Blackfriars (London)

Blackfriars is a neighborhood in central London, which lies in the southwest corner of the City of London.

The name derives from a Dominican monastery, founded in 1228, which was located at this location between the River Thames and Ludgate Hill and its monks wore black robes (English blackfriar, ie Black brother). The mediaeval convent was a wealthy and influential institution. His rooms were often used for the assembly of Ministers. Before the beginning of the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) here met the so-called Black Parliament. The monastery was secularized in 1538 under the reign of Henry VIII ( 1509-1547 ) and parceled spacious grounds of private developers and leased.

Blackfriars was already in the time of Shakespeare as an elegant district of London, because there was stone-paved streets. In the immediate neighborhood of the Royal Wardrobe (English Royal Wardrobe ), the official residence of the "Master of the festivals " were (English Master of the Revels, French maître of plaisirs ), the homes of other high court official and the Royal Treasurer ( engl. Lord High Treasurer ).

In the era of Elizabeth I and James I., two rulers, both of which were devoted to the spectacle, an eponymous venue for plays of William Shakespeare developed in the new residential district of a children's theater called Blackfriars Theatre. 1632 acquired the pharmacist society (English Society of Apothecaries ), an influential London Guild, the monastic guest house and set up a their main office. During the Great Fire of London in 1666, the property was destroyed, but the Guild built the complex begin charging immediately. Apothecaries ' Hall can still be seen in Blackfriars today.

The district is located in the 19th century Blackfriars station for long-distance and metro. It also forms the northern bridgehead of the historic Blackfriars Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge, since 2000 and the Millennium Bridge. The Embankment Victoria Embankment extends along the north bank of the Thames from Blackfriars to Westminster Bridge.