Persuading the citizens? Charles I and London Bridge

Abstract

After a fire in 1633 Charles I endeavoured to persuade the corporation of London to transform their ancient bridge, a move which paralleled royal involvement in several building projects in London during Charles's ‘Personal Rule’. These proposals illuminate both the procedures that his privy council adopted in strong-arming individuals to commission impressive edifices as part of rebuilding work, and the wider aspirations for transforming London held at the court, aspirations that justified employing considerable effort on fairly small projects. Royal intervention could halt new building on the Londoners' bridge; it could not impose a thoroughgoing reconstruction.

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