had fallen to 1150 pikes and 2225 calivers. The LTBs were next called into service during Essex's Rebellion in 1601. Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex , believed that he had
14308-451: The descent until the following morning, and the Red Regiment was again left in the open as baggage guard during a night of rain and alarms. Unused to campaigning, the LTBs complained bitterly about camping out on short rations. However, the arrival of this army forced the Royalists to break up their siege, and on 8 September Essex entered Gloucester with the badly-needed supplies for Col Edward Massey and his garrison. On 10 September most of
14454-526: The edge of the plateau before the Royalists became aware of them. The First Battle of Newbury began about 07.00 with Royalist infantry and cavalry attacks through the fields against Round Hill. These had almost pushed the Parliamentary infantry off the hill when Skippon deployed his reserve, the City Brigade. The Blue Auxiliaries stabilised Robartes' line, which was in a musketry fight in the hedgerows, while
14600-533: The establishment of the City of London and the Kingdom of England prevailed. In the 10th century, Athelstan permitted eight mints to be established, compared with six in his capital, Winchester , indicating the wealth of the city. London Bridge, which had fallen into ruin following the Roman evacuation and abandonment of Londinium, was rebuilt by the Saxons, but was periodically destroyed by Viking raids and storms. As
14746-674: The first skyscraper in the UK. By the 2010s, office space development had intensified in the City, especially in the central, northern and eastern parts, with skyscrapers including 30 St. Mary Axe ("the Gherkin"'), Leadenhall Building ("the Cheesegrater"), 20 Fenchurch Street ("the Walkie-Talkie"), the Broadgate Tower , the Heron Tower and 22 Bishopsgate . The main residential section of
14892-651: The first three scenes in Act IV (IV,i-iii) and the first and third scenes of Act V (V,i and iii). The play is more Beaumont's than it is Fletcher's. Beaumont also dominates in The Maid's Tragedy , The Noble Gentleman, Philaster , and The Woman Hater . In contrast, The Captain , The Coxcomb , Cupid's Revenge , Beggars' Bush , and The Scornful Lady contain more of Fletcher's work than Beaumont's. The cases of Thierry and Theodoret and Love's Cure are somewhat confused by Massinger's revision; but in these plays too, Fletcher appears
15038-410: The focus of trade and population was moved back to within the old Roman walls, the older Saxon settlement of Lundenwic was largely abandoned and gained the name of Ealdwic (the "old settlement"). The name survives today as Aldwych (the "old market-place"), a name of a street and an area of the City of Westminster between Westminster and the City of London. Following the Battle of Hastings , William
15184-415: The foot fought in the hedgerows on the left of Waller's line. However, the Royalists horse attacked without orders in the centre and a general cavalry battle took place in the space between the wings, the London brigade on the right having to drive back several Royalist cavalry probes in their direction. The Royalist cavalry lost heavily, and in the afternoon Browne led the foot back into Cheriton Wood. Late in
15330-406: The former to Farnham to face Hopton, the latter to capture Newport Pagnell , each force accompanied by a London brigade. The Tower Hamlets Auxiliaries were the first to march out to Brentford, but whole companies were absent and it took some days to bring them out. Many of the trained bandsmen on this expedition were actually paid substitutes, the citizens preferring to stay at home. By 25 October
15476-441: The general muster of Waller's army at East Meon on 27 March. The Royalists planned a surprise attack on Waller's advance guard, but found the whole White Regiment drawn up facing them. Waller came up in support with the main body, and decided to make for Alresford to cut the Royalists off from their base at Winchester . However, the Royalists out-marched him, and his army bivouacked in the fields at Cheriton . Action on 28 March
15622-637: The great camp at Tilbury where Queen Elizabeth gave her Tilbury speech on 9 August. It appears that the job of watching the walls and gates of the city was left to the 4000 armed but untrained men. Captain Martin Bond of the Aldersgate Company was one of those present at Tilbury. He later became 'Chief Captain' of the LTB and the first President of the Court of Assistants of the Artillery Company. After
15768-402: The high ground on either side of the river until Waller saw a gap opening in the Royalist line. To exploit the opportunity he sent his horse across the Cherwell at a ford and the bridge at Cropredy , bringing on the Battle of Cropredy Bridge . The Royalist horse responded aggressively, charging downhill and driving the Parliamentarians back across the river. The Tower Hamlets TBs stoutly defended
15914-530: The house, securing many prisoners and stores before burning the house down. They returned to Newport Pagnell until 11 January 1644, when they marched home, leaving the fortifications in the hands of the new garrison. In December 1643 Parliament appointed Col Richard Browne to command a replacement City brigade for Waller's army. This consisted of the White and Yellow Regiments, the only two City regiments that had not yet seen any service. The White Regiment marched out with
16060-500: The livery companies are known as liverymen and form the Common Hall, which chooses the lord mayor, the sheriffs and certain other officers. The city is made up of 25 wards . They are survivors of the medieval government system that allowed a very local area to exist as a self-governing unit within the wider city. They can be described as electoral/political divisions; ceremonial, geographic and administrative entities; sub-divisions of
16206-632: The major points of dispute that led to the First English Civil War . Parliament was now issuing orders direct to a committee of the Common Council of London over the objections of the Royalist Lord Mayor and aldermen, including imposing Philip Skippon as commander of the LTBs. Skippon had been Chief Captain (later Captain-General) of the HAC since 1639 and now became Sergeant-Major-General of
16352-512: The necessary money. In 1586 the responsibility for the London Trained Bands was shifted from the livery companies to the Wards of the City of London . In theory the Trained Bands met for a day's training in each of the summer months, but for most of the country this was perfunctory, and they were in fact Untrained Bands, who would not serve outside their own district. Londoners often made fun of
16498-574: The neighbouring London Borough of Tower Hamlets . It owns and helps fund the Old Bailey , the Central Criminal Court for England and Wales , as a gift to the nation, having begun as the City and Middlesex Sessions. The Honourable The Irish Society , a body closely linked with the corporation, also owns many public spaces in Northern Ireland . The city has its own independent police force,
16644-515: The obligation on boys aged from 7 and upwards, and all men of military age, to practise archery (with English longbows , not crossbows) and for all towns and villages to set up Archery butts . Moorfields and Finsbury Fields were popular archery grounds for Londoners. In 1537 Henry issued a charter to the Fraternity of St George whereby the citizens of London could practise with 'artillery' (longbows, crossbows and handguns), and in 1539 he called out
16790-613: The officer corps for the LTBs and ensured that they were among the best-trained and equipped in the country. With the outbreak of the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) , training and equipping the militia became a priority. By early 1588 the LTBs were training twice-weekly before the Armada Crisis led to the mobilisation of the trained bands on 23 July. At this time the LTBs were organised as follows: East Regiment North Regiment West Regiment South Regiment In total
16936-410: The organised county militia in England. Regulations for mustering the militia of the City of London were issued by Queen Elizabeth I in 1559. The elected Lord Mayor and Aldermen fulfilled the roles of Lord Lieutenant and appointed the officers. Although the militia obligation was universal, it was clearly impractical to train and equip every able-bodied man, so after 1572 the practice was to select
17082-482: The original regiments, with some officers holding dual appointments. The property qualification for participation was relaxed, so that apprentices and younger men who were not householders could serve. The weapons were supplied by the livery companies and the East India Company . The regiments were organised as follows: The suburbs of Westminster, Southwark and the Tower Hamlets similarly raised auxiliary TBs. When
17228-546: The other Auxiliaries drove back the Royalist cavalry with their pikes, encouraged by Essex in person. Skippon then brought up the heavier artillery, whose emplacement was covered by the Red and Blue Regiments drawn up in the open on Wash Common. These two units came under fire from the Royalist guns and renewed attacks by Rupert's cavalry, but despite heavy casualties they held their positions until their own guns were in action. The City Brigade had some 300 wounded, with many killed (60–70 in
17374-413: The outer defences of Oxford. When the army camped on 3 September there were insufficient quarters and the Red Regiment had to march 1 mile (1.6 km) beyond the rest of the brigade to the village of Oddington near Stow-on-the-Wold to find billets of their own. This put them nearest to the enemy, without a cavalry screen, and shortly after they settled down there was an alarm as Prince Rupert's cavalry
17520-467: The regular garrison of Farnham Castle attacking from the west. The Westminsters and the Farnham Greencoats attacked a breastwork, whose defenders retired when outflanked by the Green Auxiliaries, allowing the brigade to enter the town. The Royalists defended the churchyard wall, but some London musketeers broke in and pushed them back into St Lawrence's Church . The Tower Hamlets forced their way into
17666-480: The rest of his army went into winter quarters. On 12 December Waller mustered his army in Farnham Park and persuaded the London Brigade to stay with him until Christmas. That night he marched out as if to renew the siege of Basing, but instead turned south to Alton, where a brigade of Hopton's army was quartered. The Royalists were taken by surprise as Waller's infantry assaulted the town, the London Brigade supported by
17812-576: The retention of the business vote argue that it is a cause of institutional inertia. The City of London (Ward Elections) Act 2002 , a private Act of Parliament, reformed the voting system and greatly increased the business franchise, allowing many more businesses to be represented. Under the new system, the number of non-resident voters has doubled from 16,000 to 32,000. Previously disenfranchised firms (and other organisations) are entitled to nominate voters, in addition to those already represented, and all such bodies are now required to choose their voters in
17958-540: The second and third ranks firing too soon. With the Royalist artillery concentrating fire on this disordered formation, the Westminster musketeers broke and fled, and the assault failed. The Green Auxiliaries recovered the guns and petards abandoned by the Westminsters. Large numbers of the Westminsters deserted, but were fined or imprisoned when they reached home. Next day, Waller was greeted by cries of 'Home, Home!', from
18104-925: The second folio in 1679. Other works bring the total plays in the canon to about 55. While scholars and critics will probably never render a unanimous verdict on the authorship of all these plays—especially given the difficulties of some of the individual cases—contemporary scholarship has arrived at a corpus of about 12 to 15 plays that are the work of both men. (See the individual pages on Beaumont and Fletcher for more details.) The plays generally recognised as Beaumont/Fletcher collaborations: Beaumont/Fletcher plays, later revised by Massinger: Due to Fletcher's distinctive pattern of contractional forms and linguistic preferences (' em for them , ye for you , etc.), his hand can be fairly readily distinguished from Beaumont's in their collaborative works. In A King and No King , Beaumont wrote Acts I, II, and III in their entirety, plus scene IV,iv and V,ii and iv, while Fletcher wrote only
18250-471: The separate Mayor of London , an office created only in the year 2000), which is responsible for a number of functions and has interests in land beyond the city's boundaries. Unlike other English local authorities, the corporation has two council bodies: the (now largely ceremonial) Court of Aldermen and the Court of Common Council . The Court of Aldermen represents the wards, with each ward (irrespective of size) returning one alderman. The chief executive of
18396-527: The south side, one for Westminster, one company at the Royal Exchange , half a company at St Paul's and half a company at Tower Hill . Manning these fortifications day and night was a considerable drain on the existing TBs and would prevent them taking the field in numbers. In 1643 the City raised six additional regiments, the Auxiliaries, with the same colours and effectively acting as second battalions of
18542-492: The streets leading to open country and set up guard posts manned by the LTBs – 20 companies were on duty each night. During the winter of 1642–3 volunteer work gangs of citizens constructed a massive entrenchment and rampart round the city and its suburbs. On the north bank of the Thames it enclosed the whole of Westminster and the Tower Hamlets as far as Whitechapel and Wapping ; on the south, it ran from Vauxhall to Rotherhithe , enclosing Lambeth and Bermondsey as well as
18688-480: The support of 1000 men of the LTBs under Sheriff Thomas Smyth, captain of the Billingsgate and Broad Street company, but when he and his followers went to Smyth's house they found no support, and on returning to Ludgate their way was barred by the LTBs. Essex ordered his followers to charge, but several of them were killed in the skirmish that followed. Essex was captured shortly afterwards. The LTBs were reinforced by
18834-604: The surrender of the fortified Bishop's Palace . The Londoners were now anxious to return home, and the two regiments left without orders, accompanied by the second regiment of City Horse. They returned as heroes to the city on 14 April. Without the City Brigade Waller had to shut down operations and hold his positions at Bishop's Waltham and Farnham. The Parliamentary leaders had ordered a concentration of all their armies in South East England to move against Oxford, but
18980-643: The trial of the Earl of Strafford . There is an often-repeated story that when Charles I returned from his Scottish campaign in October 1641 he ordered the guards on Parliament sitting at Westminster, which were provided by the city, Surrey and Middlesex TBs under command of the Puritan Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex , to be replaced by the Westminster TBs (many of whose tradesmen members were purveyors to
19126-646: The two regiments of City Horse to seize Newport Pagnell, which a small Royalist force had begun to fortify. On Skippon's approach the Royalists withdrew without a fight on 27 October. The City Horse drove off a number of Royalist probes in November. The Orange and Green Regiments and a regiment of Hertfordshire TBs held the town until a permanent garrison could be recruited from the Eastern Association . Skippon's Dutch engineers designed strong fortifications for Newport Pagnell, with earthworks and ditches. These were dug by
19272-581: The wards in 2003, and they were reviewed again in 2010 for change in 2013, though not to such a dramatic extent. The review was conducted by senior officers of the corporation and senior judges of the Old Bailey ; the wards are reviewed by this process to avoid malapportionment . The procedure of review is unique in the United Kingdom as it is not conducted by the Electoral Commission or a local government boundary commission every 8 to 12 years, which
19418-530: The west side of the bridge, preventing the Royalists from crossing to complete the destruction of Waller's army. There was only skirmishing next day, but hearing that Browne was marching to join Waller with the Reserve Auxiliary brigade, the King took the opportunity to break contact with Waller's battered force. City of London The City of London , also known as the City , is a city , ceremonial county and local government district that contains
19564-431: The western ward of Farringdon Without are within the boundaries and liberties of the City, but can be thought of as independent enclaves . They are two of the few remaining liberties , an old name for a geographic division with special rights. They are extra-parochial areas , historically not governed by the City of London Corporation (and are today regarded as local authorities for most purposes ) and equally outside
19710-455: The whole of Southwark. Known as the Lines of Communication , studded with some 23 forts and redoubts, these defences were about 11 miles (18 km) long, making it the most extensive series of city defences in 17th century Europe. The Lines were completed by May 1643 and the City and suburban TB companies took their turns in manning the forts and key points: seven companies for the north side, two for
19856-519: Was a period of rapid growth for London, reflecting an increasing national population, the early stirrings of the Industrial Revolution , and London's role at the centre of the evolving British Empire . The urban area expanded beyond the borders of the City of London, most notably during this period towards the West End and Westminster. Expansion continued and became more rapid by the beginning of
20002-459: Was a three-hour skirmish on 24 July, when they were driven out of town and 200 were captured. Both regiments returned to London on 29 July, carrying the captured weapons. During the summer of 1643 the Royalists made great strides in the West Country , storming the vital port of Bristol and moving on to begin a Siege of Gloucester on 10 August. The Royalists correctly estimated that Essex's army
20148-501: Was abolished in other UK local council elections by the Representation of the People Act 1969 , but was preserved in the City of London. The principal reason given by successive UK governments for retaining this mechanism for giving businesses representation, is that the city is "primarily a place for doing business". About 330,000 non-residents constitute the day-time population and use most of its services, far outnumbering residents, who number around 7,000 (2011). By contrast, opponents of
20294-405: Was confined to cavalry skirmishing. Early next morning Waller sent a 'commanded' party of 1000 musketeers from the White Regiment and one of the regular regiments to secure Cheriton Wood on the Royalists' left flank. Hopton sent a force to drive these skirmishers out, precipitating a general engagement (the Battle of Cheriton ). The Royalists did not follow up on Waller's disordered right wing, while
20440-433: Was formerly also held. Many of the medieval offices and traditions continue to the present day, demonstrating the unique nature of the City and its Corporation . In 1381, the Peasants' Revolt affected London. The rebels took the City and the Tower of London, but the rebellion ended after its leader, Wat Tyler, was killed during a confrontation that included Lord Mayor William Walworth . In 1450, rebel forces again occupied
20586-433: Was halted by snow and the force returned to the barns and farm buildings it had occupied the previous night. By now numbers of the auxiliaries were deserting and returning home. On 6 November the army moved to attack Basing House , and a 'commanded' body of musketeers skirmished with the defenders until they had used their ammunition and were relieved. Skirmishing continued around the outbuildings next day, but deputations from
20732-527: Was marching back from Newbury, a great muster of the LTBs had been held in Finsbury Fields on 24 September and regiments were chosen by lot for a second brigade to join Sir William Waller's South Eastern Association army. The regiments chosen were the Green Auxiliaries with the Westminster Red Regiment (also known as the Westminster Liberty Regiment) and Tower Hamlets Yellow Auxiliaries, but in view of Essex's successful expedition they did not march out immediately. Once his City Brigade had returned home Essex's army
20878-416: Was nearby. The Red Regiment stood to arms all night in the open. Next morning the men managed to get some food, but there was a further alarm, and the regiment was drawn up on a nearby hill. It spent some time there, surrounded on three sides by Royalist cavalry squadrons before the rest of the army came up. On 5 September Essex reached Prestbury Hill, overlooking Gloucester. The supply waggons could not attempt
21024-441: Was the origin of the City of London Corporation and the citizens gained the right to appoint, with the king's consent, a mayor in 1189—and to directly elect the mayor from 1215. From medieval times, the city has been composed of 25 ancient wards , each headed by an alderman , who chairs Wardmotes , which still take place at least annually. A Folkmoot , for the whole of the City held at the outdoor cross of St Paul's Cathedral ,
21170-415: Was too weak to hold Reading. A further three TBs regiments were then chosen – the Green and Orange Regiments and the Southwark Yellow Regiment – and all six regiments, together with Mainwaring's Redcoats, were to join Essex and Waller at Windsor to recapture Reading. However, news of a second Royalist army advancing through Hampshire under Lord Hopton forced a change of plan, and Waller and Essex separated,
21316-470: Was too weak to intervene, but Essex and a delegation from both Houses of Parliament appealed to the city, and the Common Council agreed to send a brigade of five regiments under Sgt-Maj-Gen Mainwaring, the individual regiments being chosen by lot: These regiments (roughly 1000 men apiece) were much larger than the equivalent units of Essex's (or the King's) army, which were weakened by casualties, sickness and desertion. The London Militia Committee also released
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