Wards of the City of London
Encyclopedia
The City of London
("the City"), 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 20th centuries. Unlike other modern-day English local authorities, the City of London Corporation has two council bodies: the now largely ceremonial Court of Aldermen
and the Court of Common Council.
The wards are survivors of the mediaeval governmental system that allowed very small areas to exist as self governing units within the wider city. They are both electoral/political sub-divisions and permanent ceremonial, geographic and administrative entities within the City. They had their boundaries changed in 2003, though the number of wards and their names did not change.
, who is the most senior official or representative in the ward. The Aldermen traditionally held office for life but in the modern era put themselves up for re-election at least every 6 years. They also now customarily retire at 70, the same retirement age as a justice of the peace
. Each ward (irrespective of its size) returns one Alderman to the Court of Aldermen. One of the Aldermen is elected (by the senior liverymen
) as Lord Mayor of London
for a period of one year. The Lord Mayor performs many functions and holds many ancient positions and privileges. The Lord Mayor continues to be the Alderman of their ward during and after their term of office, though there is a period of purdah
whilst in (and for a period after) office, and during this period their appointed Deputy will usually take their role within the ward. The City of London is the only remaining local authority in Great Britain
to have (non-honorary) aldermen, since their general abolition in England and Wales
in 1974 and the London borough
s in 1978.
s, with most having just one, but the larger wards two or three. This is an ancient office that is now largely ceremonial: the main remaining function is attending to the Alderman at the Wardmote
, an annual meeting in each ward of electors, representatives and officials. There are also Beadles of the Livery Companies
of the City.
The ward's Alderman presides over the Wardmote and appoints one of the Common Councillors of the ward as a Deputy (in some wards two are appointed) for the year ahead. There are also Ward Clubs, which are similar to residents' association
s found elsewhere in the country, with some wards (such as Vintry and Dowgate) sharing a club.
In recent times the Ward Clerk is a permanent position held by an official at the Corporation, and based at the Guildhall
, though wards can appoint (usually at the Wardmote) an Honorary Ward Clerk in addition. The Ward Clerk is a separate office to that of the Town Clerk of London
, who is the Chief Executive of the Corporation.
halls and other historic buildings, structures and institutions are associated with specific wards, such as St Paul's Cathedral
with Castle Baynard, Vintners Hall
with Vintry, the insurance markets (especially Lloyd's
) with Lime Street, and London Bridge with Bridge. Boundary changes in 2003 removed some of these connected places from their wards, but that boundary review and the current review do take into account of these historic/traditional connections.
use the wards in their day-to-day neighbourhood policing, as well as in recording crime and other statistics, with each ward having a constable
assigned, known as the Ward Constable, with the larger wards having Assistant Ward Constables in addition.
The wards are ancient and their number has only changed three times since their creation in time immemorial
: their number was stated as 24 in the year 1206; in 1394 Farringdon was divided into Farringdon Within and Farringdon Without; in 1550 the ward of Bridge Without was created south of the river
, with the ward of Bridge becoming Bridge Within; but these two wards were merged in 1978, into the present-day Bridge
ward. Thus the number of wards was 24 prior to 1394, 25 from 1394 to 1550, then 26 from 1550 to 1978, and has been 25 since 1978.
, though only Farringdon and (formerly) Bridge have been split into separate wards in this way (Bridge Without was beyond the gates on London Bridge
). Some wards — Aldersgate, Bishopsgate and Cripplegate — cover an area that was both within and outwith the Wall and, although not split into separate wards, often the part (or division) within the Wall is denoted (on maps, in documents, etc.) as being "Within" and the part outside the Wall as being "Without". Archaically "Infra" (within) and "Extra" (without) and the terms "intramural" and "extramural" had the same meaning.
. The wards are not reviewed by the Electoral Commission
under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986
and (unlike other local government electoral reviews) the number and the names of the wards do not normally change.
The final decision on changes to ward boundaries and representation is made by the Court of Common Council and an Act of Common Council was passed on 4 November 2010 to give effect to the next changes, which will come into full effect from 8 March 2013.
, electing one Alderman
to the Court of Aldermen
, and between two and ten Common Councilmen (the City's equivalent of a Councillor
) to the Court of Common Council. The number of Common Councilmen elected by a ward depends inter alia on the number of electors (which comprises both of residents and the business vote) in the ward.
Only electors who are Freeman of the City of London are eligible to stand. Instead of a conventional electoral register
, each ward has a Ward List. All Common Councilmen are elected every fours year in one set of elections held City-wide. The next such set of elections is scheduled for March 2013. A by-election
in a particular ward can occur between scheduled elections if a vacancy arises, for example, by the resignation or death of a Councilman. The elections of Aldermen are held individually from one another and arise if the sitting Alderman dies, resigns or (after the 6-year term) puts themselves up for re-election.
Since the 2003 review (and confirmed by the 2013 review process) the four residential wards elect 20 of the 100 Common Councilmen, and the remaining, "business-dominated" wards elect the remaining 80 Councilmen. The four residential wards are Portsoken, Queenhithe, Aldersgate and Cripplegate, and the 2003 boundary changes reinforced this. There are a minimum of 2 Common Councilmen per ward and three specific wards have their number of Councilmen capped: Farringdon Without at 10, Cripplegate at 9 and Farringdon Within at 8.
Some wards were, or are, divided into two divisions (these are given in the main ward list of this article) and where this happens a Deputy is appointed by the Alderman for each division, instead of the one for the whole ward. Additionally, all wards were further divided into precinct
s. The numbers and names of these precincts changed gradually over the centuries; precincts were named in various manners across the City's wards. In some wards they were named after localities or the numerous parishes (on which many precincts were based), in other wards they were simply given numbers. In those wards which were divided into divisions, the precincts were allocated to one division or another.
A record of the wards, their divisions and precincts (including the names of the precincts) in 1715 give the following differences from the above figures: Aldersgate Within 5, Billingsgate 6, Broad Street 8 (4 Upper and 4 Lower), Castle Baynard 7 (4 First and 3 Second), Farringdon Without 15 (Fleet Street Side 8 and Holborn Side 7), and Queenhithe 9. This record also states the numbers of precincts for each division in two further wards: Dowgate (4 West and 4 East), and Langbourn (7 West and 5 East). This made a total of 220 precincts in 1715.
Each precinct elected a Common Councilman. In 1831 there were a total of 236 Common Councilmen (including Deputies, some of whom were elected in their wards in addition to the Councilmen elected by precincts). The ward of Bridge Without had no precincts and did not elect any Common Councilmen throughout its history.
Precincts no longer exist in the City.
The number of Commoners each ward returns to the Court of Common Council is given (for both before and after the 2013 election); being largely based on the size of the electorate, this gives some indication as to the present number of residents (with respect to the four residential wards) and the scale of business activity. (A † symbol is shown where the representation has been capped despite the normal allocation rules.)
_by_claes_van_visscher.jpg)
Maps of the wards:
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...
("the City"), in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, is constituted of 25 wards. The City is the historic core of the much wider metropolis of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, with an ancient and sui generis
Sui generis
Sui generis is a Latin expression, literally meaning of its own kind/genus or unique in its characteristics. The expression is often used in analytic philosophy to indicate an idea, an entity, or a reality which cannot be included in a wider concept....
form of local government, which avoided the many reforms enacted to local government elsewhere in the country in the 19th and 20th centuries. Unlike other modern-day English local authorities, the City of London Corporation has two council bodies: the now largely ceremonial 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 the Court of Common Council.
The wards are survivors of the mediaeval governmental system that allowed very small areas to exist as self governing units within the wider city. They are both electoral/political sub-divisions and permanent ceremonial, geographic and administrative entities within the City. They had their boundaries changed in 2003, though the number of wards and their names did not change.
Aspects of the ward system
Aldermanries
Each ward, or aldermanry, has its own AldermanAlderman
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...
, who is the most senior official or representative in the ward. The Aldermen traditionally held office for life but in the modern era put themselves up for re-election at least every 6 years. They also now customarily retire at 70, the same retirement age as a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. Each ward (irrespective of its size) returns one Alderman to the Court of Aldermen. One of the Aldermen is elected (by the senior liverymen
Liveryman
For Livery Companies in the City of London, a Liveryman is a full member of their respective Company.Livery Company members fall into two basic categories: Freemen and Liverymen. One may join as a Freeman, and thereby acquire the "Freedom of the Company", upon fulfilling the Company's criteria...
) as Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
for a period of one year. The Lord Mayor performs many functions and holds many ancient positions and privileges. The Lord Mayor continues to be the Alderman of their ward during and after their term of office, though there is a period of purdah
Purdah (pre-election period)
Purdah is a now less-common term to describe the pre-election period, used in United Kingdom politics to describe the time between an announced election and the final election result...
whilst in (and for a period after) office, and during this period their appointed Deputy will usually take their role within the ward. The City of London is the only remaining local authority in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
to have (non-honorary) aldermen, since their general abolition in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
in 1974 and the London borough
London borough
The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. Inner London comprises twelve of these boroughs plus the City of London. Outer London comprises the twenty remaining boroughs of Greater London.-Functions:...
s in 1978.
Wardmotes, Beadles and Clerks
Wards continue to have BeadleBeadle
Beadle, sometimes spelled "bedel," is a lay official of a church or synagogue who may usher, keep order, make reports, and assist in religious functions; or a minor official who carries out various civil, educational, or ceremonial duties....
s, with most having just one, but the larger wards two or three. This is an ancient office that is now largely ceremonial: the main remaining function is attending to the Alderman at the Wardmote
Wardmote
A wardmote was a meeting of the inhabitants of a ward, or a court held in the ward to try defaults in matters relating to the watch, police, and the like.The term is used in York, London, Faversham, etc., and was also used by the Chartists....
, an annual meeting in each ward of electors, representatives and officials. There are also Beadles of the Livery Companies
Livery Company
The Livery Companies are 108 trade associations in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling,...
of the City.
The ward's Alderman presides over the Wardmote and appoints one of the Common Councillors of the ward as a Deputy (in some wards two are appointed) for the year ahead. There are also Ward Clubs, which are similar to residents' association
Residents' association
Residents' associations are organisations formed by groups of people from a specific geographic community who come together to address issues within their local area and act as a voice for their local community....
s found elsewhere in the country, with some wards (such as Vintry and Dowgate) sharing a club.
In recent times the Ward Clerk is a permanent position held by an official at the Corporation, and based at the Guildhall
Guildhall, London
The Guildhall is a building in the City of London, off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. It has been used as a town hall for several hundred years, and is still the ceremonial and administrative centre of the City of London and its Corporation...
, though wards can appoint (usually at the Wardmote) an Honorary Ward Clerk in addition. The Ward Clerk is a separate office to that of the Town Clerk of London
Town Clerk of London
The Town Clerk of London is an important position that has existed since the 13th century within the City of London, England. Originally the position was to take the minutes of London council meetings, but over the years the holder has gathered responsibility which requires staff and executive...
, who is the Chief Executive of the Corporation.
Association
Particular churches, livery companyLivery Company
The Livery Companies are 108 trade associations in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling,...
halls and other historic buildings, structures and institutions are associated with specific wards, such as St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
with Castle Baynard, Vintners Hall
Worshipful Company of Vintners
The Worshipful Company of Vintners is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, England.- History and origins :It probably existed as early as the twelfth century, and it received a Royal Charter in 1364. Due to the Royal Charter, the Company gained a monopoly over wine imports from Gascony...
with Vintry, the insurance markets (especially Lloyd's
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
) with Lime Street, and London Bridge with Bridge. Boundary changes in 2003 removed some of these connected places from their wards, but that boundary review and the current review do take into account of these historic/traditional connections.
City police
The City of London PoliceCity of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
use the wards in their day-to-day neighbourhood policing, as well as in recording crime and other statistics, with each ward having a constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
assigned, known as the Ward Constable, with the larger wards having Assistant Ward Constables in addition.
Civic representation
In 1322 it was settled that an assembly consisting of two people elected from each ward would create ordinances for the whole City; in 1346 the number of representatives from each ward was formally linked to the size of the ward. The Common Council as we know it today, as a representative body of the wards, was realised in 1384 when the City's Guilds no longer elected members. The number of members of the Common Council grew to 240 by the mid-nineteenth century, but is today fixed at 100. Each ward was divided into precincts, each of which elected one Common Councilman. As the number of precincts grew over time, the number of Councilmen elected therefore also increased. The precincts have now been abolished.Changes over time
Time immemorial
Time immemorial is a phrase meaning time extending beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition, indefinitely ancient, "ancient beyond memory or record"...
: their number was stated as 24 in the year 1206; in 1394 Farringdon was divided into Farringdon Within and Farringdon Without; in 1550 the ward of Bridge Without was created south of the river
Southwark
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...
, with the ward of Bridge becoming Bridge Within; but these two wards were merged in 1978, into the present-day Bridge
Bridge (ward)
Bridge is a small ward of the City of London and is named from its propinquity to London Bridge. Bridge ward is found within the boundary formed by the River Thames, Swan Lane, Arthur Street, Fish Street Hill, Gracechurch Street, Fenchurch Street, Rood Lane, Lovat Lane and Lower Thames Street.The...
ward. Thus the number of wards was 24 prior to 1394, 25 from 1394 to 1550, then 26 from 1550 to 1978, and has been 25 since 1978.
London Wall
The words "Without" and "Within" indicate whether the ward fell outside or within the London WallLondon Wall
London Wall was the defensive wall first built by the Romans around Londinium, their strategically important port town on the River Thames in what is now the United Kingdom, and subsequently maintained until the 18th century. It is now the name of a road in the City of London running along part of...
, though only Farringdon and (formerly) Bridge have been split into separate wards in this way (Bridge Without was beyond the gates on 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...
). Some wards — Aldersgate, Bishopsgate and Cripplegate — cover an area that was both within and outwith the Wall and, although not split into separate wards, often the part (or division) within the Wall is denoted (on maps, in documents, etc.) as being "Within" and the part outside the Wall as being "Without". Archaically "Infra" (within) and "Extra" (without) and the terms "intramural" and "extramural" had the same meaning.
Boundary reviews
Following changes to the City of London's boundary in 1994 and later reform of the business vote in the City, the wards underwent a major boundary and electoral representation revision in 2003. The ward boundaries, and electoral representation at the Court of Common Council, were reviewed again in 2010 for change in 2013, though the change is less extensive this time. The review was conducted by senior officers of the Corporation and senior judges of the Old BaileyOld Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
. The wards are not reviewed by the Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986
Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986
The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the legislation defining the constitution and work of the 4 parliamentary Boundary Commissions in the UK...
and (unlike other local government electoral reviews) the number and the names of the wards do not normally change.
The final decision on changes to ward boundaries and representation is made by the Court of Common Council and an Act of Common Council was passed on 4 November 2010 to give effect to the next changes, which will come into full effect from 8 March 2013.
Electoral representation
Under the current arrangements, each ward is an electoral districtElectoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
, electing one 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 between two and ten Common Councilmen (the City's 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. The number of Common Councilmen elected by a ward depends inter alia on the number of electors (which comprises both of residents and the business vote) in the ward.
Only electors who are Freeman of the City of London are eligible to stand. Instead of a conventional electoral register
Electoral register
The electoral roll is a listing of all those registered to vote in a particular area. The register facilitates the process of voting, helps to prevent fraud and may also be used to select people for jury duty...
, each ward has a Ward List. All Common Councilmen are elected every fours year in one set of elections held City-wide. The next such set of elections is scheduled for March 2013. A by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in a particular ward can occur between scheduled elections if a vacancy arises, for example, by the resignation or death of a Councilman. The elections of Aldermen are held individually from one another and arise if the sitting Alderman dies, resigns or (after the 6-year term) puts themselves up for re-election.
Since the 2003 review (and confirmed by the 2013 review process) the four residential wards elect 20 of the 100 Common Councilmen, and the remaining, "business-dominated" wards elect the remaining 80 Councilmen. The four residential wards are Portsoken, Queenhithe, Aldersgate and Cripplegate, and the 2003 boundary changes reinforced this. There are a minimum of 2 Common Councilmen per ward and three specific wards have their number of Councilmen capped: Farringdon Without at 10, Cripplegate at 9 and Farringdon Within at 8.
Changes from 2013
With boundary changes as well as changes in the electorate, the elections in 2013 and 2017 will use a revised number of common councilmen elected in a number of wards. The present and altered representation is shown in the main ward summary table below; the total number of common councilmen (100) will not change. The cap on Farringdon Without is maintained; the wards of Farringdon Within and Castle Baynard will each have 8 Councilmen by normal allocation.Divisions and Precincts
Precinct
A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...
s. The numbers and names of these precincts changed gradually over the centuries; precincts were named in various manners across the City's wards. In some wards they were named after localities or the numerous parishes (on which many precincts were based), in other wards they were simply given numbers. In those wards which were divided into divisions, the precincts were allocated to one division or another.
Precincts
As of around 1800, the numbers of precincts in each ward (and for each division in brackets) were: Aldersgate 8 (4 Within and 4 Without), Aldgate 7, Bassishaw 2, Billingsgate 12, Bishopsgate 9 (5 Within and 4 Without), Bread Street 13, Bridge Within 14, Broad Street 10, Candlewick 7, Castle Baynard 10, Cheap 9, Coleman Street 6, Cordwainer 8, Cornhill 4, Cripplegate 13 (9 Within and 4 Without), Dowgate 8, Farringdon Within 17, Farringdon Without 16, Langbourn 12, Lime Street 4, Portsoken 5, Queenhithe 6, Tower 12, Vintry 9, and Walbrook 7. This amounted to 228 precincts, making each precinct on average around 3 acres (1.2 ha) in size. However, it should be noted that the City of London was very densely populated until the mid-19th century, giving each precinct in the region of 500 residents on average.A record of the wards, their divisions and precincts (including the names of the precincts) in 1715 give the following differences from the above figures: Aldersgate Within 5, Billingsgate 6, Broad Street 8 (4 Upper and 4 Lower), Castle Baynard 7 (4 First and 3 Second), Farringdon Without 15 (Fleet Street Side 8 and Holborn Side 7), and Queenhithe 9. This record also states the numbers of precincts for each division in two further wards: Dowgate (4 West and 4 East), and Langbourn (7 West and 5 East). This made a total of 220 precincts in 1715.
Each precinct elected a Common Councilman. In 1831 there were a total of 236 Common Councilmen (including Deputies, some of whom were elected in their wards in addition to the Councilmen elected by precincts). The ward of Bridge Without had no precincts and did not elect any Common Councilmen throughout its history.
Precincts no longer exist in the City.
List of wards
| Ward | Common Councilmen (2003 - 2013) | Common Councilmen (2013 -) | Divisions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldersgate Aldersgate Aldersgate was a gate in the London Wall in the City of London, which has given its name to a ward and Aldersgate Street, a road leading north from the site of the gate, towards Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington.-History:... |
5 | 6 | Often (though not currently) divided into "Within" and "Without" | Named for the Roman gate |
| Aldgate Aldgate Aldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City... |
5 | 5 | none | Named for the Roman gate |
| Bassishaw Bassishaw Bassishaw is a ward in the City of London. This small ward is bounded on the east by Coleman Street ward, to the south by Cheap ward, to the north by Cripplegate ward, and on the west by Aldersgate ward... |
3 | 2 | none | Archaically named "Basinghall ward"; historically the smallest ward |
| 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... |
2 | 2 | none | |
| Bishopsgate Bishopsgate Bishopsgate is a road and ward in the northeast part of the City of London, extending north from Gracechurch Street to Norton Folgate. It is named after one of the original seven gates in London Wall... |
8 | 6 | Often (even today) divided into "Within" and "Without", with a Deputy appointed for each division | Named for the Roman gate |
| Bread Street Bread Street Bread Street is a ward of the City of London and is named from its principal street, which was anciently the bread market; for by the records it appears that in 1302, the bakers of London were ordered to sell no bread at their houses but in the open market... |
2 | 2 | none | |
| Bridge and Bridge Without Bridge (ward) Bridge is a small ward of the City of London and is named from its propinquity to London Bridge. Bridge ward is found within the boundary formed by the River Thames, Swan Lane, Arthur Street, Fish Street Hill, Gracechurch Street, Fenchurch Street, Rood Lane, Lovat Lane and Lower Thames Street.The... |
2 | 2 | none | Merger of Bridge (Within) with Bridge Without in 1978; commonly known simply as Bridge |
| Broad Street Broad Street (ward) Broad Street is one of the 25 ancient wards in the City of London.In mediaeval times it was divided into ten precincts and contained six churches, of which only two, St Margaret Lothbury and All Hallows-on-the-Wall now survive: St Bartholomew-by-the-Exchange was demolished in 1840, St Benet Fink... |
3 | 3 | Historically (pre-c. Circa Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date... 1800) was divided into "Upper" and "Lower" divisions |
|
| Candlewick Candlewick Candlewick is a small ward, one of the 25 ancient wards in the City of London.Its northern boundary runs along Lombard Street the boundary with Langbourn Ward, then east down Gracechurch Street the division with Bridge Ward to the Monument, erected to commemorate the place where the Great Fire abated... |
2 | 2 | none | |
| Castle Baynard Castle Baynard Castle Baynard is one of the 25 wards of the City of London, the historic core of the English capital. It covers an irregular shaped area, somewhat akin to a tuning fork bounded on the east by the wards of Queenhithe and Bread Street, the River Thames to the south and Farringdon Without to the... |
7 | 8 | Historically (pre-c. 1800) was divided into "First" and "Second" divisions | Named after the former Baynard's Castle Baynard's Castle Baynard's Castle refers to buildings on two neighbouring sites in London, between where Blackfriars station and St Paul's Cathedral now stand. The first was a Norman fortification constructed by Ralph Baynard and demolished by King John in 1213. The second was a medieval palace built a short... |
| Cheap Cheap (ward) Cheap is a small ward of the City of London. It stretches west to east from King End Street, the border with Farringdon Within to Old Jewry, which adjoins Walbrook and north to south from Gresham Street, the border with Aldersgate and Bassishaw to Cheapside, the boundary with Cordwainer.The... |
2 | 3 | none | Archaic word meaning "market" |
| Coleman Street Coleman Street Coleman Street is a street and one of the 25 ancient wards in the City of London.- The Ward :Warren Stormes Hale, Lord Mayor of London in 1864, was the Ward’s most notable civic dignitary... |
5 | 4 | none | |
| Cordwainer Cordwainer (ward) Cordwainer is a small ward in the City of London, England. It is named after the Cordwainers, the professional shoemakers who historically lived and worked in this particular area of London; there is a City livery company for the trade — the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers... |
3 | 3 | none | Sometimes referred to as the "Cordwainer Cordwainer A cordwainer is a shoemaker/cobbler who makes fine soft leather shoes and other luxury footwear articles. The word is derived from "cordwain", or "cordovan", the leather produced in Córdoba, Spain. The term cordwainer was used as early as 1100 in England... s' ward" — the trade which gave the ward its name |
| Cornhill | 2 | 3 | none | |
| Cripplegate Cripplegate Cripplegate was a city gate in the London Wall and a name for the region of the City of London outside the gate. The area was almost entirely destroyed by bombing in World War II and today is the site of the Barbican Estate and Barbican Centre... |
9† | 8 | Often (even today) divided into "Within" and "Without", with 5 Councilmen allocated to Within, 4 to Without, and a Beadle and a Deputy appointed for each division | Named for the Roman gate |
| Dowgate Dowgate Dowgate is a small ward of the City of London. The ward is bounded by Swan Lane, the River Thames, Cousin Lane and Cannon Street. Dowgate is where the Walbrook watercourse entered the Thames.... |
2 | 2 | Historically (pre-c. 1800) was divided into "East" and "West" divisions | |
| Farringdon Within Farringdon Within Farringdon Within is a ward in the City of London, England.The ward covers an area from Blackfriars, in the south, to Barbican station, in the north.... |
8† | 8 | Currently divided into "North" and "South" sides, with 4 Common Councilmen allocated to and a Deputy appointed for each side | Result of split of Farringdon ward in 1394; within the London Wall London Wall London Wall was the defensive wall first built by the Romans around Londinium, their strategically important port town on the River Thames in what is now the United Kingdom, and subsequently maintained until the 18th century. It is now the name of a road in the City of London running along part of... |
| Farringdon Without Farringdon Without Farringdon Without is a Ward in the City of London, England. The Ward covers the western fringes of the City, including the Middle Temple, Inner Temple, Smithfield Market and St Bartholomew's Hospital, as well as the area east of Chancery Lane... |
10† | 10† | Divided (historically) into Fleet Street Fleet Street Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s... and Holborn Holborn Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct... sides, or (historically and currently) into "North" and "South" sides with 5 Common Councilmen allocated to and a Deputy appointed for each side. City Police however now split ward east-west |
Result of split of Farringdon ward in 1394; outwith the Wall; includes Inner Temple Inner Temple The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns... and Middle Temple Middle Temple The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn... |
| Langbourn Langbourn Langbourn is one of the 25 ancient wards in the City of London. It reputably is named after a supposed buried stream in the vicinity.It is a small ward; a long thin area, in shape similar to a left pointing arrow... |
2 | 3 | Historically (pre-c. 1800) was divided into "East" and "West" divisions | Spelt variously over the ages; possibly named after a supposed subterranean stream |
| Lime Street Lime Street (ward) Lime Street is one of the 25 ancient wards in the City of London.It is divided into four precincts; and it is worthy a remark that, though the ward includes parts of several parishes, there is not even a whole street in it. John Noorthhouck... |
3 | 4 | none | |
| Portsoken Portsoken Portsoken is a historical district in the City of London, located outside the former London Wall, on the eastern part of the City, near Aldgate. It is one of the 25 wards of the City.... |
4 | 4 | none | Lay entirely outwith the London Wall |
| Queenhithe Queenhithe Queenhithe is a small ward of the City of London, situated on the River Thames and to the south of St Paul's Cathedral. The Millennium Bridge crosses into the City at Queenhithe.... |
2 | 2 | none | |
| Tower Tower (ward) 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.... |
5 | 4 | none | Historically known as "Tower Street ward" |
| Vintry Vintry Vintry is a ward of the City of London, within the boundary formed by Queen Victoria Street, Cannon Street, Queenhithe and Cousin Lane.... |
2 | 2 | none | Named for its association with the Vintners Worshipful Company of Vintners The Worshipful Company of Vintners is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, England.- History and origins :It probably existed as early as the twelfth century, and it received a Royal Charter in 1364. Due to the Royal Charter, the Company gained a monopoly over wine imports from Gascony... |
| Walbrook Walbrook Walbrook is the name of a ward, a street and a subterranean river in the City of London.-Underground river:The river played a key role in the Roman settlement of Londinium, the city now known as London. It is thought that the river was named because it ran through or under the London Wall; another... |
2 | 2 | none | Named after the small (now subterranean) stream that flows through the area |
Former wards
| Ward | Notes |
|---|---|
| Farringdon | Became by far the largest ward due to the City's westward expansion; split into separate Farringdon Within and Farringdon Without wards in 1394 |
| Bridge Without | Created in 1550; the only City ward south of the Thames (and in Surrey Surrey Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of... ); ceased to be part of the City in 1899, however only de jure De jure De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'.... merged with Bridge (Within) in 1978 |
See also
- City of London Corporation
- City of London#Governance
- Livery CompanyLivery CompanyThe Livery Companies are 108 trade associations in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling,...
- Wards of the United KingdomWards of the United KingdomA 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:...
External links
- City of London Corporation: "How the City of London works"
Maps of the wards:
- City of London Corporation: Ward boundary maps (current)
- Bing: Location of wards, linked with Wikipedia articles (current)
- City of London Police: Alternative ward map (current)
- MAPCO : Map And Plan Collection Online - High resolution historic maps of London c. 1560-1925 (historic)
- Map of London (1570-1605?) Civitas LondiniumCivitas LondiniumCivitas Londinium is the title of what is probably the earliest proper map of London....
by Ralph AgasRalph AgasRalph Agas , English land surveyor, was born at Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk, about 1540, and entered upon the practice of his profession in 1566....
(historic)