Beyond the Great Fire: Uncovering the Surviving Traces of Medieval London
In short: While the Great Fire of 1666 and the Blitz erased much of London's medieval landscape, fragments of the city's past remain hidden in plain sight. This tour explores the surviving structures and archaeological discoveries that reveal the reality of life in the capital during the Middle Ages.
Tour guide Katie Wignall explores the remnants of a metropolis once defined by narrow streets and soaring spires. The journey begins at the London Charterhouse, a site active since 1371 that has served as a monastery, mansion, school, and almshouse. Excavations at Charterhouse Square during recent cross-rail construction uncovered a mass burial ground linked to the 14th-century Black Death.
The tour also examines the city's Roman Wall and the evolution of London Bridge, which was once a densely populated hub for the city's elite. The exploration concludes at St John's Priory, the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller. These monks balanced religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience with the martial duty of fighting on crusade in the Holy Land when summoned.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Exploring London's Hidden Medieval Metropolis
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-exploring-london-s-hidden-medieval-metropolis.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Medieval life · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
