Lines of Communication (London)
Encyclopedia
The Lines of Communication were English Civil War
fortifications commissioned by Parliament (see the Order for intrenching and fortifying the City of London, 7 March 1643) and built around London between 1642 and 1643 to protect the capital from attack by the Royalist armies of Charles I
.
In 1642 some basic fortifications were built, in the form of street barricades and small earthworks.
In 1643 a major construction effort was made, to provide a comprehensive ring of fortifications around the city. Much of the work was done by volunteer labour, organized by the trained bands and the livery companies. Up to 20,000 people are thought to be involved, and the works were completed in under two months.
The fortifications failed their only test when the New Model Army
entered London in 1647, and they were levelled by Parliament the same year.
at a distance of one and a half to two miles from the city centre. From George Vertue
's print it may be seen that the line begun below the Tower of London
, at the Thames, and went northward towards the windmill in Whitechapel Road
; then inclining to the north-west, it crossed the Hackney
and Kingsland Road
s, near Shoreditch
, and turning to the south-west, crossed the end of St. John Street, Grey's Inn Lane, Bloomsbury
, and Oxford Road (now New Oxford Street), near St. Giles Pound (junction with St Giles High Street). Then proceeding westward to Hyde Park Corner
, and Constitution Hill
, it inclined towards Chelsea Turnpike, Tothill Fields, and the Thames. Again commencing near Vauxhall
, it ran north-eastward to St. George's Fields, then making an angle to the east, crossed the Borough Road
at the end of Blackman Street (southern section of Borough High Street
, proceeded to the end of Kent Street (now Tabard Street) on the Deptford Road (now Old Kent Road
, then inclining to the north-east, joined the Thames nearly opposite to the point where it began.
The major fortifications were anti-clockwise from the north-east bank of the Thames:
East
North
(Outliers)
North
West
South of the Thames
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
fortifications commissioned by Parliament (see the Order for intrenching and fortifying the City of London, 7 March 1643) and built around London between 1642 and 1643 to protect the capital from attack by the Royalist armies of Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
.
In 1642 some basic fortifications were built, in the form of street barricades and small earthworks.
In 1643 a major construction effort was made, to provide a comprehensive ring of fortifications around the city. Much of the work was done by volunteer labour, organized by the trained bands and the livery companies. Up to 20,000 people are thought to be involved, and the works were completed in under two months.
The fortifications failed their only test when the New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
entered London in 1647, and they were levelled by Parliament the same year.
The Works
These works principally consisted of a strong earthen rampart flanked with reinforced with a series of 23 fortifications of various types surrounding the whole City, and its liberties, including SouthwarkSouthwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
at a distance of one and a half to two miles from the city centre. From George Vertue
George Vertue
George Vertue was an English engraver and antiquary, whose notebooks on British art of the first half of the 18th century are a valuable source for the period.-Life:...
's print it may be seen that the line begun below the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, at the Thames, and went northward towards the windmill in Whitechapel Road
Whitechapel Road
Whitechapel Road is a major arterial road in the East End of London, England. It connects Whitechapel High Street to the west with Mile End Road to the east and forms part of the A11 road. It is a main shopping street in the Whitechapel area of Tower Hamlets and has a street market...
; then inclining to the north-west, it crossed the Hackney
Hackney
-Places:* London Borough of Hackney, formed in 1965** Metropolitan Borough of Hackney, formed in 1900 and abolished in 1965** Hackney Central** Hackney Central , a political division of the Council** Hackney Central railway station** Hackney College...
and Kingsland Road
Kingsland Road
Kingsland Road is the name of a road, part of the A10, in the London Borough of Hackney in England. It runs from the junction with Old Street and Hackney Road north to the junction with Balls Pond Road and Dalston Lane, where it changes its name to Kingsland High Street...
s, near Shoreditch
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney in England. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
, and turning to the south-west, crossed the end of St. John Street, Grey's Inn Lane, Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, and Oxford Road (now New Oxford Street), near St. Giles Pound (junction with St Giles High Street). Then proceeding westward to Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner is a place in London, at the south-east corner of Hyde Park. It is a major intersection where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place and Constitution Hill converge...
, and Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill may refer to:*Constitution Hill, New South Wales, Australia*Constitution Hill, Aberystwyth*Constitution Hill, Birmingham*Constitution Hill, London*Constitution Hill, Swansea*Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa...
, it inclined towards Chelsea Turnpike, Tothill Fields, and the Thames. Again commencing near Vauxhall
Vauxhall
-Demography:Many Vauxhall residents live in social housing. There are several gentrified areas, and areas of terraced townhouses on streets such as Fentiman Road and Heyford Avenue have higher property values in the private market, however by far the most common type of housing stock within...
, it ran north-eastward to St. George's Fields, then making an angle to the east, crossed the Borough Road
Borough Road
Borough Road is in Southwark, London SE1. It runs east-west between St George's Circus and Borough High Street.- History and location :The route was created as part of the planning and road improvements associated with the completion of Westminster Bridge in 1750, to provide access to Southwark...
at the end of Blackman Street (southern section of Borough High Street
Borough High Street
Borough High Street is a main street in Southwark, London running south-west from London Bridge, forming part of the A3 road, which runs from London to Portsmouth.- Overview :...
, proceeded to the end of Kent Street (now Tabard Street) on the Deptford Road (now Old Kent Road
Old Kent Road
The Old Kent Road is a road in South East London, England and forms part of Watling Street, the Roman road which ran from Dover to Holyhead. The street is famous as the equal cheapest property on the London Monopoly board and as the only one in South London....
, then inclining to the north-east, joined the Thames nearly opposite to the point where it began.
The major fortifications were anti-clockwise from the north-east bank of the Thames:
East
- 1) BulwarkBulwarkBulwark may refer to:*A bastion or fortifications in general*In naval terminology, an extension of a ship's sides above deck level*HMS Bulwark, any of several Royal Navy ships*USS Bulwark, any of several US Navy ships...
, & half.bulwark : Gravel Lane - 2) HornworkHornworkA hornwork is an element of the trace italienne system of fortification. It consists of a pair of demi-bastions with a curtain wall connecting them and with two long sides directed upon the faces of the bastions, or ravelins of the inner fortifications, so as to be defended by them.The hornwork...
: Whitechapel RoadWhitechapel RoadWhitechapel Road is a major arterial road in the East End of London, England. It connects Whitechapel High Street to the west with Mile End Road to the east and forms part of the A11 road. It is a main shopping street in the Whitechapel area of Tower Hamlets and has a street market... - 3) RedoubtRedoubtA redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
& 2 flanks : Brick LaneBrick LaneBrick Lane is a street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. It runs from Swanfield Street in the northern part of Bethnal Green, crosses Bethnal Green Road, passes through Spitalfields and is linked to Whitechapel High Street to the south by the short stretch of... - 4) Redoubt & 4 flanks : Hackney RoadHackney RoadHackney Road is a London arterial route running from Shoreditch Church to Cambridge Heath. It occupies a no mans land in between Bethnal Green and Haggerston...
- 5) Redoubt & 4 flanks : Kingsland RoadKingsland RoadKingsland Road is the name of a road, part of the A10, in the London Borough of Hackney in England. It runs from the junction with Old Street and Hackney Road north to the junction with Balls Pond Road and Dalston Lane, where it changes its name to Kingsland High Street...
North
- 6) batteryArtillery batteryIn military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
& BreastworkBreastworkBreastwork may mean:#A form of temporary fortification#Surgical alteration of the breast...
: Mountmill - 7 Battery & Breastwork : St John Street
(Outliers)
- 8) Small Redoubt : Islington Road
- 9) Large Fort & 4 half Bulwarks : Upper Pond, New RiverNew River (England)The New River is an artificial waterway in England, opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water taken from the River Lea and from Amwell Springs , and other springs and wells along its course....
North
- 10) Battery & Breastwork : Blackmary Hill
- 11) 2 Battery & Breastwork : Bedford HouseBloomsbury SquareBloomsbury Square is a garden square in Bloomsbury, Camden, London.- Geography :To the north of the square is Great Russell Street and Bedford Place, leading to Russell Square. To the south is Bloomsbury Way. To the west is the British Museum and Holborn tube station is the nearest underground...
- 12) Redoubt & 2 flanks : St Giles RoadSt Giles, LondonSt Giles is a district of London, England. It is the location of the church of St Giles in the Fields, the Phoenix Garden and St Giles Circus. It is located at the southern tip of the London Borough of Camden and is part of the Midtown business improvement district.The combined parishes of St...
- 13) Small Fort : Tiburn RoadTyburnTyburn is a former village just outside the then boundaries of London that was best known as a place of public execution.Tyburn may also refer to:* Tyburn , river and historical water source in London...
- 14) Large Fort & 4 half Bulwarks : Wardour StreetWardour StreetWardour Street is a street in Soho, London. It is a one-way street south to north from Leicester Square, up through Chinatown, across Shaftesbury Avenue to Oxford Street.-History:...
- 15) Small Bulwark : Olivers Mount
- 16) Large fort & 4 Bulwarks : Hyde Park CornerHyde Park CornerHyde Park Corner is a place in London, at the south-east corner of Hyde Park. It is a major intersection where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place and Constitution Hill converge...
West
- 17) Small Bulwark & Battery : Constitution HillConstitution Hill, LondonConstitution Hill is a road in the City of Westminster in London. It connects the western end of The Mall with Hyde Park Corner, and is bordered by Buckingham Palace Gardens and Green Park. The term "Hill" is something of a misnomer; there is barely detectable slope but most observers would...
- 18) Court of Guards : Chelsea Turnpike
- 19) Battery & Breastwork : Tothill FieldTothill Fields BridewellTothill Fields Bridewell was a prison located in the Westminster area of central London between 1618 and 1884. It was named 'Bridewell' after the Bridewell Palace, which during the 16th century had become one of the City of London's most important prisons...
South of the Thames
- 20) Quadrant Fort & 4 half Bulwarks : VauxhallVauxhall-Demography:Many Vauxhall residents live in social housing. There are several gentrified areas, and areas of terraced townhouses on streets such as Fentiman Road and Heyford Avenue have higher property values in the private market, however by far the most common type of housing stock within...
- 21) Fort & 4 half Bulwarks : St George FieldSt George's FieldsSt George's Fields was an area of Southwark in South London, England.Originally the area was an undifferentiated part of the south-side of the Thames, which was low lying marshland unsuitable for even agricultural purposes. As such it was part of the extensive holdings of the king, it is difficult...
- 22) Large Fort & 4 Bulwarks : Blackman StreetBorough High StreetBorough High Street is a main street in Southwark, London running south-west from London Bridge, forming part of the A3 road, which runs from London to Portsmouth.- Overview :...
- 23) Redoubt & 4 flanks : Kent Street