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Episode Summary

In this episode of the La Garde Ecossaise Historical Fiction podcast we introduce London during the seventeenth century.  We explore London as a commercial, financial and industrial hub as well as many of the inhabitants from around the globe who made London their home.  We also introduce some of the key events and places that are associated with London during the early modern period.

London as a Commercial, Financial and Industial Centre

The London which Robert Meldrum visited in 1672 was a vibrant, cosmopolitan, commercial, industrial and financial centre and was one of the most populous and industrious centres in Europe. It was also the centre of political power in England.

London: A Cosmopolitan City

London was a major global hub which attracted people for all over the world who settled in the city during the seventeenth century thereby helping it to become the city it is today.  It was also a melting pot of different races, cultures, religions, and nationalities.  Whilst viewing the city from his boat sailing town the Thames, Robert Meldrum may have seen a variety of people, including the Huguenots, Jews, Scots, the Irish, the Ottomans and Africans.

London in the Seventeenth Century: A Place of Conspiracy and Revolution

Whilst Robert Meldrum is sailing up the Thames in his water taxi to Lambeth Palace he recalls some of the most momentous historical events to take place in London, including the execution of King Charles I and Colonel Thomas Blood’s theft of the Crown Jewels, as well as some of London’s most historical landmarks such as the Tower of London, the Palace of Westminster, the Banqueting House in Whitehall and Lambeth Palace.  Meldrum also reflects upon London after the Great Fire in 1666.

*Historiography Easter Egg 1: Recollections, years and decades after events took place*

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Buy the Book

Just a reminder that the historical fiction novel La Garde Ecossaise is available from all good bookstores.

Further Reading and Resources

If any of the topics in this podcast have interested you today and you would like to know more, further resources, including recommended reading, websites, digital resources, and social media can be found at  www.lagardeecossaise.net These resources have been organised by podcast and by reading order in the novels with corresponding page numbers.

I look forward to joining you again next week for the next episode of the La Garde Ecossaise podcast where we will explore early modern France.

Until then, au revoir, A bientôt.

*A Historigraphy Easter Egg is designed for students studying history or historical theory courses. It consists of small snippets which discuss elements of historical theory in an accessible fashion*.