h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: London, UK - A5543020
Author: Mina [63/100] - U290

Apparently we don't have an entry on London itself - I received rather a large hint from the Towers recently.

Apparently all we need are where it is, how big it is, where it got it's name and some historical events.

This is what I've come up with, and I'm afraid it's rather poor! Nowhere near ready for PR, anyone with anymore 'timeline' facts I can stick in? I'm afraid my knowledge is rather specific to a few events and places, so I just don't know enough to write this entry well.

The structure looks a bit rubbish as well, help!

I've got my thinking cap on In the meantime, for the timeline, the Blitz in 1941? Also: 2005 - London wins the bid to host the 2012 Olympics

>>how big it is<< Might be worth saying something more about its disproportionate size (that it has been, since the middle ages, *much* bigger than any other British city, in a way that's quite unusual for most European countries). By the late 16th century, for instance, London was not only the biggest city in Europe, but twice the size of the second-biggest (Paris) ... but the next biggest city in Britain, Bristol, was only around the 250th biggest.

Capital of the Empire - in line with which, might be worth saying that it was the busiest port in the world in the late 19th century too.

That's great, thank you!

I knew I'd meant to put the Blitz in! I'll do some work on this during the week, thanks again, it's just want is needed.

I would think that looking at the various London-related EG entries at <./>C86</.> would be helpful -- give you more ideas about what to include, plus loads of lovely entries to link to.


Mikey

I think it might be a good idea to point out that it's only fairly recently that all the various boroughs have been incorporated into London - in that the city flows seamlessly between them, or so to speak. A few hundred years ago, there were acres of farmland separating the City itself from the suburbs, until those acres were eventually developed.

Also, I think it might be worth noting that the City of London is (historically) prone to laws that have nothing to do with the rest of the country. For example, in, say, the 17th century, if you were wanted on criminal charges in the rest of the country, you were safe in London. And Shakespeare and his contemporaries could not have erected their theatres in the City, which is why The Globe and The Rose and The Theatre were located on the south bank of the Thames (as the modern Globe is today).

How about a list of some of the more famous tourist attractions, like the Tower of London, Hyde Park and all the museums, just to name a few at random?

I forgot to mention that there are loads of Edited Entries on London (see C86). Maybe you could link to as many of those as possible, and make this sort of like one of those index entries?

Thanks, that's all great ideas. The hint that I got said that this wouldn't need too much info in it, but I'll certainly browse through the category later. I just seemed to be stumped when I sat down to write it!

>>Shakespeare and his contemporaries could not have erected their theatres in the City<<

Blackfriars was in the City, in fact - some of Shakespeare's last plays were first performed there (after the Globe burnt down).

( Didn't mean that to sound so snotty - a fiddly place London )

Oh yes, good point. Hm. I do know I read somewhere something about not being able to erect theatres in the City. Perhaps I shall look into that.

Wasn't that to do with the puritans? They wouldn't allow acting and entertainment?

I've made some changes to the entry, and credited where I've shamelessly copy/pasted from this conversation.

Yes, but that was after Shakespeare. When the Puritans were in power during the Interregnum they could do whatever they wanted law-wise and did indeed prevent theatres from being erected and plays from being performed. Theatre didn't pick up again until after the Restoration. But Shakespeare died long before the Puritans came to power, and I *know* I read something about why the major theatres seem to largely have been on the south bank of the Thames, outside of the city. I have a book here that says that The Theatre (the first theatre in the London area) was erected in 1576 just north of the City wall. The Rose was erected in 1587, south of the Thames in Bankside, in the area with all the prisons and brothels. Just a bit west of the Rose was the Swan, built in 1595. And the Globe itself was built in 1599 in Southwark.

Oh, and I meant to say thank you very much for giving me credit.

But maybe you should use the new tag instead, because you've done most of the work!

Shall I take that section about the law and theatre out in that case?

I do need to credit correctly here, as I've used sections of what you've said, it's your work to! I'll just put my name as 'compiled by' as well.

No, no, by all means leave it in!

OK to move this one to PR? It still doesn't seem ready, but PR is busier.

Sounds good to me!

Hi Mina et al,

Might it be worth including a line about *when* London became the capital of England.

Although it was established as the administrative centre of the Roman province (later York became the centre of a 2nd province, Brittania Superior), this dominance seems to have been completely lost in the period of Anglo-Saxon dominance which followed, when Britain was divided into seven (and sometimes more) independent kingdoms.

In the latter part of the Anglo-Saxon period (often called the dark ages), Winchester was the dominant city in the partially re-united kingdom of England, with London an important commercial centre but not the administrative 'capital' (although we can't really talk about an English 'capital city' at all during this period of peripatetic royal courts).

It was not really, I don't think, until the arrival of William I's Norman invaders that London began to take on its modern role as first city of England. London was his first destination, and it was in London that he was first confirmed and crowned as king.

Perhaps interesting background for an entry such as this...

Spiff

Yes, excellent point.

Though Edward the Confessor *did* build Westminster Abbey in London, and that was before the Norman invasion.