Portal:London/Did you know/12 2009

Did you know... ... that the City of London ...

... London Wall was first constructed about the 2nd century AD; and was accompanied by a wide ditch at Houndsditch ...
... received its charter in 1075 from William the Conqueror ...
... was made a County in 1132 by Henry I ...
... was destroyed by fire in 1123, as well as the 1666; and suffered severe damage in 1940 in the Second Great Fire of London ...
... population in 1841 was 123,137 — but today is less than 10,000 — most of whom live in the Barbican Estate
... Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe.