Mansion House
As you walked along Mansion House Place, you passed along the side of Mansion House, which is a combination of palace, town hall and law court complete with its own lock-up. Its prime role is as the official residence of the City's Lord Mayor, who holds office for a one year term. The building was designed in the 1700's.
The church in front of you is St Stephen Walbrook, another church founded in the eleventh century, which was burnt down in the Great Fire and re-built by Wren. This church was also the birthplace of the Samaritans, in 1953.
Did You Know?
The City is the oldest part of London and was already 1,000 years old when the Tower of London was built.
It is uniquely independent from both Westminster and the Crown, has its own local government, the Corporation of London, and today is mainly a financial centre. It also has its own police force which is independent of the Metropolitan police, whose jurisdiction nevertheless surrounds the City.
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