Moorfields
401429
187128477
2008-01-26T23:34:08Z
Dpaajones
102020
[[Image:Rocque_e1_MoorgateCrop.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Map of [[London Wall]], [[Moorgate]], [[Moorfields]] and [[Bethlem Royal Hospital]] from John Rocque's Map of London, dated [[1746]].]]
In [[London]], the '''Moorfields''' were one of the last pieces of open land in the [[City of London]], near the [[Moorgate]]. The fields were divided into three areas, the Moorfields proper, just north of [[Bethlem Royal Hospital|Bethlem Hospital]], and inside the City boundaries, and Middle and Upper Moorfields to the north.
After the [[Great Fire of London]] in 1666, refugees from the fire evacuated to Moorfields and set up temporary camps there. King [[Charles II of England]] encouraged the dispossessed to move on and leave London, but it is unknown how many newly impoverished and displaced persons instead settled in the Moorfields area. In the early 18th century, Moorfields was the site of sporadic open-air markets, shows, and vendors/auctions. Additionally, the homes near and within Moorfields were places of the poor, and the area had a reputation for harboring [[highwayman|highwaymen]], as well as [[brothel]]s. [[James Dalton]] and [[Jack Sheppard]] both retreated to Moorfields when in hiding from the law. Much of Moorfields was developed in [[1777]], when [[Finsbury Square]] was developed; the remainder succumbed within the next few decades.
Moorfields was the site of the first [[hot air balloon]] flight in England (and the first outside [[France]]), when Italian [[Vincenzo Lunardi]] took off on [[15 September]] [[1784]].
Today the name survives in the names of [[Moorfields Eye Hospital]] (since moved to another site); [[St Mary Moorfields]]; Moorfields the short street parallel with [[Moorgate]] (and containing some entrances to [[Moorgate station]]); and Moorfields Highwalk, one of the pedestrian "streets" at high level in the [[Barbican Estate]].
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[[Category:Districts of London]]
[[Category:Geography of the City of London]]
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