Barbican Living
19th and 20th centuries
In 1807, Golden Lane and Beech Street became the first streets (after Pall Mall) to have gas lighting. Road building improved. Round cobbles were replaced by flat stones, and then by asphalt (Swiss rock naturally impregnated with bitumen). But this was generally an era of decline for the area. Over the course of the century, the population dropped from fourteen thousand to two thousand, as people moved to other areas.
In 1819, Richard Lambert Jones became a Common Councilman for the Ward of Cripplegate. He is remembered for his successful campaign to establish a Guildhall Library.
In the second half of the century, much of the Barbican area was bought up by the new railway companies for goods terminals. Warehouses replaced houses. Residents moved out. However, electric street lights were introduced in 1893. But the new sweatshops and warehouses were a fire hazard and in 1897 the Great Cripplegate Fire broke out in an ostrich feather warehouse. Much of the Barbican was destroyed. St Giles’ Church was badly damaged.
There is not much to be said about the early part of the 20th century. After the First World War Cripplegate Ward had a population of six hundred and thirty three people.
In 1939 the Second World War broke out. No bombs fell on the City for almost a year. The first bomb fell in August 1940 and destroyed buildings on the corner of Fore Street and Wood Street. A stone tablet in the wall marks the site. On 29th December 1940, the Luftwaffe finished the job. In a single night of incendiary bombing, every street from Moorgate to Aldersgate Street, covering thirty five acres, was destroyed. St Giles Cripplegate was burnt out, only the walls and tower remaining standing. Ironmongers’ Hall survived but Barber Surgeons’ Hall was destroyed. In 1944 Butchers’ Hall was destroyed. In 1945 the last bomb to fall on the City hit Smithfield meat market.
