17th century London was a turbulent era in the history of London. Religious tensions throughout this century between Protestants and Catholics led to events including the Gunpowder Plot, (PROSE: The Plotters [+]Loading...["The Plotters (novel)"]) and the Glorious Revolution. (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution [+]Loading...["The Glorious Revolution (audio story)"])
Perhaps the most devastating event for the city was the Great Fire of London which, in the latter half of the century, destroyed most of medieval London. (PROSE: A History of Humankind [+]Loading...["A History of Humankind (novel)"]) Large parts of the city therefore had to be rebuilt. (PROSE: The Whoniverse [+]Loading...{"chaptname":"The Early Universe","page":"55","chaptnum":"1","1":"The Whoniverse (novel)"})
Events in London of this century would be memorialized in the centuries that followed. Bonfire Night celebrated the failure of the Gunpowder Plot, (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"], PROSE: The Night After Hallowe'en) while a column was later erected 202 ft from Pudding Lane to commemorate the Great Fire. (PROSE: Matrix [+]Loading...["Matrix (novel)"], TV: The Visitation [+]Loading...["The Visitation (TV story)"])
Some residents referred to London of this era as London Town. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"])
Overview[[edit] | [edit source]]
17th century London covered a period in the city from approximately the end of the Elizabethan era, (PROSE: A History of Humankind [+]Loading...{"page":"62","1":"A History of Humankind (novel)"}) to roughly the end of the reign of William III. (AUDIO: Phantasmagoria [+]Loading...["Phantasmagoria (audio story)"]) This included at least part of the Jacobean era. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"])
Much of the turbulence during this period arose from religious tensions between Protestants and Catholics. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"], PROSE: The Republican's Story [+]Loading...["The Republican's Story (short story)"], AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution [+]Loading...["The Glorious Revolution (audio story)"]) The threat of Catholicism was viewed as a constant danger to the realm. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"]) Though the rule of James I was characterised by relative religious tolerance, (PROSE: The Plotters [+]Loading...["The Plotters (novel)"]) at the start of the century he was targeted by Catholic plotters, led by Robert Catesby, in a failed assassination attempt which would be known as the Gunpowder Plot. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"], PROSE: The Plotters [+]Loading...["The Plotters (novel)"]) In the latter half of the century. following the Great Fire of London, many Protestants, including King Charles II, blamed Catholics for setting the conflagration. The accession of the Catholic King James II to the throne of Protestant England created discontent among the English nobility and public, which ultimately led to him being overthrown in the Glorious Revolution. (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution [+]Loading...["The Glorious Revolution (audio story)"])
The English Civil War began in 1642, when Charles I sent soldiers to the House of Commons to arrest five members of Parliament, though the members had been warned of the danger and were no longer there. This led to a sporadic series of battles across England, (PROSE: A History of Humankind [+]Loading...{"page":"70","1":"A History of Humankind (novel)"}) culminating in the king's execution. (PROSE: The Roundheads [+]Loading...["The Roundheads (novel)"])
Squalid conditions led to frequent bouts of bubonic plague across the city. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"], PROSE: The Roundheads [+]Loading...["The Roundheads (novel)"]) The worst outbreak began in 1665, in what became known as the Great Plague. (AUDIO: The Tactics of Defeat [+]Loading...["The Tactics of Defeat (audio story)"])
The Great Fire of London started on Pudding Lane in 1666 after the Fifth Doctor had an encounter with a group of escaped Terileptil criminals. (TV: The Visitation [+]Loading...["The Visitation (TV story)"], The Woman Who Lived [+]Loading...["The Woman Who Lived (TV story)"]) The fire raged for three days, destroying most of the medieval city of London. Historians noted that the fire destroyed much of the slums in which rats and fleas lived, potentially preventing further spread of the plague, (PROSE: A History of Humankind [+]Loading...{"page":"74","1":"A History of Humankind (novel)"}) and cleansing the city. (TV: The Visitation) Following the fire, large parts of London had to be rebuilt. (PROSE: The Whoniverse [+]Loading...{"chaptname":"The Early Universe","page":"55","chaptnum":"1","1":"The Whoniverse (novel)"})
Some parts of London were beset by highwaymen. (PROSE: The Whoniverse [+]Loading...{"chaptname":"The Early Universe","page":"53","chaptnum":"1","1":"The Whoniverse (novel)"}) Notable highwaymen operating in the London area during this period included Sam Swift (TV: The Woman Who Lived [+]Loading...["The Woman Who Lived (TV story)"]) and Richard Mace. (TV: The Visitation [+]Loading...["The Visitation (TV story)"]) One highwaywoman, Lady Me, masqueraded as a highwayman under the alias "the Knightmare". (TV: The Woman Who Lived [+]Loading...["The Woman Who Lived (TV story)"])
Society[[edit] | [edit source]]
Government[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Parliament of England sat in the Palace of Westminster and was formed of two houses, the Commons and the Lords. Each sat to ratify laws that were passed and gave assent when the monarch wished to raise taxes. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"])
Queen Elizabeth I died with no direct heirs. Instead, as the great-grandmother of King James VI of Scotland was the elder sister of Henry VIII, he inherited the English throne. From then onwards, both kingdoms were ruled by a single monarch. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"]) James' rule was characterised by relative religious tolerance. Though a staunch Protestant, he discouraged persecution of Catholics. (PROSE: The Plotters [+]Loading...["The Plotters (novel)"])
James was succeeded by his son, King Charles I. He believed that he, as monarch, had a divine right to rule without consulting the parliament. (PROSE: The Roundheads [+]Loading...["The Roundheads (novel)"])
Following the victory of Oliver Cromwell in the English Civil War, the monarchy was abolished and England became a republic. (PROSE: The Republican's Story [+]Loading...["The Republican's Story (short story)"]) Cromwell served in the position of Lord Protector until his death in 1658. After his death, his son, Richard Cromwell became Lord Protector for only a few months. His rule was not very popular and earned him the nickname of "Tumbledown Dick". (PROSE: The Roundheads [+]Loading...["The Roundheads (novel)"])
The monarchy was restored with King Charles II in 1660, after Parliament invited him to take the throne, (PROSE: The Roundheads [+]Loading...["The Roundheads (novel)"]) though some republican sentiment remained. (PROSE: The Republican's Story [+]Loading...["The Republican's Story (short story)"])
Upon his death in 1685, he was succeeded by his Catholic younger brother James II. His reign was brought to an end by the Glorious Revolution when he was overthrown by William of Orange. William ruled jointly with his wife, Mary II, who was also the daughter of James II. (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution [+]Loading...["The Glorious Revolution (audio story)"])
Economy[[edit] | [edit source]]
Upon the death of Elizabeth I, her country was the most powerful and prosperous in the world. (PROSE: The Time Travellers' Almanac) England was wealthy; a wealth which was jealously coveted by neighbouring countries. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"])
Poor laws existed at this time, which Barnaby - a London orphan and pick-pocket - noted weren't kind to people like him. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"])
Culture[[edit] | [edit source]]
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London of this period lacked basic amenities. Water had to be fetched from either a well or the river. Most buildings lacked toilets, so people typically used chamber pots. These would then be emptied into a privy in the backyard, or be thrown out of a window into the street. As people emptied their waste into the river, it was a source of infection and disease. It was safer to drink beer, as the water in beer was boiled and free from bacteria. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"])
William Shakespeare was active at the start of this era. He wrote and performed plays, including Romeo and Juliet and Henry VIII, at the Globe Theatre. (PROSE: Honeymoon Horrors [+]Loading...["Honeymoon Horrors (short story)"], PROSE: Managra [+]Loading...["Managra (novel)"]) The theatre was destroyed by fire in 1613, (PROSE: Creatures and Demons [+]Loading...{"page":"17","chaptname":"The Carrionites","1":"Creatures and Demons (reference book)"}) shortly before the death of Shakespeare himself. (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac [+]Loading...["The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)"], PROSE: The Empire of Glass [+]Loading...["The Empire of Glass (novel)"]) The theatre, however, was later rebuilt, before being demolished in 1644. (PROSE: Creatures and Demons [+]Loading...{"page":"17","chaptname":"The Carrionites","1":"Creatures and Demons (reference book)"})
Hangings were big public events. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"]) In London during this era, the typical execution site was Tyburn, where criminals were hanged using the Tyburn Tree. (TV: The Woman Who Lived [+]Loading...["The Woman Who Lived (TV story)"], PROSE: The Roundheads [+]Loading...["The Roundheads (novel)"], GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"]) Some, such as Sam Swift, used gallows humour to delay their deaths; in the words of Swift: "For while you laugh, I live". (TV: The Woman Who Lived [+]Loading...["The Woman Who Lived (TV story)"])
A London town crier would pass on news to the townspeople. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"])
Transport[[edit] | [edit source]]
Roads were poor, and more like tracks. People could travel by horse if they owned one, but for most people the only way to get around was on foot. The most well-off might choose to be carried in a litter. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"])
More affluent individuals might own a horse-drawn carriage, such as a stagecoach, which was driven by a coachman. (TV: The Woman Who Lived [+]Loading...["The Woman Who Lived (TV story)"]) It was also possible to hire a carriage to get around the streets of London. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"])
Notable residents[[edit] | [edit source]]
Monarchs who lived in London during this period included James I, (PROSE: The Plotters [+]Loading...["The Plotters (novel)"]) Charles I, (PROSE: The Roundheads [+]Loading...["The Roundheads (novel)"]) and James II. (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution [+]Loading...["The Glorious Revolution (audio story)"]) When in London, monarchs typically resided at the Palace of Whitehall. (PROSE: The Plotters [+]Loading...["The Plotters (novel)"], The Roundheads [+]Loading...["The Roundheads (novel)"])
Sir Walter Raleigh spent time in the Tower of London at the start of the century. (TV: The Mind of Evil [+]Loading...["The Mind of Evil (TV story)"], PROSE: The Empire of Glass [+]Loading...["The Empire of Glass (novel)"])
Geography[[edit] | [edit source]]
Landmarks during this century included the Globe Theatre, Nonsuch House, the Palace of Whitehall, (PROSE: The Plotters [+]Loading...["The Plotters (novel)"]) and the Tower of London. (PROSE: Honeymoon Horrors [+]Loading...["Honeymoon Horrors (short story)"])
During this century, the City of London (PROSE: Matrix [+]Loading...["Matrix (novel)"], TV: The Lie of the Land [+]Loading...["The Lie of the Land (TV story)"]) appeared to make up the majority of London as a whole. The urban sprawl of the city was surrounded to the north-east and north-west by what appeared to be open countryside. (TV: The Visitation [+]Loading...["The Visitation (TV story)"])
The River Thames, shown on a map as "Thamys", flowed through the city. (TV: The Visitation [+]Loading...["The Visitation (TV story)"]) The London Bridge crossed the river. (PROSE: The Plotters [+]Loading...["The Plotters (novel)"]) According to one map, it appeared to be the main bridge at this time. (TV: The Visitation [+]Loading...["The Visitation (TV story)"])
History[[edit] | [edit source]]
Info from The Plotters [+]Loading...["The Plotters (novel)"], The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"] & The Woman Who Lived [+]Loading...["The Woman Who Lived (TV story)"] needs to be added
In 1603, William Lethbridge-Stewart travelled to London with James VI of Scotland in preparation for the latter's coronation as James I of the United Kingdom. Their arrival at London was triumphant, marked by what the Eighth Doctor called "a glorious parade, a magnificent spectacle." (PROSE: The Dying Days)
On 29 June 1613, Francis Pearson set fire to the Globe Theatre in London on opening night for William Shakespeare's last play, Henry VIII. Pearson was later attacked and consumed by the Mimic, becoming the being later known as Persona. (PROSE: Managra)
In 1628, a plague ravaged London. (PROSE: The Roundheads)
In 1665, the first cases of what would become known as the Great Plague of London appeared on the city's outskirts. The disease became more widespread and fatal the following year, after a deadlier strain of the bacterium Yersinia pestis was engineered by a group of escaped Terileptil criminals.
In September 1666, the Great Fire of London started on Pudding Lane after the Fifth Doctor had an encounter with a group of escaped Terileptil criminals. The fire destroyed much of London but there were few deaths and it cleansed the city of the Bubonic plague. (TV: The Visitation) The First and Fourth Doctors also visited the city at the time. The latter was blamed for causing the fire. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Invasion from Space, The Republican's Story; TV: Pyramids of Mars)
In 1688, the Second Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon and Zoe Heriot visited London and met King James II of England shortly before he was overthrown in the Glorious Revolution. (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution)