A TOUR OF THE CITY OF LONDON!
Yesterday I visited the square mile that makes up the city of London, with its coat of arms and guarding dragons.I opted for a self guided tour, recommended by the website for the city of London itself. It is given here.
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.u
This tour made me realize that you cannot fully understand American politics, until you understand the British governmental and judicial system. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania was born on Tower Hill and imprisoned in the Tower of London for his puritanical beliefs. He was a Quaker and an activist for religious freedom. At the end of his life, he was buried in the All Hallows church in the Square mile of the city of london where he had also been baptized. His father was owed money by the king of England. The king paid off his debts by giving Penn’s father, land that is modern day Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Benjamin Franklin was a printer’s apprentice In the lady chapel. This chapel is contained within the oldest standing church in London. The chapel had been turned into commercial premises after the reformation. He wrote “A dissertation on liberty and necessity, pleasure, and pain” during his time there.
The square mile consists of a number of geographical territories or liberties as they were called, that were excluded from the jurisdiction of the city of London. One example is the liberty of the tower of London.
https://londonwiki.co.uk/Londo
Other examples include the inner and middle temples, which took their name from the Knights Templar and were originally controlled by societies of lawyers. This land is not open to the public and is situated across the road from the Royal courts of justice. Today the Inns of Court, including the Inner and middle temples, are local authorities that are exempt from the jurisdiction of the Corporation of London. This is due to the privileges inherited from the Knights Templar, who originally leased the land to the Inns.
https://www.middletemple.org.u
The only such examples in the United States would be Indian reserves athough such reserves are subject to federal laws. It's been a while since I last posted. I hope all is well! Cecilia :-)
