Aldersgate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ward of Aldersgate | |
  Ward of Aldersgate shown within Greater London |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Sui generis | City of London |
| Administrative area | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | EC1, EC2 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | City of London |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| European Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Cities of London and Westminster |
| London Assembly | |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Aldersgate was a gate in the London Wall in the City of London, which has given its name to a ward and Aldersgate Street, a road leading north from the site of the gate, towards Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington.
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[edit] Points of interest
Aldersgate Street is near the Barbican Estate and Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, and the Museum of London. Northwards it continues into Goswell Road, southwards it becomes St Martin's-le-Grand. Barbican tube station is located on Aldersgate Street, and was formerly known as Aldersgate station.
The ward is bounded by Aldersgate Street, Beech Street, Noble Street, Angel Street, King Edward Street and Montague Street. The ward contains the largest resident population in the City, the Barbican Estate. There are about 5000 residents. The ward is also the location of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the City of London School for Girls.
Within the ward are located three livery company halls; Ironmongers Hall, Plaisterers Hall and Barber-Surgeons Hall.
[edit] History
The old gate was taken down in 1617, and rebuilt in the same year from a design by Gerard Christmas. The gate was damaged in the Great Fire of London, but was repaired and remained until 1761. Aldersgate Street contained the Bishop of London's Chapel and his chambers at London House, which was used from the eighteenth century because it was closer to St Paul's Cathedral than his official residence at Fulham. Also on this street is the church of St Botolph Aldersgate, and the site of the meeting room where John Wesley was converted in 1738, which is marked by a plaque.
The house of Sarah Sawyer, in Rose and Rainbow Court (approximately the site of the Museum of London), formed one of the earliest Quaker meetings in London (before 1655). In 1675, it became a dedicated meeting house, the Box Meeting, used mainly by Quaker women for poor relief, on her marriage.[1]
[edit] Politics
Aldersgate is one of 25 wards in the City of London, each electing an Alderman, to the Court of Aldermen and Commoners (the City equivalent of a Councillor) to the Court of Common Council of the City of London Corporation. Only electors who are Freemen of the City of London are eligible to stand.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Quakers Around Shoreditch (Andrew Roberts, ed.) accessed 10 Oct 2006
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- 18th century map showing the location of the gate (towards the bottom right corner)
- Ward map
- Map of Early Modern London: Aldersgate Ward - Historical Map and Encyclopedia of Shakespeare's London (Scholarly)
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