Uncovering the remnants of London’s lost medieval metropolis
In short: Beyond famous landmarks like Westminster Abbey lies a hidden layer of history. This series follows guide Katie Wignall as she searches for the surviving traces of a medieval city once defined by soaring spires and narrow, winding streets.
While the Great Fire of 1666 and the Second World War's Blitz decimated much of the original landscape, significant fragments of the medieval City remain. Between approximately 1066 and 1500, the Square Mile served as a vital hub for trade and commerce, governed by an independent administration under an elected mayor. At its peak, the walled city housed roughly 80,000 residents.
The series explores how the modern street layout often mirrors these ancient passageways. You can still find medieval brickwork within the walls and stone structures, such as the Guildhall and the Tower of London, that survived the 1666 conflagration. The exploration also highlights how medieval builders reclaimed land from the Thames to create wharves and warehouses, fundamentally reshaping the river's shoreline.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: We Explored the Hidden Medieval City of London | Full Series
- Also: The Medieval City
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