- Cornhill, London
-
Coordinates: 51°30′49″N 0°05′06″W / 51.5135°N 0.085°W
Ward of Cornhill 
Ward of Cornhill
Ward of Cornhill shown within Greater LondonOS grid reference TQ327811 Sui generis City of London Administrative area Greater London Region London Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town LONDON Postcode district EC3 Dialling code 020 Police City of London Fire London Ambulance London EU Parliament London UK Parliament Cities of London and Westminster London Assembly City and East List of places: UK • England • London Cornhill is a ward, and one of the principal streets of the City of London, the historic nucleus of modern London. The hill from which it takes its name is one of the three ancient hills of London; the others are Tower Hill, site of the Tower of London, and Ludgate Hill, crowned by St Paul's Cathedral. The highest point of Cornhill is at 17.7 metres (58 ft) above sea level.[1]
Contents
History
Cornhill is one of the traditional divisions of the City. The street contains two of the City churches designed by Sir Christopher Wren: St Michael's, Cornhill, on the site of the Roman forum of Londinium, and St Peter upon Cornhill (1680), reputed to occupy the oldest Christianised site in London. At its other end it joins Threadneedle Street, Poultry, King William Street and Lombard Street. Sir Thomas Gresham's original Royal Exchange fronted onto Cornhill, but its successor on the site, designed by William Tite, faces towards the Bank of England across the junction with Threadneedle Street.
The "Standard" near the junction of Cornhill and Leadenhall Street was the first mechanically pumped public water supply in London, constructed in 1582 on the site of earlier hand-pumped wells and gravity-fed conduits. The mechanism, a force pump driven by a water wheel under the northernmost arch of London Bridge, transferred water from the Thames through lead pipes to four outlets. The service was discontinued in 1603.[2][3] This became the mark from which many distances to and from London were measured and the name still appears on older mileposts (but see also the nearby London Stone and St Mary-le-Bow church).
In 1652, Pasqua Rosée, a native of Ragusa, opened the first London coffeehouse, in St Michael's Alley, Cornhill. The publishers Smith, Elder and co, based at 65 Cornhill, published the popular literary journal Cornhill Magazine (1860–1975) as well as the "Dictionary of National Biography". The magazine was first edited by William Makepeace Thackeray.
In Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Bob Cratchit slides down Cornhill 20 times in honor of it being Christmas Eve.
Today
The street is commonly associated with opticians and makers of optical apparatus such as microscopes and telescopes. A statue of James Henry Greathead was erected in 1994 outside the Royal Exchange, which lies within the ward boundaries.
The marathon route of the 2012 Summer Olympics is planned to pass up Cornhill.[4]
Role in City of London elections
Cornhill 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 Freeman of the City of London are eligible to stand. The current Alderman is Sir David Howard (3rd Baronet) MA FSI, the 673rd Lord Mayor of London and the current Members of Common Council are Revd Stephen Haines (Deputy) and Peter Dunphy.
-
Cornhill in the 1830s. The Royal Exchange is on the left.
-
Cornhill from the air
-
Alley adjacent to St Michael's
-
Interior of St Michael's
References
- ^ Ordnance Survey data
- ^ Timms, John (1855). Curiosities of London. David Bogue London. Digital edition from Harvard College library accessed on 2007-11-16
- ^ Thomson, Richard (1827). The Chronicles of London Bridge p357. Smith Elder and Co, London. Digital edition accessed 2007-11-16
- ^ London 2012 Proposed Marathon Route
External links
- Cornhill Ward The Official Ward Website
- City of London Corporation Map of Cornhill ward (2003 —)
- "The English coffee houses"
- Cornhill, after a London map of 1750
City of London Wards Aldersgate · Aldgate · Bassishaw · Billingsgate · Bishopsgate · Bread Street · Bridge · Broad Street · Candlewick · Castle Baynard · Cheap · Coleman Street · Cordwainer · Cornhill · Cripplegate · Dowgate · Farringdon Within · Farringdon Without · Langbourn · Lime Street · Portsoken · Queenhithe · Tower · Vintry · Walbrook
Enclaves Localities Attractions Bank of England Museum · Barbican Centre · Clockmakers' Museum · Dr. Johnson's House · Guildhall Art Gallery · London Mithraeum · London Stone · Mansion House · The Monument · Museum of London · Old Bailey · St. Paul's Cathedral · Smithfield MarketCivil parishes Bridges Tube and rail stations Categories:- Streets in the City of London
- Wards of the City of London
- Geography of the City of London
- Hills of London
-
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
