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19th century London was home to a number of the Doctor's friends and allies, including Henry Gordon Jago and George Litefoot, (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang, et al) as well as the Paternoster Gang, which included Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint and Strax. London was also home to the Doctor's brief companion, Clara Oswin Oswald. (TV: The Snowmen)
With its heaving slums, the teeming metropolis of Victorian London was a good place to lose yourself if you were in a hurry to escape the authorities. It was often cited that one in every hundred citizens of the city during the Victorian age was a masquerading alien or fugitive from another era. (PROSE: The Whoniverse) Miss Multravers assessed London to be the most populous and advanced city on the planet. (AUDIO: The Haunting)
Overview
19th century London covered a period in the city from midway through the Industrial Revolution to roughly the end of the Victorian era. (PROSE: A History of Humankind) This included at least part of the Regency era. (TV: Thin Ice)
The Industrial Revolution and the invention of steam-powered technology led the development of the railways. (PROSE: A History of Humankind) This later led to the construction of the London Underground. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War)
Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police, (TV: Vastra Investigates) as well as the City of London Police, were active in London during this century. (COMIC: Ripper's Curse) Notable cases included Spring-heeled Jack (AUDIO: The Justice of Jalxar) and Jack the Ripper. (AUDIO: The Wax Princess)
By the late Victorian era, expansion the British Empire (PROSE: A History of Humankind) encouraged large numbers of immigrants to settle in London, in districts such as Limehouse. (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac [+]Loading...{"chaptname":"Brave New World","page":"49","chaptnum":"2","1":"The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)"})
Society
Government
Following a fire in 1834, the Palace of Westminster was rebuilt and Big Ben was built with it. (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac [+]Loading...{"chaptname":"Brave New World","page":"49","chaptnum":"2","1":"The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)"}) Prime Ministers in London of this era included Arthur Wellesley and Benjamin Disraeli. (COMIC: The Heralds of Destruction)
Buckingham Palace was the residence of the monarch. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang, COMIC: The Crystal Throne) Monarchs of the era included William IV and Victoria, though following the death of Albert, Victoria withdrew from public life for much of the 1860s, rarely visiting London, but continued to perform her constitutional duties in private. (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac [+]Loading...{"chaptname":"Brave New World","page":"26","chaptnum":"2","1":"The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)"})
Economy
There was a large divide between the rich and poor. (TV: Thin Ice) The Poor Law Amendment Act was passed in 1834, meaning that anyone without a job or home had to live in a workhouse. Children were often sent out to work in factories. (PROSE: A History of Humankind) St Joseph's was once such workhouse located in London, which was home to a number of orphaned children. (TV: The Next Doctor)
By the late Victorian era, the British Empire was expanding. (PROSE: A History of Humankind) Expansion of the Empire brought large numbers of immigrants to London, settling in districts such as Limehouse. They established restaurants, shops and opened laundry houses. (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac [+]Loading...{"chaptname":"Brave New World","page":"49","chaptnum":"2","1":"The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)"})
Culture
The British Museum was active during this century. It had a department of Egyptology. (PROSE: The Curious Case of the Misery Diary)
Charles Dickens published the Daily News from offices in London. (PROSE: The Death of Art)
A young Vincent van Gogh was sent to work in London during his employment with Goupil & Cie. (PROSE: Vincent van Gogh) Some accounts suggested that Sherlock Holmes was active in London during this century, (PROSE: All-Consuming Fire) though others suggested he was a fictional character created by Arthur Conan Doyle. (PROSE: Evolution, Revenge of the Judoon)
Theatres such as the Alhambra Theatre, (AUDIO: The Year of the Bat) Palace Theatre (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang) and New Regency Theatre were active during this era. (AUDIO: The Theatre of Dreams) The Royal Albert Hall held a Summer season of concerts, attracting stars such as Madame Patti. (TV: Deep Breath)
Transport
It was typical to travel by a horse-drawn carriage. (TV: Deep Breath) There were several types of carriage, including hansom cabs, (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang) Landaus, Broughams, Phaetons, Sociables and Victorias. (TV: Deep Breath) The first London bus started carrying passengers in 1829 and was pulled by three horses. (GAME: City of the Daleks [+]Loading...["City of the Daleks (video game)"])
The invention of steam-powered technology led the development of the railways. (PROSE: A History of Humankind) Stations in London included Euston (COMIC: Track Attack) and King's Cross. (AUDIO: The Bloodless Soldier) This later led to the construction of the London Underground, (TV: A Good Man Goes to War) which opened in 1863 with a line between Paddington and Farringdon. (GAME: City of the Daleks [+]Loading...["City of the Daleks (video game)"])
Notable residents
Madame Vastra and Jenny Flint, (TV: A Good Man Goes to War) and later Strax, (TV: The Snowmen) lived at a house on Paternoster Row. (PROSE: The Pest of Paternoster Row, COMIC: The Lost Dimension)
George Litefoot lived in London at 4 Ranskill Gardens. Henry Gordon Jago worked in London and so lived locally. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang [+]Loading...["The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)"]) Jackson Lake moved to London with his family. After losing his wife, he met Rosita Farisi in the city. (TV: The Next Doctor) Clara Oswin Oswald lived in London, where she worked as a barmaid at the Rose & Crown. (TV: The Snowmen)
Charles Dickens lived in London. (TV: The Unquiet Dead) Vincent van Gogh lived in London during his employment with Goupil & Cie. (PROSE: Vincent van Gogh) Charles Babbage had a house in the city. (TV: Spyfall [+]Loading...["Spyfall (TV story)"])
Geography
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London landmarks built during this century included Big Ben. (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac [+]Loading...{"chaptname":"Brave New World","page":"49","chaptnum":"2","1":"The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)"}) London Zoo opened in 1828, (AUDIO: The Eye of the Jungle) and the Crystal Palace was built in 1851 to house the Great Exhibition. (COMIC: The Eagle of the Reich)
Districts of London during this century included Blackfriars (TV: Thin Ice) Covent Garden, (PROSE: Double Falsehood) Farringdon, (GAME: City of the Daleks [+]Loading...["City of the Daleks (video game)"]) Highgate, (AUDIO: The Ghosts of Gralstead) Lambeth, (COMIC: The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack) Limehouse, (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac [+]Loading...{"chaptname":"Brave New World","page":"49","chaptnum":"2","1":"The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)"}) Paddington, (GAME: City of the Daleks [+]Loading...["City of the Daleks (video game)"]) Southwark, (AUDIO: The Mahogany Murderers) and Whitechapel. (COMIC: Ripper's Curse)
The River Thames flowed through the city. Bridges along the river included Blackfriars Bridge and London Bridge. (TV: Thin Ice)
History
1800s
In 1808, a fire swept through London's theatre district, burning down the Covent Garden Theatre. (PROSE: Double Falsehood)
1810s
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In February 1814, the First Doctor, Steven Taylor and Vicki Pallister visited London during the last of the great frost fairs and witnessed the River Thames in its frozen state. On that occasion, they met the novelist Jane Austen. (AUDIO: Frostfire)
An incarnation of the Doctor took River Song to the same frost fair on her birthday. Stevie Wonder performed for them. Because of his blindness, he did not realise that he had travelled through time. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War)
The Twelfth Doctor and Bill Potts were also at the frost fair and helped free an alien sea creature from the Thames. (TV: Thin Ice)
On 17 October 1814, the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory visited London. Amy left the Doctor and Rory in a pub so that they could bond while she went sightseeing. Instead they decided to use the TARDIS to skip ahead a few hours, while Amy encountered an agent of the Silence and became caught in the London Beer Flood. (COMIC: The Doctor and the Nurse)
In 1819, the investigative reporter Thomas Tyler worked for a London newspaper. (AUDIO: The Peterloo Massacre)
1820s
In 1828, London Zoo was opened. (AUDIO: The Eye of the Jungle)
1840s
In 1840, Spring-heeled Jack attacked a number of women in London while searching for Morjanus. The Eighth Doctor assisted Jack in defeating Morjanus and the Pyrodines. Jack opted to stay in the city and take on the role of its "guardian demon". (COMIC: The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack)
By 18 December 1845, it was common gossip that Charles Dickens had stolen the character of Mr Pickwick for his book, The Pickwick Papers, from his artist, Seymour. While in London on this date, Dickens found that even "tramps" had heard the tale. The Seventh Doctor, Roz Forrester and Chris Cwej also visited London on this date. (PROSE: The Death of Art)
1850s
The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations was held in London in 1851. It was based in a purpose-built venue called the Crystal Palace. The Fifth Doctor wanted to take Nyssa and Tegan Jovanka to the Exhibition as "a treat" in the wake of Adric's death, but instead ended up on the tarmac of Heathrow Airport in 1982. (TV: Time-Flight) The Eighth Doctor took his companions Charley Pollard and C'rizz to the Great Exhibition, shortly after their departure from the Divergent Universe. While there, Charley met and befriended the elderly Duke of Wellington. (AUDIO: Other Lives) The Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory also visited the Great Exhibition in 1851 and fought the Hypothetical Gentleman. (COMIC: Hypothetical Gentleman)
On 12 September 1851, the Seventh Doctor arrived in London and stopped the Klathi from destroying the city. (COMIC: Claws of the Klathi!)
On 24 December of the same year, the Cybermen of a parallel universe used children to build a towering CyberKing, which attacked the city. The Tenth Doctor, using Jackson Lake's Tethered Aerial Release Developed In Style, defeated the CyberKing. (TV: The Next Doctor)
In 1854, the Seventh Doctor met Sir Michael Faraday in London. (AUDIO: The Four Doctors)
1860s
In October 1860 and April 1861, the Fourth Doctor and Leela fought Mordrega in London. (AUDIO: The Ghosts of Gralstead)
In December 1861, the Third Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith visited Covent Garden in London. (PROSE: The Lampblack Wars)
In 1863, the Third Doctor visited London. (COMIC: Backtime)
From November 1866 to November 1867, the Fifth Doctor lived in 107 Baker Street in London. (AUDIO: The Haunting of Thomas Brewster)
While visiting the Reform Club in London in 1866, the Eighth Doctor got into an argument with Charles Dickens about an error in Great Expectations. (AUDIO: The Man Who Wasn't There)
In March 1868, Iris Wildthyme visited London. (AUDIO: The Boy That Time Forgot)
1870s
In 1873, the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Bernice Summerfield fought the Quack in London. (PROSE: Strange England)
1880s
In 1880, the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan Jovanka visited London. (PROSE: The Sands of Time)
In 1885, the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory visited London. (COMIC: Reality Cheque)
In 1888, the serial murderer known as Jack the Ripper operated in the East End of the city. Officially, the authorities never identified or apprehended him. (PROSE: Matrix; COMIC: Ripper's Curse)
In the same year, Iris Wildthyme and Panda visited London. (PROSE: The Shape of Things)
In 1889, the Tong of the Black Scorpion and Li H'sen Chang carried out a series of abductions at the behest of the 51st century war criminal Magnus Greel that centred around London. Greel owned the House of the Dragon, a building in London from which he operated. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang)
The Tenth Doctor arrived at this time, met again with his friend H. G. Wells and ran afoul of the Torchwood Institute. (COMIC: The Time Machination) Only minutes later, his fourth incarnation and his companion Leela arrived in the city in the TARDIS. (COMIC: The Time Machination; TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang)
The amateur detectives Henry Gordon Jago and his associate Professor Litefoot foiled Greel's plans. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang)
Also in 1889, some time after her Silurian sisters were killed by workers on the London Underground, Madame Vastra had killed and eaten the perpetrator of the Ripper murders. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War)
On 24 December 1889, the Seventh and Ace fought the Kyrian in London. (PROSE: Instead of You)
1890s
In the 1890s, Jago and Litefoot had many adventures pursuing a career as detectives of the inexplicable and uncanny. (AUDIO: Jago & Litefoot)
In the 1890s, the Twelfth Doctor, Clara Oswald and the Paternoster Gang fought Orestes Milton in London. (PROSE: Silhouette)
By this time, London was the most populous city on Earth, (AUDIO: Jago & Litefoot & Patsy) and according to Mrs Multravers, an artificial alien entity, it was also the most advanced, and one of the most industrial. (AUDIO: The Haunting)
In 1890, Jago and Litefoot descended into the London sewers to kill the rest of Magnus Greel's remaining giant rats with a Gatling gun and on the way there, failed to recognise the Fifth Doctor, who had regenerated since their first encounter with him. (PROSE: A Victorian Interlude)
In 1892, the Eleventh Doctor and River Song visited London. (GAME: The Eternity Clock)
After his loss of the Ponds, the Eleventh Doctor settle in Victorian London, (PROSE: The Doctor's Diary [+]Loading...{"page":"9","1":"The Doctor's Diary (DWAN 2014 short story)"}) specifically in 1892. (TV: The Snowmen [+]Loading...["The Snowmen (TV story)"]) He cut himself off from the universe, "looked up" Vastra and Strax, and considering changing the look of his TARDIS. (PROSE: The Doctor's Diary [+]Loading...{"page":"9","1":"The Doctor's Diary (DWAN 2014 short story)"}) In December, he, Clara Oswin Oswald, and the Paternoster Gang fought the Great Intelligence in London. (TV: The Snowmen [+]Loading...["The Snowmen (TV story)"])
In 1893, Bernice Summerfield met Mycroft Holmes in London. (AUDIO: The Adventure of the Diogenes Damsel)
In November 1896, the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan visited London. (PROSE: The Sands of Time)
In May 1897, the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler met Bram Stoker in London. (COMIC: Bat Attack!)
In 1899, the Fourth Doctor and Romana encountered Jago, Litefoot and the Pugilist and fought Harvey Marsh in London. (AUDIO: The Justice of Jalxar)
Undated events
During the Last Great Time War, the War Master suffered a retro-regeneration crisis. To focus their mind, the Master read The War of the Worlds, thinking to recreate the novel on Planetoid 50. To complete the recreation, the Master abducted several citizens from 19th century London to populate their simulacrum of London. All the abductees were killed by the Master's "Martians", save the Paternoster Gang and Jessamy Moore whom the Tenth Doctor returned to their native time. (AUDIO: The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50)