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Great London Buildings

Great London Buildings – 10 Downing Street – The London Home of the Prime Minister

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Long as it has been amongst the symbols of governmental power in the United Kingdom, "Number 10" as it is known, is also one of the most iconic residences for a world leader.  The history of the building itself is just as fascinating as those Prime Ministers who resided within and the historical actions of their governments.  Everything from its origins to its design and … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – 10 Downing Street – The London Home of the Prime Minister

Great London Buildings – The Royal Exchange

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At one point in history, the Royal Exchange was the centre of commerce in the United Kingdom.  It was also *the* place from which royal proclamations were read, meaning it was the same place from which history changed several times.  It was the home to the insurance market for Lloyd’s of London for 150 years.  While it isn’t the location for any of these things anymore, it … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – The Royal Exchange

Great London Buildings – Wembley Stadium – England’s National Stadium

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Wembley, London contains one of the most important venues in all of Britain.  Wembley Stadium is the name given to two different football stadiums in Northwest London, with the first one having been torn down to make way for the more recent structure.  Used not only for football matches, it has been the site of some very important performances and concerts over the years.  Come … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – Wembley Stadium – England’s National Stadium

Great London Buildings: Battersea Power Station

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For many years, Battersea Power Station has been an architectural icon of London, whether it was in use as a power station or not. Prior to the 1930s, power to the city was supplied by multiple smaller companies that supplied power to industries and sold the excess to the public.  Many of these small companies joined forces in 1925 to create the London Power Company.  At the … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: Battersea Power Station

Great London Buildings – Tower Bridge

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Spanning the Thames and connecting Tower Hamlets to Southwark, Tower Bridge has been an iconic part of London since the Victorian period (and often wrongly called London Bridge, which is a different, less beautiful bridge).  Today, it sees thousands of tourists and commuters crossing over it while ships pass beneath its drawbridge.  While London Bridge had served this purpose … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – Tower Bridge

Great London Buildings – Old Royal Naval College Greenwich

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A World Heritage site located in Maritime Greenwich, the Old Royal Naval College is one of the grandest examples of architecture in Greater London.  Of course, the building there now is not the first one to exist on the site.  In 1433, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, built a palace named Bella Court, but after he fell out of favour with Queen Margaret, who took over the house and … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – Old Royal Naval College Greenwich

Great London Buildings – A Brief History of The Tower of London

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Castles in general were not only defensive strongholds, but also displays of power (and maybe overcompensating a bit).  This was especially true for the Normans, who felt that the keep was a representation of the lord’s authority.  After William the Conqueror defeated Harold of Wessex at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and was crowned in Westminster Abbey that same year, he set … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – A Brief History of The Tower of London

Great London Buildings: St. Pancras International Railway Station – A Victorian Masterpiece Reborn for the 21st Century

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A masterpiece of Victorian architecture, St. Pancras has served the as a gateway from Greater London to the world beyond for nearly 150 years.  Grade I listed, its protected status is due not only to its history, but to the magnificent design of William Henry Barlow, who had completed the Cliffton Suspension Bridge after Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s death.  Spared at least once … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: St. Pancras International Railway Station – A Victorian Masterpiece Reborn for the 21st Century

Great London Buildings – A Brief History of Buckingham Palace – The Queen’s Official London Home

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Perhaps the greatest residence in the city, Buckingham Palace has been the home of royalty for centuries and has been the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II since she ascended the throne in 1952, though she had lived there since her father, King George VI, became monarch in 1936.  The site where Buckingham House is located was once in the possession of William the … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – A Brief History of Buckingham Palace – The Queen’s Official London Home

Great London Buildings – The O2 – The Building Formerly Known as the Millennium Dome

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Once known as the Millennium Dome, the O2 Arena (or simply “The O2”), the building instantly became an instantly distinguishable part of the London Skyline.  The original idea for the dome was conceived under the Conservative government of John Major in 1994 by the Millennium Commission, with its purpose being to celebrate the beginning of the third millennia with a World’s … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – The O2 – The Building Formerly Known as the Millennium Dome

Great London Buildings – The Old Bailey

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Justice has long walked the halls of the Old Bailey, wherein lies the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales.  This is in contrast to the Royal Courts of Justice, were civil cases and appeals are heard.  The building is named for nearby Old Bailey Street, which followed the lines of one of the original fortified Roman walls.  The location was convenient for the speedy … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – The Old Bailey

Great London Buildings: St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square

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Forming one of the corners of Trafalgar Square and existing as a landmark on par with Nelson's Column and the National Gallery.  Prior to the 13th Century, there is no reference to a church existing on the site in the City of Westminster.  The year 1222 marks the first recorded mention of the church when it came under a jurisdictional conflict between Eustace, the Bishop of … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square

Great London Buildings: The Royal Courts of Justice

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England is the birthplace of justice in many parts of the world where the British Empire had influence.  While the Old Bailey is traditionally associated with criminal court, the Royal Courts of Justice (also known as the Law Courts) is where the ultimate legal power of England and Wales resides.  The Law Courts house both the Court of Appeal and the High Court of Justice.  The … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: The Royal Courts of Justice

Great London Buildings: BT Tower – The Building That Didn’t Officially Exist

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At one point the tallest building in London, British Telecom (or "BT") Tower was the first building purpose-built to transmit radio waves.  The General Post Office commissioned the construction of the tower, which began in 1961.  The government needed a tower that could handle the British Telecom microwave network and replace another nearby tower that had been doing much of the … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: BT Tower – The Building That Didn’t Officially Exist

Great London Buildings: Windsor Castle – The Queen’s Preferred Weekend Home With a Long Royal History

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While Buckingham Palace may be the current preferred residence of Queen Elizabeth, Windsor Castle is the royal residence long associated with the monarchy.  The castle’s oldest parts date back to the 11th Century and King William I’s conquest of England.  To consolidate his power, William built a series of castles around England, including a ring of them surrounding London, … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: Windsor Castle – The Queen’s Preferred Weekend Home With a Long Royal History

Great London Buildings: Alexandra Palace

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Otherwise known as the “Ally Pally”, it’s not a palace per se, but a major attraction and exhibition venue in North London.  Following the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1851, the Victorian desire for science and art exhibits grew and there was a need for another venue in North London to rival the exhibition centre in Hyde Park.  In 1858, Owen Jones submitted a … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: Alexandra Palace

Great London Buildings: The Guildhall – The City of London’s Centre of Power

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Since Medieval times, the Guildhall in London has been an actual and ceremonial centre for the City of London and its Corporation.  Even before the current building that sits near Gresham and Basinghall streets, a Roman amphitheatre existed on the site and previous guildhall buildings served the Saxons.  A previous guildhall existed on the same site in the 12th Century with the … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: The Guildhall – The City of London’s Centre of Power

Great London Buildings: The Shard – The UK’s Tallest Building

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Stabbing the skyline like a piece of jagged glass, the Shard is the newest and tallest skyscraper. The building's history started in 1998 with a plan to redevelop the area around Southwark Towers. This desire to develop high-density, multi-use towers in London came from a white paper issued by the British government. The government wanted to see more buildings near major … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: The Shard – The UK’s Tallest Building

Great London Buildings: Westminster Abbey – Where Monarchs are Crowned

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Sitting just across from the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey is every bit as iconic and important to Britain as the Houses of Parliament. Prior to the 11th Century, a church had existed on the site since as early as 604 A.D., the same year that Æthelbert built the first St. Paul’s in London. Later monarchs donated more land and relics to help build the church. In 960, … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: Westminster Abbey – Where Monarchs are Crowned

Great London Buildings: Southwark Cathedral

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  Near the famous London Bridge on the south bank of the Thames is Southwark Cathedral. The origins of the church are something of a mystery and while no one really knows when the first church building was constructed, but it is believed that a church has existed on the site for over 1,000 years. It's from 16th Century historian John Stow who related reports of a … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: Southwark Cathedral

Great London Buildings: The Palace of Westminster – The Houses of Parliament

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Unquestionably one of the dominating features of the London skyline, the Palace of Westminster has always been an important centre of government. Going back to the middle ages, the land on which the current palace sits was called Thorney Island, and its location in what we know as Westminster gave it strategic value in virtually the middle of the area and along the banks of the … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: The Palace of Westminster – The Houses of Parliament

Great London Buildings: The Royal Albert Hall – Home of the Proms

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Named for Prince Albert, a lover of the arts and sciences, the Royal Albert Hall is one of the premiere concert venues in the United Kingdom. Long before it achieved this honoured status, the property on which the RAH would sit was the Gore Estate in South Kensington. Following the Great Exhibition which was organised by Prince Albert and Henry Cole, Albert wanted to keep the … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: The Royal Albert Hall – Home of the Proms

Great London Buildings: Tower Bridge – An Icon of London

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Straddling the banks of the Thames, Tower Bridge is one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, standing out easily over the skyline and the city’s gleaming spires. During the Victorian period, Britain and its capital city enjoyed a major expansion of industry and trade. This mean increased traffic into and out of the city, such that it necessitated the building of a new … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: Tower Bridge – An Icon of London

Great London Buildings: A Brief History of St. Paul’s Cathedral – Risen from Fire

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The towering church that sits on top of Ludgate Hill in the City of London is not the first place of worship to be located there. It’s actually the fifth. The first church located here was a wooden building built by King Ethelbert and consecrated by Mellitus, the Bishop of the East Saxons, in 604 A.D. Less than a century later, it burnt down in 675 under unknown circumstances, … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: A Brief History of St. Paul’s Cathedral – Risen from Fire

Great London Buildings: Paddington Station – One of the Most Iconic Victorian Train Stations

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Editor's Note: This is the start of a new ongoing series at Londontopia about London's most iconic buildings. We'll explore their fascinating histories. Most people who don’t live in Britain or even London might hear the word Paddington and think of a bear that loves marmalade. Officially named London Paddington, this railway station on Praed Street began its life in 1834 … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: Paddington Station – One of the Most Iconic Victorian Train Stations