Bankside - History OCR B

Red - Medieval, Yellow - Early Modern, Green - Industrial, Blue - Modern

Prehistoric occupation of bankside

The Hopton Street excavations (1994 - 1997) uncovered prehistoric excavation of the site, from the neolitihic/early bronze age period. This occupation may have been seasonal, and there are indications of early farming, supplemented by hunting and fishing aided by the river.

Romans - How did they influence Bankside’s location?

• Remains of Roman settlements were found in excavations in 2013 during the renovation of London Bridge Station

• People first settled - islands provided romans with a dry, secure base to cross the river and reach the higher land opposite - built Londinium there

• River played a role in trade, transport and water access

• Roman Londinium - major trading port

• Roman Southwark was a wealthy suburb

Winchester Palace

• Bishop of Winchester’s home 1150 - 1626

• Affairs discussed here —> senior clergy attended

• Important weddings —> James I of Scotland to Joan Beaufort in 1424 —> importance to upper class

• Physical feature - the rose window

• Clink prison found beneath it

The Clink Prison

• Held prostitutes and religious dissenters

  • During reign of Queen Mary, protestants were held here, such as John Hooper (Bishop of Gloucester) and John Rogers (published an edition of the bible in English)

  • Roman Catholics suffered the same way later on

• Basement located below high tide level - flooded often and always damp

• Clink closed 1780 —> now a museum, plaques and street name still ‘clink street’

The Priory of St Mary’s Overie