The area now called The City was once the walled Roman city of Londinium, and for many centuries contained all of London. By 1700, the population outside the wall was larger than that inside. The expansion of London was fed in part by Great Britains increased trading and colonization. Because of this activity, London became a flourishing commercial center with wealth coming in from across the globe.
The decision to move outside the wall was made by some people after the Great Fire of 1666, which destroyed almost all of the city and even parts of Southwark. Rather than quickly rebuild the medieval city, officials decided to plan and build a new city. The architect Christopher Wren had much to do with this. His vision of the city was a grid pattern with wide avenues rather than curvy narrow streets. In some places the streets were widened but in many they were rebuilt along the pattern of the medieval city plan. Wren and his colleagues also decided on many new building regulations that would help to insure that this fire was the last. Buildings now had to be made of brick and stone and roofs had to be tiled, rather than thatched. Wren was also the architect of St. Pauls Cathedral and many other churches. 23 of his churches were destroyed in the Blitz during World War II; however, some, including St. Pauls, are still standing.
Today the City is the Central Business District. Commercial land use has almost completely taken over residential space in the City. In fact, only about 5000 people live in the City today, as compared to up to 45,000 people in the year 300.
Information gained from the following books: The Great Fire of London in 1666, Walter George Bell, 1923. London: Problems of Change, Hugh Clout and Peter Wood, 1986.
Beth Uittenbogaard