Farringdon Without

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Coordinates: 51°30′59″N 0°06′33″W / 51.51627°N 0.10911°W / 51.51627; -0.10911

Ward of Farringdon Without
Ward of Farringdon Without is located in Greater London
Ward of Farringdon Without

 Ward of Farringdon Without shown within Greater London
OS grid reference TQ313814
Sui generis City of London
Administrative area Greater London
Region London
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town LONDON
Postcode district EC1, EC4
Dialling code 020
Police City of London
Fire London
Ambulance London
EU Parliament London
UK Parliament Cities of London and Westminster
London Assembly City and East
List of places: UK • England • London

Farringdon Without is a Ward in the City of London, England. The Ward covers the western fringes of the City, including the Middle Temple, Inner Temple, Smithfield Market and St Bartholomew's Hospital,[1] as well as the area east of Chancery Lane. It is the largest of the 25 City Wards, though was reduced in area considerably in the 2003 boundary review.

Contents

[edit] History

Smithfield

Originally known as the Ward of Anketill de Auvergne,[2] Farringdon was named after Sir Nicholas de Faringdon, who was appointed Lord Mayor for as long as it shall please him by Edward II.[3] The Ward had been in the Faringdon family for 82 years at this time, his father, William de Faringdon preceding him as Alderman in 1281, when he purchased the position. William de Faringdon was Lord Mayor in 1281-2 and also Warden of the Goldsmiths.[4] During the reign of Edward I, as an Alderman and Goldsmith, William Faringdon was implicated in the arrest of English Jewry (some, fellow goldsmiths) for treason.[5]

The Ward was split into Farringdon Without and Farringdon Within in 1394. "Without" and "Within" denote whether the Ward fell outside or within the London Wall — this was also the case for the Wards of Bridge Within and Bridge Without.

As well as goldsmiths, in medieval times, the Fleet Ditch attracted many tanners and curriers to the Ward. As the City became more populous, this practice was banished to the suburbs and by the 18th century the river had been culverted and built over. In its later years, the Fleet became little more than an open sewer, and the locality was given over to slums due to the undesirable odours. The modern Farringdon Street was built over it, with the Fleet Market opening for the sale of meat, fish and vegetables in 1737. Charles Dickens described the market, in unflattering terms, in his novel Barnaby Rudge, set in 1780:

Fleet Market, at that time, was a long irregular row of wooden sheds and penthouses, occupying the centre of what is now called Farringdon Street. They were jumbled together in a most unsightly fashion, in the middle of the road; to the great obstruction of the thoroughfare and the annoyance of passengers, who were fain to make their way, as they best could, among carts, baskets, barrows, trucks, casks, bulks, and benches, and to jostle with porters, hucksters, waggoners, and a motley crowd of buyers, sellers, pick–pockets, vagrants, and idlers. The air was perfumed with the stench of rotten leaves and faded fruit; the refuse of the butchers’ stalls, and offal and garbage of a hundred kinds. It was indispensable to most public conveniences in those days, that they should be public nuisances likewise; and Fleet Market maintained the principle to admiration.[6]

In 1829, it became necessary to widen Farringdon Street, and the market was moved to new premises at Farringdon Market. This did not thrive, and its activities were moved to West Smithfield.[7]

On 27 January, 1769 the radical, John Wilkes was elected Alderman for this Ward, while a prisoner in Newgate Prison. This was after he had repeatedly been elected and expelled from Parliament for outlawry; essentially obscene and malicious libel against, among others, George III. Other famous Aldermen included the scions of the Childs, Hoares and Goslings banking families.

[edit] Politics

Farringdon Without is one of 25 Wards in the City of London, each electing an Alderman to the Court of Aldermen and Commoners (the City equivalent of a Councillor) to the Court of Common Council of the City of London Corporation. Only electors who are Freemen of the City of London are eligible to stand.[8][9]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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