Tower (ward)
Encyclopedia
Tower is a ward
of the City of London
and is named from its propinquity to the Tower of London
. The ward covers the area of the City that is closest to the Tower.
Prior to boundary changes in 2003 the ward contained all of Great Tower Street
and the ward historically was known as "Tower Street". John Leake
's 1667 map of the City of London refers to the ward as "Tower Street ward", as does a 1755 map of the ward. However the ward lost much ground to Billingsgate
ward in the 2003 review of boundaries, including nearly all of Great Tower Street, though gained land to the north of the Tower of London, for instance the Minories
.
Since its construction, the Tower of London has not formed part of the ward or part of the City of London. Instead, in the modern era, it lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
. Additionally Tower Bridge
is not within the City or the ward, although in recent times the ward uses it as a logo.
had watched the Fire
unfold in September 1666. St Olave Hart Street, Betjeman
remarked is a country church in the middle of the busiest city on earth. St Dunstan’s Church in St Dunstan’s Hill, destroyed during World War II
, is now a garden.
s 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 Freeman of the City of London are eligible to stand.
Wards of the City of London
The City of London , in the United Kingdom, is constituted of 25 wards. The City is the historic core of the much wider metropolis of London, with an ancient and sui generis form of local government, which avoided the many reforms enacted to local government elsewhere in the country in the 19th and...
of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
and is named from its propinquity to 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...
. The ward covers the area of the City that is closest to the Tower.
Prior to boundary changes in 2003 the ward contained all of Great Tower Street
Great Tower Street
Great Tower Street is a street in the City of London.It forms an eastward continuation of Eastcheap starting at Idol Lane, and leads towards Byward Street, then Tower Hill...
and the ward historically was known as "Tower Street". John Leake
John Leake
Sir John Leake was an English Admiral in the Royal Navy and a politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1708 to 1715.Leake was born at Rotherhithe, the second son of Richard Leake, Master Gunner of England....
's 1667 map of the City of London refers to the ward as "Tower Street ward", as does a 1755 map of the ward. However the ward lost much ground to Billingsgate
Billingsgate
Billingsgate is a small ward in the south-east of the City of London, lying on the north bank of the River Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge...
ward in the 2003 review of boundaries, including nearly all of Great Tower Street, though gained land to the north of the Tower of London, for instance the Minories
Minories
The Minories is the name of both an area and street in the City of London close to the Tower of London. The street called Minories runs north-south between Aldgate and Tower Hill underground stations...
.
Since its construction, the Tower of London has not formed part of the ward or part of the City of London. Instead, in the modern era, it lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
. Additionally Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name...
is not within the City or the ward, although in recent times the ward uses it as a logo.
Churches
All Hallows-by-the-Tower was the church from which PepysSamuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
had watched the Fire
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
unfold in September 1666. St Olave Hart Street, Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
remarked is a country church in the middle of the busiest city on earth. St Dunstan’s Church in St Dunstan’s Hill, destroyed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, is now a garden.
Politics
Tower is one of 25 wardWards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
s in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, each electing an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
, to the Court of Aldermen
Court of Aldermen
The Court of Aldermen is an elected body forming part of the City of London Corporation. The Court of Aldermen is made up of the twenty five Aldermen of the City of London, presided over by the Lord Mayor...
and Commoners (the City equivalent of a Councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
) to the Court of Common Council of the City of London Corporation. Only electors who are Freeman of the City of London are eligible to stand.
External links
- City of London Police Ward Constable profile
- Ward newsletter
- Map of Early Modern London: Tower Street Ward - Historical Map and Encyclopedia of Shakespeare's London (Scholarly)
External links
- Ward of Tower The Official Ward Website