The permanent exhibition in the Upper gallery unfolds four significant periods of the London's history which defines the England' capital city as one of the world’s major economic centres as we know it today. Ironically, admission is free.
Overview of Pre-historic London
The history of London begins around 50 BC when the land was barren and covered in ice. There was no life until around 8500BC when the first trees and plants began to grow. Pre-historic man was to follow and the Museum of London has a plethora of pottery and tools used in the area. There are also a number of skulls found of those early settlers and visitors can watch a visual display showing how archaeologists reconstruct a face to give us an impression of how early man might have looked.
There is also a video re-construction of the first bridge in London, believed to date between 1700-1200BC. It is thought to have been built close to the site of the current London Bridge and stretched to an island in the middle of the Thames which has long since vanished.
Overview of Roman London
The Romans invaded London around AD43 and the museum's sound effects of their galleons landing ashore and offloading legions of soldiers that went on to march through the marshlands bring a haunting reality to the exhibit.
The invasion was to prove a pinnacle era for London as it was the Romans who recognised the economic potential of the Thames and used the river as a gateway from the heart of England into Europe. Their intuition ultimately turned London into the thriving financial centre it is today. There are detailed scale size models of London’s harbour and of the public baths on display giving us an insight into what facilities were available at the time. Likewise the reconstruction of a desirable Roman residence with it’s fashionable and well designed kitchens is compared in stark contrast to the standard of living for common peasants.
London in Medieval Britain
Anglo-Saxons from Germany first settled in Britain in AD410 and their occupation was later manifested with King Cnut of Denmark. There is a remarkable depiction of how a peasants living quarters might have looked during this era as well as a vast collection of pottery and tools.
The also exhibition recounts the horrors suffered during the Black Death of 1348 which claimed the lives of half the city’s population. Hear about ‘incurable tumours, infectious breath, and rotting corpses.’
The medieval period ends with King Henry the VIII and his ideas for the Reformation which was to change the face of society, laws, government and religion in England.
The Great Fire of London
The exhibition of the Great Fire of London details London’s most devastating disaster. Starting in Thomas Farriner’s Bakers shop in Pudding Lane it took five days for the fire to ravish and destroy 4/5ths of the city. The blaze was eventually quashed by soldiers who used gunpowder to demolish houses in order to create gaps the fire couldn’t cross.
There are several art pieces and writings from the time together with a short visual documentary.
If you want to know more about the Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5HN visit their website at www.museumoflondon.org.uk. Or phone 0207 600 3699. Opening hours are Mon-Sat 10am-5.50 and Sun 11.30-5.50
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