TLDR;
This YouTube video series, "Hidden London," explores the lesser-known historical sites of London. Katie Wign guides viewers through medieval London, the Order of St. John, and the Mail Rail, revealing remnants of the past that have survived fires, wars, and redevelopment. The series highlights the importance of these sites in understanding London's rich history and the lives of its inhabitants.
- Medieval London: Discovering remains from the Black Death to royal power centres.
- Order of St. John: Exploring the rise and fall of the Knights Hospitaler.
- Mail Rail: Uncovering the history of London's underground postal railway.
Medieval London: Charterhouse and Black Death [1:16]
The journey begins at Charterhouse Square, the site of a mass burial pit from the Black Death in 1348, where up to 50,000 bodies are buried. Construction of the Elizabeth line in 2013 uncovered these remains, and one skeleton is on display at Charterhouse, confirming the presence of plague bacteria. A Carthusian monastery was later built on this site in 1371, with surviving parts including a section of the original cloister. The Carthusian monks lived a life of isolation, spending most of their time in individual cells, and a 1430s map reveals the monastery's running water system.
Medieval London: Dissolution and City Walls [8:20]
The monastery was dissolved during Henry VIII's religious breakaway, and much of the complex was absorbed into later mansions. Wash House Court contains surviving medieval stonework and red brick dating from the 1520s. The prior was executed for refusing to acknowledge Henry VIII's religious authority. The old city of London was bounded by Roman walls, later added to and improved during the medieval period. Place names like St. Giles Gate reflect the wall's presence, and a section of the wall remains, along with the medieval tower of St. Alfedge.
Medieval London: London Bridge and Winchester Palace [11:49]
The London Wall extended to the Tower of London and London Bridge. While the medieval bridge no longer stands, the archway at St. Magnus the Martyr was once the pedestrian entrance to it, and stones from the old bridge are still visible. Winchester Palace, built in the 13th century for the bishops of Winchester, features remains of the great hall and a rose window. Connected to the palace was the Clink Prison, where petty criminals and sex workers were held, the latter regulated by the Bishop of Winchester.
Medieval London: London Stone and River Fleet [14:54]
The London Stone on Cannon Street, possibly dating back to Roman times, was symbolically significant in the Middle Ages. Jack Cade struck the stone with his sword in 1450, a scene dramatised by Shakespeare. The River Fleet, once navigable, formed the western boundary of the Roman city but later became a sewer and was covered over. A glimpse of the underground river can be seen at the corner of Saffron Hill.
Medieval London: Knights Hospitaler and Crypt [17:37]
The priory of St. John, founded in the 12th century, was the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaler in England. The monks took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and were expected to fight in the Holy Land. The outline of the original church's circular nave is visible, and the medieval crypt is one of London's best-preserved. The crypt features Romanesque and pointed arches, stone benches, and a macabre effigy of William Weston, the last prior of the order.
Order of St. John: Foundation and Architecture [23:37]
The Order of St. John was formed in Jerusalem in the 11th century to care for pilgrims and became a military organisation. The priory of St. John in Clerkenwell was founded in the 12th century, with monks taking vows and expected to defend their faith. The original church resembled Temple Church, based on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The medieval crypt survives below ground, featuring arches and evidence of bright colours.
Order of St. John: Meetings and Artefacts [26:51]
Important meetings were held at the church, including one in 1185 where the patriarch of Jerusalem asked King Henry II to lead a crusade. The Museum of the Order of St. John houses over 60,000 objects related to the order's history, including a piece of the Holy Sepulchre Church and coins from crusade states. These coins were often pierced and worn as jewellery, symbolising commitment to the area.
Order of St. John: Challenges and Rebuilding [32:29]
The priory grew in wealth but was targeted during the peasants' revolts of 1381. Thomas Dockra rebuilt the order's buildings in the Tuda dynasty, resembling a palace with a fair church and tower. Henry VIII initially supported the order, granting Dockra the title of protector. However, the order faced challenges in the Mediterranean, and Henry seized their property after Dockra's death.
Order of St. John: Dissolution and Legacy [36:58]
Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, leading to the dissolution of the order. William Weston, the last prior, died of grief, and the priory church was destroyed. Queen Mary I later sought to reintroduce the order. The surviving parts of the priory were used for various purposes, including a coffee house and a pub. A new Order of St. John was granted a royal charter by Queen Victoria in 1888, leading to the rebuilding of the priory and the formation of St. John's Ambulance. The church was rebuilt after being damaged in the Second World War, and the order continues to evolve and is represented globally.
Mail Rail: Origins and Construction [43:00]
The Mail Rail, London's Post Office Underground Railway, was created to solve the problem of polluted and congested streets in Victorian London. The railway officially opened in 1927, with construction starting in 1915 using the great head shield system. The tunnels were also used to store treasures from the National Portrait Gallery and the British Museum during the First World War.
Mail Rail: Operations and Challenges [46:57]
The Mail Rail had eight stations underneath major hubs, with trains carrying up to 200 bags of letters. Workers loaded and unloaded the trains using conveyor belts. The system faced challenges such as trains going off the rails and the risk of flooding from the River Fleet. Floodgates were installed to prevent water from entering the tunnels.
Mail Rail: Later Years and Closure [50:35]
Advances in technology improved the system, with trains remotely diverted and controlled by computer. Staff manuals reveal rules such as prohibiting spitting. The tunnels were used in the 1991 film "Hudson Hawk." The Mail Rail was closed down due to declining use and changes in the railway network. The tunnels were left abandoned, with equipment and personal items remaining.
Mail Rail: Legacy and Preservation [53:29]
The closure was sudden, with the railway no longer serving its purpose of connecting sorting offices to mainland railway stations. Various ideas were proposed for the tunnels, but only the postal museum's plans came to fruition. The Mail Rail's legacy is its role in keeping people connected by speeding up communication across London. The tunnels have been preserved to remind us of their significance in the capital's history.
