History
The City can trace its existence as far back as AD 43, when Roman legions established settlement on its current site.
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By 1066, the City of London had it’s first formal Sheriffs. The role was prestigious, and Sheriffs were responsible for collecting taxes on behalf of the King or QueenRoyal Exchequer.
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Around 1130, Henry I granted the first sheriff to the people of London, in addition to the control of the county of Middlesex. By 1141, the whole body of the citizenry was considered to constitute a single community. The citizenry was given the right to elect their own Sheriffs, marking a new age of increased self-governance. This commune marked the origin of the City of London Corporation.
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In 1189, an annually elected Mayor was introduced as chief magistrate for the City of London
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In 1215, citizens gained the right to directly elect the mayor.
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Since the medieval period, the City has been formed of 25 wards, each headed by an Alderman.
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In 1565, Sir Thomas Gresham founded The Royal Exchange as the centre for commerce. Although no longer used for this purpose, its location at the corner of Cornhill and Threadneedle Street continues to mark the centre of the City's core of banking and financial services.
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In 1686, the seeds for the Lloyds Insurance Market were sown at Lloyds Coffee Shop
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In 1894, the Royal Commission on the Amalgamation of the City and County of London attempted to end the distinction between the City and the surrounding County of London, but a change of government at Westminster meant the change was not adopted.
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On March 1989, the City of London Corporation took responsibility for the management of Hampstead Heath. Running from Hampstead to Highgate the area covers 790 acres
- The City has changed dramatically over its course of existence. Today the City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, representing the interests of 9,500 residential voters and 19,500 business voters.
The City History
The construction and maintenance of the City's Bridges is a result of the City Bridge Trust. The trust was established by Royal Charter in 1282 by the City of London Corporation. Initially, the trust was established to maintain London Bridge, but has since been used to fund the building of Blackfriars Bridge and Tower Bridge, in addition to the purchase and maintenance of Southwark Bridge and Millennium Bridge. Today, the City Bridge Trust makes ~£26m pa charitable grants through the City Bridge Trust.