Old Artillery Ground facts for kids
The Old Artillery Ground is a historic area of land in Spitalfields, London. It was once a special piece of land known as a "Liberty of the Tower of London." This meant it had its own rules and was directly controlled by the King or Queen, not by the city of London. It was also considered "Crown Land," meaning it belonged to the monarch.
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A Place for Archery and Guns
This area was originally part of a large religious site called the Priory and Hospital of St Mary Spital. A "priory" was a type of monastery, and a "hospital" back then was often a place that cared for the poor and sick.
From Monastery to Military Training
In 1538, during the time of King Henry VIII, this land was changed into an "Artillery Ground." This was a special training area for a group called 'The Fraternity or Guild of Artillery of Longbows, Crossbows and Handguns'. They were also known as 'The Fraternity of St George'. A "fraternity" or "guild" was like a club or association for people with a shared interest or skill.
This group later became known as the Honourable Artillery Company. They used the ground for practice alongside the "Gunners of the Tower." These Gunners were soldiers who looked after the weapons at the Tower of London.
New Homes on Old Training Grounds
In 1658, the Honourable Artillery Company moved to a new training area in Bunhill Fields. This left the Gunners of the Tower in charge of the Old Artillery Ground until 1682. At that time, the land was sold to "speculative builders." These were people who bought land hoping to build houses and sell them for a profit.
The builders turned the area into homes. They named the streets in a way that reminds us of the land's past use. You can still find streets like Fort Street, Gun Street, Artillery Passage, and Artillery Lane there today.
Changing Local Government
Over time, the way this area was governed changed. In 1900, the Old Artillery Ground and a nearby area called the Liberty of Norton Folgate were joined together. They became part of a new local government area called the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney.
Since 1965, the area has been managed by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. This is the local council that looks after the area today.
See also
- Stepney Historical Trust
