Thames Street (London)
Encyclopedia
Thames Street, divided into Lower and Upper Thames Street, is a historic road in the City of London
. It is mentioned in the diary of Samuel Pepys
.
The first mention of the road is from AD 1013 when the Custom-house was founded on the street.
During the reign of Henry VIII
, the street contained the London residences of many courtiers, including that of William Compton
, where Henry VIII allegedly met his mistresses.
Little evidence of its history remains, in a large part due to World War II
bombing and post-War redevelopment, and it now contains many office buildings, including the headquarters of the Daily Express
newspaper. The London Fire Brigade
's Dowgate station, which serves the City of London, is located on Upper Thames Street at the corner of Allhallows Lane. The most notable change is on the western end of the thoroughfare, which dramatically altered its course as part of major works of the 1960s, involving the reclaiming of foreshore of the Thames at Puddle Dock
.
Today the busy A3211 route uses the street (prior to Thames Street being rebuilt as a major thoroughfare in the late 1960s, it was the B132). The London Bridge
underpass marks the divide between Upper and Lower Thames Street, with Lower to the east and Upper to the west.
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...
. It is mentioned in the diary of Samuel Pepys
Samuel 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...
.
The first mention of the road is from AD 1013 when the Custom-house was founded on the street.
During the reign of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, the street contained the London residences of many courtiers, including that of William Compton
William Compton (courtier)
Sir William Compton was one of the most prominent courtiers during the reign of Henry VIII of England. Born around 1482, Compton was about nine years older than his king, but the two became close friends. Compton was the eldest son of Edmund Compton of Warwickshire and became an attendant on young...
, where Henry VIII allegedly met his mistresses.
Little evidence of its history remains, in a large part due to 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...
bombing and post-War redevelopment, and it now contains many office buildings, including the headquarters of the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
newspaper. The London Fire Brigade
London Fire Brigade
The London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for London.Founded in 1865, it is the largest of the fire services in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest in the world with nearly 7,000 staff, including 5,800 operational firefighters based in 112 fire...
's Dowgate station, which serves the City of London, is located on Upper Thames Street at the corner of Allhallows Lane. The most notable change is on the western end of the thoroughfare, which dramatically altered its course as part of major works of the 1960s, involving the reclaiming of foreshore of the Thames at Puddle Dock
Puddle Dock
Puddle Dock, in Blackfriars in the City of London, was formerly the site of one of London's docks. It is now the site of the Mermaid Theatre.The area was dramatically altered by major works in the 1960s, involving the reclaiming of foreshore of the Thames at Puddle Dock and the rebuilding of Upper...
.
Today the busy A3211 route uses the street (prior to Thames Street being rebuilt as a major thoroughfare in the late 1960s, it was the B132). The London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
underpass marks the divide between Upper and Lower Thames Street, with Lower to the east and Upper to the west.