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London History

Discover the great, the strange, the seedy, the inspired, the criminal and the downright ordinary past of one of the World's Greatest Cities!
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ENGLAND
Samuel Pepys
Elizabeth I
London's Underworld
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The Cries of London
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When a man is tired of london, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

-- Samuel Johnson 1777

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London's People

Mayhew's London Prostitutes: XI part 2
Posted by Bill McCann on (433 Reads)

In 1862, Henry Mayhew published his analysis of the prostitution business in London. It formed a part of his magnificent survey: London Labour and the London Poor, extracts from which we continue to publish on this site. In this extract we are introduced to those who Mayhew classifies as Clandestine prostitutes. In this second part we meet female married women who have connection with men other than their husbands, and unmarried women who gratify their passion secretly. He tells us of a house in Regent Street where they go to "consummate their libidinous desires." And then, there is a suprprise meeting. . . ..

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London's Churches

The Annals of St. Paul's: Chapter 2 part 3
Posted by Bill McCann on (691 Reads)

Wren's St Paul's Cathedral is one of the dominant images of tourist London. The religious history of the site, however, goes back to the very arrival of Christianity in England. Sitting atop one of the two hills of ancient London it has long gazed down on the doings of men and women. Few definitive histories of St. Paul's have been written but one of the most "delightful" is that penned by Dean H H Milman in the 1860s. Here we present his great work for the enjoyment of the modern age. After another fire, which destroyed the new cathedral in the episcopate of Robert de Sigillo, who died of eating poisoned grapes, and the silent episcopate of Richard de Belmeis who "came to a melancholy end" we come to the reign of Henry II and his elevation of Thomas a' Becket to the See of Canterbury. The Bishop of London at this time was the learned and holy Gilbert Foliot. Unfortunately, Becket considered him an enemy and our extract ends with his excommunication by the enraged, and exiled, Archbishop.

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London's People

Mayhew's London Prostitutes: XI part 1
Posted by Bill McCann on (1021 Reads)

In 1862, Henry Mayhew published his analysis of the prostitution business in London. It formed a part of his magnificent survey: London Labour and the London Poor, extracts from which we continue to publish on this site. In this extract we are introduced to tnhose who Mayhew classifies as Clandestine prostitutes. In this first part we meet female operatives (by which he means office girls), ballet girls and maid servants. They are all amateurs, and have a variety of reasons – ranging from hardship to extravagance – for taking to the streets.

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London's People

Victorian Etiquette XIV: Morals
Posted by Bill McCann on (1145 Reads)

The London Journal, launched in 1845, was one of the most widely read publications of nineteenth-century Britain. Its weekly appearance ushered in the period when mass-market reading, in a modern sense, was born. Between April 12 and August 30 1845, the Journal carried seventeen articles under the heading "Etiquette for the Millions," written by G.W.M Reynolds. They were clearly aimed at educating the mass readership (mostly the newly emerging middle-classes) in the behaviour expected of them in public. At times trenchant, the views expressed in the articles describe a view of society that is very, very different from that which we experience today. But, perhaps, one that many sections of modern society hanker after. In this set of instructions we are instructed in the courtesies, decencies, amenities, and proprieties of civilised life.

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London's Churches

The Annals of St. Paul's: Chapter 2 part 2
Posted by Bill McCann on (819 Reads)

Wren's St Paul's Cathedral is one of the dominant images of tourist London. The religious history of the site, however, goes back to the very arrival of Christianity in England. Sitting atop one of the two hills of ancient London it has long gazed down on the doings of men and women. Few definitive histories of St. Paul's have been written but one of the most "delightful" is that penned by Dean H H Milman in the 1860s. Here we present his great work for the enjoyment of the modern age. We now come to the Norman period and the feudalisation of the Church. We learn that the unfortunate bishop, Hugh de Orivalle suffered from leprosy but was not deposed because of his spiritual"uncleanliness" and terrible visitation from God. His successor, however, suffered an even grater calamity when St. Paul's was compoletely destroyed in the great fire of 1087. A cataclysm as great as that of 1066, whibc destroyed its successor. But Bishop Maurice set about his work with Norman boldness and true prelatic magnificence of design. The new cathedral was reckoned among the noblest churches, not of England only, but of Christendom.

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London's People

Mayhew's London Prostitutes: X Part 6 – Bullies
Posted by Bill McCann on (1099 Reads)

In 1862, Henry Mayhew published his analysis of the prostitution business in London. It formed a part of his magnificent survey: London Labour and the London Poor, extracts from which we continue to publish on this site. In this extract we learn what bullies are and hear of one man's narrow escape from an enraged bully in Stamford Street.

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London's People

Mayhew's London Prostitutes: X Part 5 – Pimps, Panders and Fancy-Men
Posted by Bill McCann on (1125 Reads)

In 1862, Henry Mayhew published his analysis of the prostitution business in London. It formed a part of his magnificent survey: London Labour and the London Poor, extracts from which we continue to publish on this site. In this extract we learn in detail about fancy men who have sunk to such basebess that "they think nothing of being kept by a prostitute on the proceeds of her shame and her disgrace".

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London's People

Mayhew's London Prostitutes: X Part 4 - Procuresses
Posted by Bill McCann on (1017 Reads)

In 1862, Henry Mayhew published his analysis of the prostitution business in London. It formed a part of his magnificent survey: London Labour and the London Poor, extracts from which we continue to publish on this site. In this extract we learn about the delicate manner in which a procuress goes about her trade to satisfy a rich merchant or MP. Mayhew then takes us on a tour of the better-class establishments before delving into the Night Houses.

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London's People

Mayhew's London Prostitutes: X Part 3 - Keepers Of Accommodation Houses
Posted by Bill McCann on (1298 Reads)

In 1862, Henry Mayhew published his analysis of the prostitution business in London. It formed a part of his magnificent survey: London Labour and the London Poor, extracts from which we continue to publish on this site. In this extract we are introduced Mrs J---, who had "the questionable taste" to name her new house "Dollar House." We hear, too, how the media are corrupting the innocent minds of lower class girls!

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London's People

Mayhew's London Prostitutes: X Part 2 – Followers of Dress Lodgers
Posted by Bill McCann on (957 Reads)

In 1862, Henry Mayhew published his analysis of the prostitution business in London. It formed a part of his magnificent survey: London Labour and the London Poor, extracts from which we continue to publish on this site. In this extract we are introduced to the first of those characters who depend on prostitutes for their living. Here we meet Old Stock, an old hag who was once "swell" but neglected to make hay while the sun shined.

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On This Day

On a day like today...

1220
Saturday May 16, Henry III laid the foundation stone of a new Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey, thus beginning the new abbey-church which was completed in 1245. More May Anniversaries

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Mayhew's London Prostitutes

London's Mediaeval Parish Churches

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© 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. Unless otherwise indicated, all written material on the storyoflondon site is the copyright of Bill McCann[waldstockatgmail.com]. All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. The comments are property of their posters.

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