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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 3h

King Harold and his Saxon army rested in London today in 1066 before marching south for defeat at the Battle of Hastings. Read here about the Norman Conquest www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-norman-c...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The Coroners Act was passed in 1887, ending the practice of carrying out post-mortems in public places such as pubs. The Westminster Coroners Court was constructed in 1893, with the foundation stone laid by the Duke of Westminster, serving a wide area of west London.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

In the 16thC London's Hyde Park was part of a network of Henry VIII's hunting grounds. It gradually became a private royal park where the aristocracy and affluent could parade and be seen. Read here about the playground of Tudor and Stuart monarchs www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/hyde-park-pl...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The Heal's furniture company was founded in 1810 by John Harris Heal. Eight years later it opened in Tottenham Court Road, where other furniture retailers were located, and in 1840 moved to this site.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The Festival of Britain closed today in 1951. It was the big event in London that year, intended as 'a tonic for the nation' that had suffered years of war and rationing. Read about the Festival of Britain here www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-festival...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The New River was opened today in 1613, bringing fresh water to London from Hertfordshire; and after 400 years it continues to do so. Read the history of the New River here www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-new-rive...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A Second World War 'pillbox' can still be found at Putney Bridge station. It was one of many of these fortifications created to form a defensive ring around the capital in anticipation of an invasion.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Staple Inn was established in the 14th century when it was known as le Stapledhalle, where merchants weighed and traded wool. In the 15th century the buildings became part of an Inn of Chancery for the legal profession. The part on what is now High holborn dates from 1585.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Dramatic and sometimes violent events took place in Westminster Abbey during the Middle Ages, while Henry III began the construction of a magnificent new building that was to take two centuries to complete. Read here about the abbey in the Middle Ages www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/westminster-...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The ideas of philosopher and social reformer Jeremy Bentham and his collaborators led to the modern police, prisons, and London's first university. His wish was for his body to be preserved after his death in 1832 and it remains on display within University College London.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The Metropolitan Railway from Paddington to Farringdon was opened in 1863, the world's first underground railway. Read about it here www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-firs...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Belgrave Square was created by Thomas Cubitt in the 1820s on the marshy 'Five Fields', land owned by the Grosvenor family, the Dukes of Westminster. It takes its name from the village of Belgrave in Cheshire near the Grosvenor's ancestral home.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

In 1887 the current Hammersmith Bridge replaced its predecessor, which had opened in 1827. That had been the first suspension bridge over the Thames, designed by William Tierney Clark. Sadly, the bridge is now closed to vehicle traffic due to structural problems.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Henry FitzAilwin, the very first Mayor of London, remained in office until his death, today in 1212. Read about here about London's earliest mayor www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/henry-fitzai...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

In 1935 Allen Lane and his brothers began re-publishing books as inexpensive paperbacks under the Penguin imprint from this office at Vigo Street, Mayfair. The books were initially sold through the Woolworths stores and revolutionised the reading habits of people in Britain.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The completed London & Birmingham railway opened today in 1838, with its London terminus at Euston. Read here about London's first long-distance railway www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-earl...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The Marble Arch was designed by John Nash as a gate into Buckingham Palace and installed there in the 1830s. The palace was then remodelled and Marble Arch was removed to its current location at the north-east corner of Hyde Park.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Isambard Kingdom Brunel died today in 1859 at his home at Duke Street, Westminster. Read here about the Thames Tunnel, one of his great achievements in London www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-thames-t...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Take a train between Wapping and Rotherhithe stations and you are travelling through the world's first (now oldest) tunnel under a river. It was constructed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and father Marc. The tunnel originally opened for pedestrians in 1843 and railway in the 1860s.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

In the 16th century English ships were trading in slaves, while at the same time Africans were living freely in London. Read here about England's early slave trade and Africans in Tudor London www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/africans-in-...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Hatch End station originally opened in 1840 on the London & Birmingham Railway. It was rebuilt in 1911, and poet John Betjemen described it as "half-way between a bank and a medium-sized country house".

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

London was re-established in the 10th century following centuries of abandonment after the Romans. Yet it remained under constant threat from Viking attack. Read here about London before the Norman conquest www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/saxons-and-v...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

What appears to be a Victorian monument at the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Bucklersbury in the City of London is actually a ventilation shaft for the underground railway below. It dates from 1987 when the Docklands Light Railway was being contructed.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

William the Conqueror died at Rouen in France today in 1087, having ruled Normandy and England. Read here about London and Westminster during the Norman period www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/london-and-w...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Tomorrow I’ll be emailing the monthly newsletter with updates on my latest London history projects. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list there’s still time. Just click on this link and insert your name and email address thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/newsletter

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The River Westbourne rises in Hampstead and flows, now mostly underground, into the Thames near Chelsea Bridge. Along its way it passes through this green pipe over the platforms of Sloane Square tube station.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

What is now Moor Park station on the Metropolitan line was opened in 1910 as Sandy Lodge to serve a golf course of that name. The surrounding land was developed for housing by Lord Leverhulme as Moor Park and in 1950 the station given the current name.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Today in 1642 Parliament began closing London’s theatres and other places of entertainment. Read here about London during the Civil War www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/london-durin...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

St. Christopher's Place at Marylebone is now home to many restaurants and boutique shops. It was created in the 1760s as an alleyway but by the mid-19thC had degenerated into slum tenements. Second-hand furniture shops later opened, and fashion boutiques arrived from the 1970s.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

John Fielding, the 'Blind Beak' and founder of the Bow Street Runners detective force, died today in 1780. Read here about the creation of the Bow Street Runners www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-bow-stre...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Over 600 people died today in 1878 when the paddle steamer Princess Alice collided with a larger vessel on the Thames, Britain's worst inland waterway disaster. Read here about paddle steamers on the Thames www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/victorian-pa...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The Great Fire began today in 1666, one of the biggest events in London's history, lasting for four days and devastating much of the City. Read here about the Great Fire of London www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-great-fi...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This bascule bridge crosses what was previously the entrance lock into Shadwell Basin, part of the former London Docks complex that stretched across Wapping. It was installed in the 1930s, allowing ships to enter from the Thames. The lock and bridge are no longer operational.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Roman Londinium expanded and prospered during the 1st and 2nd centuries. From the 3rd century it went into a long, slow decline. Read here about the decline and eventual abandonment of Roman London www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-decline-...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Stratford House, near Bond Street tube station, was built in the 1770s for Edward Stratford and extensively altered in 1908 by Lord Derby. Since 1962 it has been occupied by the Oriental Club, which had been founded in the 1820s for officers returning from India and the Far East.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The creation of the massive dock systems on each side of the river in the 19thC, and the subsequent growth of East London, necessitated a new crossing to link both sides of the Thames. Read here about the creation of the Blackwall Tunnel www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-blackwal...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

On this night in 1990 PC Laurence Brown responded to a call to Pownall Road, Hackney. It was a trap and Brown was shot and killed by a man with two shotguns. The memorial was unveiled the following year.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The West India Docks opened today in 1802, the first of London's great 19th century docks. Read about them here www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-new-lond...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The St. Katharine Docks, close to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, were designed by Thomas Telford and opened in 1828. They were built on the site of the Precinct of St. Katharine and required the demolition of 1,250 dwellings and a medieval church.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Nine road entrances into the City of London are marked by silver dragons. They were erected in the 1960s and based on those on the Coal Exchange, which was demolished at that time. They are often mistakenly described as gryphons.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre began in Paris today in 1572, resulting in large numbers of refugees fleeing their homeland for a new life in London. Read here about the Huguenots and the new skills they brought to Britain www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/huguenots/

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

The OXO Tower on the South Bank was originally built around 1900 as an electricity power station. In the 1920s it was acquired and rebuilt as a cold store by the Oxo beef-cube producer. Denied permission to advertise on the building, they instead created windows that spelt OXO.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Shadwell Basin was created between 1828 and 1832 as an extension to Wapping's London Docks. Its purpose was to provide a new east entrance to the Thames for ships arriving or departing. It is now the only remaining major part of the London Docks complex.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

When Charles II came to the throne Londoners could once again enjoy themselves following the years of austere puritanical government. Read here about London's Restoration pleasure gardens www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-rest...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Around the periphery of London stand over 200 tax posts, erected in the 1860s to show the point from which tax was due on coal and wine arriving in the capital. The tax was used by the City of London to pay for infrastructure projects. This post is near Northwood.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

London was abandoned and left empty for 400 years following the departure of the Roman army. In the 9th century the town was re-established by Alfred the Great. Read here about Alfred's London www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-re-estab...

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

This gatehouse is part of the old Richmond Palace that was a major residence of the Tudor monarchs and where Queen Elizabeth died in 1603. The palace and its surrounding town take their name from Henry VII, the Earl of Richmond.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

The funeral of playwright Ben Jonson took place today in 1637, who was buried upright in Westminster Abbey. Read here about the abbey in the early Stuart period www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/westminster-abbey-in-the-early-stuart-period/

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

During the 19thC the Metropolitan Board of Works created the Thames Embankments through London to house its new sewers and to prevent flooding. They created ornate lamps for the embankments. This is one of a pair on the Chelsea Embankment, designed by Timothy Butler.

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Peter Stone @londonstone.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

In 1939 Imperial Airways opened a terminal building behind Victoria station, where people could check in for Croydon Aerodrome or a seaplane at Southampton. Their successor was BOAC, taking passengers to Heathrow, then later British Airways. Now the National Audit Office.

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