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| Ward of Billingsgate | |
  Ward of Billingsgate shown within Greater London |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Sui generis | City of London |
| Administrative area | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | EC3 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | City of London |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| European Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Cities of London and Westminster |
| London Assembly | |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Billingsgate is a ward in the south-east of the City of London, lying on the north bank of the River Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. It is found within the boundary defined by the river, Lovat Lane, Fenchurch Street, Mark Lane and Sugar Quay.
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Origins
Originally it was known as Blynesgate and Byllynsgate1, and may have originated with a water gate on the Thames, where goods were landed, becoming Billingsgate Wharf, part of the London docks close to Lower Thames Street. Stow records that the market was a general market for corn, coal, iron, wine, salt, pottery, fish and miscellaneous goods until the 16th century, when neighbouring streets became a specialist fish market 2. By the 16th century, most merchant vessels had become too large to pass London Bridge and Billingsgate, with its deeply recessed harbour, replaced Queenhithe as the most important landing-place in the City.
The ward includes Pudding Lane3, where in 1666, the Great Fire of London began4. A sign was erected upon the house in which it began:
Here, by the permission of Heaven, hell broke loose upon this protestant city, from the malicious hearts of barbarous Papists, by the hand of their agent Hubert, who confessed, and on the ruins of this place declared the fact, for which he was hanged, viz. That here began the dreadful fire, which is described and perpetuated on and by the neighbouring pillar, erected Anno 1680, in the mayoralty of Sir Patience Ward, knight4.
After the Great Fire of London, arcaded shops and stalls lined the west side of the harbour and at its head lay an open market-square known as 'Roomland'.
Fish market
Billingsgate Fish Market was formally established by an Act of Parliament in 1699 to be "a free and open market for all sorts of fish whatsoever".5 Oranges, lemons, and Spanish onions were also landed there, alongside the other main commodities, coal and salt. In 1849, the fish market was moved off the streets into its own riverside building, which was subsequently demolished (c. 1873) and replaced by an arcaded market hall (designed by City architect Horace Jones, built by John Mowlem) in 18752.
In 1982, the fish market was relocated to a new building close to Canary Wharf in east London. The original riverside market hall building was then refurbished (by architect Lord Rogers) to provide office accommodation.
The raucous cries of the fish vendors gave rise to "billingsgate" as a synonym for profanity or offensive language6.
The ward contains the Customs House and the Watermen's Hall, built in 1780 and the only surviving Georgian guild hall. Centennium House in Lower Thames Street has Roman baths within their basement foundations.
Churches
The ward contains two churches St Mary-at-Hill7 and St Margaret Pattens8 , but another St George's Botolph Lane was demolished in 19049
Politics
Billingsgate is one of 25 wards in the City of London, each electing an Alderman, to the Court of Aldermen and Commoners (the City equivalent of a Councillor) to the Court of Common Council of the City of London Corporation. Only electors who are Freeman of the City of London are eligible to stand.
In Popular Culture
- Edmund Blackadder, Lord Blackadder, the titular hero of Blackadder II, resided in Billingsgate.
- Billingsgate is referenced in the song 'Sister Suffragette' in the 1964 version of Mary Poppins.
References
- ^ Spelling was not standardised until much later (Borer)
- ^ a b History of Billingsgate accessed 21 May 2007
- ^ Derived the name from the butchers in Eastcheap "having their scalding house for hogs there; and their puddings with other filth being conveyed thence down to their dung boats in the Thames" (Stow).
- ^ a b 'Book 2, Ch. 7: Billingsgate Ward', A New History of London: Including Westminster and Southwark (1773), pp. 551-53 accessed: 21 May 2007
- ^ Billie Cohen (January 2005). "Lox, Stock and Barrel". National Geographic Magazine.
- ^ Word of the Day Archive - Monday June 12, 2006 accessed 21 May 2007
- ^ Built by Wren, but gutted in 1941(Whinney)
- ^ So called after the templates that were used by the clogmakers of the district(Reynolds)
- ^ As the resident population of the area declined(Huelin).
External links
- Ward Constable profile
- Ward Newsletter
- Ward map
- Ward Club
- Map of Early Modern London: Billingsgate Ward - Historical Map and Encyclopedia of Shakespeare's London (Scholarly)
Bibliography
- The City of London-a history Borer,M.I.C. : New York,D.McKay Co, 1978 ISBN 0094618801
- Vanished churches of the City of London Huelin, G.: London, Guildhall Library Publishing 1996ISBN 0900422424</ref>.
- The Churches of the City of London Reynolds,H London, Bodley Head, 1922*
- A Survey of London, Vol I Stow,J p427 : Originally,1598: this edn-London, A.Fullarton & Co,1890
- Wren Whinney,M London Thames & Hudson, 1971 ISBN 0500201129
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