50-604: Keats House is a writer's house museum in what was once the home of the Romantic poet John Keats . It is in Keats Grove, Hampstead , in inner north London . Maps before about 1915 show the road with one of its earlier names, John Street; the road has also been known as Albion Grove. The building was originally a pair of semi-detached houses known as "Wentworth Place". John Keats lodged in one of them with his friend Charles Brown from December 1818 to May 1820, and then in
100-533: A British, Irish, Commonwealth or EU citizen. Common Council elections are held every four years, most recently in March 2022. Common councilmen may use the postnominals CC. Each year, the common councilmen elect one of their number to serve as Chief Commoner, an honorific office which 'serves to recognise the distinguished contribution the office holder is likely to have made to the City Corporation over
150-691: A citizen of the United Kingdom, or a Commonwealth country, and either: Each body or organisation, whether unincorporated or incorporated, whose premises are within the City of London may appoint a number of voters based on the number of workers it employs. Limited liability partnerships fall into this category. Bodies employing fewer than ten workers may appoint one voter, those employing ten to fifty workers may appoint one voter for every five; those employing more than fifty workers may appoint ten voters and one additional voter for every fifty workers beyond
200-400: A dining room and conservatory; the piano manufacturer Charles Cadby (1858–1865); the physiologist Dr William Sharpey (1867–1875); and finally Reverend George Currey, Master of Charterhouse (1876). A Royal Society of Arts plaque was added in 1896 to commemorate Keats. The house was in nearly continuous occupation until the 20th century, when it was threatened with demolition. The house
250-710: A local authority. The Corporation does not have general authority over the Middle Temple and the Inner Temple , two of the Inns of Court adjoining the west of the City which are historic extra-parochial areas , but many statutory functions of the Corporation are extended into these two areas. The chief executive of the administrative side of the Corporation holds the ancient office of Town Clerk of London . Because of its accumulated wealth and responsibilities,
300-555: A period of years.' The Chief Commoner is expected to champion the Court of Common Council, to work to uphold its rights and privileges, and to offer advice and counsel to its members. They also represent the court on various different committees, support the lord mayor in the business of the Corporation and are prominently present on ceremonial occasions. The Chief Commoner is elected in October of each year and holds office for one year from
350-613: A white mulberry tree once in a July 1818 letter to his friend John Hamilton Reynolds. The house is on the south side of Keats Grove between St John's Church on Downshire Hill and South End Road in Hampstead , London NW3 2RR. The nearest stations are Hampstead Heath railway station on London Overground , and Belsize Park and Hampstead tube stations both on the Northern line , Edgware branch. From central London, red bus route 24 terminates at South End Green, Hampstead, close to
400-516: Is a Common or Black Mulberry and believed to date from the 17th century. Mulberry trees have been cultivated in England since at least the early 16th century but are not native to Great Britain. As there were other fruit trees in the grounds of Keats House, the mulberry tree may have been part of an orchard. If the tree is as old as it is thought to be, then John Keats would have seen it, although he did not mention it in his writings. Keats did mention
450-602: Is complex: as the corporation itself says: "The right of the City to run its own affairs was gradually won as concessions were gained from the Crown. Both the Guildhall Historical Association and Paul Jagger, author of The City of London Freeman's Guide and City of London: Secrets of the Square Mile explain that it is incorrect to say that this is a symbol of the submission of the Crown to
500-621: Is part of the Keats House Trust administered by the City of London Corporation , reopened in April 2012 as "Ten Keats Grove". A volunteer-run library currently occupies part of the space in the building. Artifacts on display in the house include the engagement ring Keats offered to Fanny Brawne and a copy of Keats's death mask. The museum runs regular poetry and literary events, and offers a range of educational facilities. In December 2006 it
550-632: Is undoubtedly the case that we have more tradition and pageantry than most", for example the yearly Lord Mayor's Show . There are eight formal ceremonies involving the Corporation: The historic ceremony of the monarch halting at Temple Bar and being met by the lord mayor, also called the Pearl Sword Ceremony , has often featured in art and literature. It is commented on in televised coverage of modern-day royal ceremonial processions. Tax journalist Nicholas Shaxson described
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#1732776506707600-472: The City of London Police – separate from the Metropolitan Police , which polices the remainder of Greater London. Each ward may choose a number of common councilmen. A common councilman must be a registered voter in a City ward, own a freehold or lease land in the City, or reside in the City for the year prior to the election. The individual must also be over 21; a Freeman of the City ; and
650-513: The Greater London Authority . It is a corporation in the sense of being a municipal corporation rather than a company; it is deemed to be the citizens and other eligible parties acting as one corporate body to manage the City's affairs. Both businesses and residents of the City, or "Square Mile", are entitled to vote in corporation elections. In addition to its functions as the local authority (analogous to those undertaken by
700-525: The Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London , is the local authority of the City of London , the historic centre of London and the location of much of the United Kingdom 's financial sector . In 2006, the name was changed from Corporation of London as the corporate body needed to be distinguished from the geographical area to avoid confusion with the wider London local government,
750-699: The 32 boroughs that administer the rest of Greater London ) the City of London Corporation takes responsibility for supporting the financial services industry and representing its interests. The corporation's structure includes the Lord Mayor , the Court of Aldermen , the Court of Common Council , and the Freemen and Livery of the City. The "Liberties and Customs" of the City of London are guaranteed in Magna Carta 's clause IX, which remains in statute. In
800-552: The Anglo-Saxon period, consultation between London's rulers and its citizens took place at the Folkmoot. Administration and judicial processes were conducted at the Court of Husting and the administrative part of the court's work evolved into the Court of Aldermen. There is no surviving record of a charter first establishing the corporation as a legal body, but the City is regarded as incorporated by prescription, meaning that
850-565: The City as a central business district led to this falling to below 5,000 after the Second World War. It has risen slightly to around 9,000 since, largely due to the development of the Barbican Estate . As it has not been affected by other municipal legislation over the period of time since then, its electoral practice has become increasingly anomalous. Therefore, the non-residential vote (or business vote ), abolished in
900-575: The City of London . The City of London Corporation had its privileges stripped by a writ quo warranto under Charles II in 1683, but they were later restored and confirmed by Act of Parliament under William III and Mary II in 1690, after the Glorious Revolution . With growing demands on the Corporation and a corresponding need to raise local taxes from the commoners, the Common Council grew in importance and has been
950-412: The City of London in Common Council assembled . The "Court" is the primary decision-making body of the City of London Corporation and meets nine times per year, though most of its work is carried out by committees. The Common Council is the police authority for the City of London, a police area that covers the City including the Inner Temple and Middle Temple and which has its own police force –
1000-473: The City's commoners and this was eventually recognised with commoners being represented by the Court of Common Council, known by that name since at least as far back as 1376. The earliest records of the business habits of the City's chamberlains and common clerks, and the proceedings of the courts of Common Council and Aldermen, begin in 1275, and are recorded in fifty volumes known as the Letter-Books of
1050-611: The City, due to their residence in that district, maintain the right to vote in their 'home' district. The City of London is divided into twenty-five wards , each of which is an electoral division, electing one alderman and a number of councilmen based on the size of the electorate. The numbers below reflect the changes caused by the City of London (Ward Elections) Act and a recent ward boundary review. There are over one hundred livery companies in London. The companies originated as guilds or trade associations. The senior members of
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#17327765067071100-571: The City, with Jagger writing: The Sovereign does not ask to be admitted. The carriage bearing the King or Queen does not halt without the bar, but drives straight across the boundary and halts just within the City. [...] Can the Press be deflected from their story of the Sovereign asking permission to enter the City! It has been repeated for well over a century. [...] The ceremony is an acknowledgement by
1150-399: The Corporation has a number of officers and officials unique to its structure who enjoy more autonomy than most local council officials, and each of whom has a separate budget: There are others: The first direct elections to Common Council took place in 1384. Before that date the representatives of the wards had been elected by the livery companies; originally they were merely appointed by
1200-519: The Dilke family occupied two other adjacent houses. John Keats began visiting the house in 1817 after he had been introduced to Dilke by John Hamilton Reynolds , who was part of Leigh Hunt 's circle of friends. In December 1818, after Keats's brother Tom died of tuberculosis, Brown invited Keats to "keep house" with him. Keats paid £5 per month (equivalent to £500 in 2023 prices) and half the liquor bill. Dilke and his family left on 3 April 1819 and let
1250-458: The Sheriffs are chosen for terms of one year. The Lord Mayor fulfils several roles: The ancient and continuing office of Lord Mayor of London (with responsibility for the City of London) should not be confused with the office of Mayor of London (responsible for the whole of Greater London and created in 2000). The role of Lord Mayor of London is largely ceremonial. Political leadership on
1300-486: The aldermen. The City of London Corporation was not reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 , because it had a more extensive electoral franchise than any other borough or city; in fact, it widened this further with its own equivalent legislation allowing one to become a freeman without being a liveryman . In 1801, the City had a population of about 130,000, but increasing development of
1350-477: The authors through their visits. Sites include a range of activities common to cultural heritage sites, such as living history , museum exhibits , guided tours and poetry readings . New York Times commentator Anne Trubek counted 73 such houses in the United States. The tradition of preserving houses or sites important to famous authors has a long history: in the 14th century Petrarch's birthplace
1400-587: The ceremony in an article in the New Statesman : Whenever The Queen makes a State entry to the City, she meets a red cord raised by City police at Temple Bar, and then engages in a colourful ceremony involving the Lord Mayor, his Sword , assorted Aldermen and Sheriffs, and a character called the Remembrancer. In this ceremony, the Lord Mayor recognises The Queen's authority, but the relationship
1450-489: The citizens of London a charter confirming the rights and privileges that they had enjoyed since the time of Edward the Confessor . Numerous subsequent royal charters over the centuries confirmed and extended the citizens' rights. Around 1189, the City gained the right to have its own mayor, later being advanced to the degree and style of Lord Mayor of London . Over time, the Court of Aldermen sought increasing help from
1500-444: The construction of drains it had responsibility for the prevention of flooding; paving, cleaning and lighting the City of London's streets; and churchyards and burials. The individual commissioners were previously nominated by the Corporation, but it was a separate body. The Corporation had earlier limited rating powers in relation to raising funds for the City of London Police , as well as the militia rate and some rates in relation to
1550-450: The corporation is instead provided by the chair of the policy and resources committee (also known as the policy chairman), who is sometimes described as the "de facto political leader". The policy chairman represents the City on the leaders' committee of London Councils , alongside the leaders of the 32 London Boroughs. Since 1984, the policy chairmen have been: Stuart Fraser, the Corporation's Deputy Policy chairman wrote in 2011 "it
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1600-434: The first fifty. Though workers count as part of a workforce regardless of nationality, only certain individuals may be appointed as voters. Under section 5 of the City of London (Ward Elections) Act 2002 , the following are eligible to be appointed as voters (the qualifying date is 1 September of the year of the election): Voters appointed by businesses who are also entitled to vote in a local authority district other than
1650-416: The following April. The work of the City of London Corporation is primarily carried out through a range of committees: The Lord Mayor of London and the two Sheriffs are chosen by liverymen meeting at Common Hall. Sheriffs, who serve as assistants to the Lord Mayor, are chosen on Midsummer Day . The Lord Mayor, who must have previously been a Sheriff, is chosen on Michaelmas . Both the Lord Mayor and
1700-407: The general requirements of the Corporation. The Corporation is unique among British local authorities for its continuous legal existence over many centuries, and for having the power to alter its own constitution, which is done by an Act of Common Council. Local government legislation often makes special provision for the City to be treated as a London borough and for the Common Council to act as
1750-400: The homes are those of famous literary figures . Frequently these buildings are preserved to communicate to visitors more about the author than their work and its historical context. These exhibits are a form of biographical criticism . Visitors of the sites who are participating in literary tourism , are often fans of the authors, and these fans find deep emotional and physical connections to
1800-466: The house and marked as 275 at the bottom right of the area map. 51°33′20″N 0°10′06″W / 51.5555°N 0.1682°W / 51.5555; -0.1682 Writer%27s house museum Writers' homes (sometimes writer's , author's or literary houses ) are locations where writers lived. Frequently, these homes are preserved as historic house museums and literary tourism destinations, called writer's home museums , especially when
1850-514: The house from 1828 until 1831. Mrs Brawne died in December 1829 from an accident. By March 1830, the Brawnes had left their part. There were several notable occupants of the house during the 19th century: the painter and illustrator Henry Courtney Selous (1835–1838); Eliza Chester (1838–1848), a retired actress, once a favourite of George IV , who converted the house into one dwelling and added
1900-516: The house, probably furnished, to Mrs Brawne, a widow, and her family, who had briefly occupied Brown's half of the house when Keats and Brown were on their walking tour of Scotland. Brown transferred his part of Wentworth Place to Dilke's father on 18 June 1822 and left for Italy in the same year. After Keats's 1821 death, his sister Fanny became friends with Fanny Brawne. Fanny Keats and her husband Valentin Llanos occupied what had been Brown's half of
1950-528: The law presumes it to have been incorporated because it has for so long been regarded as such (e.g. Magna Carta states that "the City of London shall have/enjoy its ancient liberties"). The City of London Corporation has been granted various special privileges since the Norman Conquest , and the Corporation's first recorded royal charter dates from around 1067, when William the Conqueror granted
2000-432: The livery companies, known as liverymen , form a special electorate known as Common Hall. Common Hall is the body that chooses the lord mayor, the sheriffs and certain other City officers. Wards originally elected aldermen for life, but the term is now only six years. Aldermen may, if they so choose, submit to an election before the six-year period ends. In any case, an election must be held no later than six years after
2050-470: The other half of the house with the Brawne family from August to September 1820. These were perhaps Keats's most productive years. According to Brown, " Ode to a Nightingale " was written under a plum tree in the garden. While living in the house, Keats fell in love with and became engaged to Fanny Brawne , who lived with her family in the adjacent house. Keats became increasingly ill with tuberculosis and
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2100-479: The previous election. The sole qualification for the office is that aldermen must be Freemen of the City ; candidates are not required to be a resident, leaseholder or freehold owner of land in the ward in which they seek to run, nor even of the City of London. Alderman serve on the Court of Common Council concurrent with their service on the Court of Alderman. Additionally, they select the Recorder of London ,
2150-546: The principal governing body of the City of London since the 18th century. In January 1898, the Common Council gained the full right to collect local rates when the City of London Sewers Act 1897 transferred the powers and duties of the Commissioners of Sewers of the City of London to the Corporation. A separate Commission of Sewers was created for the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, and as well as
2200-436: The rest of the country in 1969 , became an increasingly large part of the electorate. The non-residential vote system used disfavoured incorporated companies. The City of London (Ward Elections) Act 2002 greatly increased the business franchise, allowing many more businesses to be represented. In 2009, the business vote was about 24,000, greatly exceeding residential voters. Eligible voters must be at least 18 years old and
2250-544: The senior Circuit judge on the Central Criminal Court , who sits on the Court of Alderman, and serve of boards as governors and trustees for various institutions with connections to the city. Alderman are also ex officio justices of the peace . The Court of Common Council , also known as the Common Council of the City of London , is formally referred to as the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of
2300-582: Was advised to move to a warmer climate. He left London in 1820 and died, unmarried, in Italy the following year. The house is a Grade I listed building . The house was built during 1814–15 and was probably completed between November 1815 and February 1816. The house was one of the first to be built in the area known as the Lower Heath Quarter. By October 1816, Charles Wentworth Dilke and his friend Charles Brown had moved in. Other members of
2350-587: Was also the site of a later coach house. It was opened on 16 July 1931 as the 'Keats Museum and Branch Library', housing both a public library and a room to display artifacts from the Keats House collection. Some of these artifacts were donated by Charles Armitage Brown 's descendants in New Plymouth, New Zealand , the town to which Charles Brown emigrated in the last year of his life. The Heath Branch Public Library closed in March 2012. The building, which
2400-529: Was announced that the house was to benefit from a restoration programme partly financed by a £424,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Keats House was closed on 1 November 2007 and reopened on Friday, 24 July 2009, some six months after the projected re-opening. To support the work of the house and to contribute to its upkeep, the Keats Foundation was established as a Trust in November 2010. The tree
2450-820: Was preserved, despite Petrarch barely spending time there as a child. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century France, photojournalism which represented authors homes created an increased public interest in writers' private lives, making their homes destinations. The public popular imagination around these literary homes is a central theme of the satirical novel An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England . City of London Corporation Sadiq Khan ( L ) Statutory Deputy Mayor Joanne McCartney ( L/Co ) London Assembly Lord Mayor Peter Estlin London boroughs ( list ) Vacant The City of London Corporation , officially and legally
2500-528: Was saved by subscription and opened to the public as the Keats Memorial House on 9 May 1925. In July and August 2009, the museum once again hosted Keats in Hampstead , a performance piece about Keats's life in Hampstead, his poetry, prose and his love for Fanny Brawne. The building next door, within the grounds of the house, occupies the space where the kitchen garden and outhouses were; it
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