Facts about Barbican
Barbican History
The word barbican comes from the Low Latin word Barbecana which referred to a fortified outpost or gateway. Such as an outer defence of a city or castle or any tower situated over a gate or bridge which was used for defence purposes. In this case, there seems to have been Roman specula or watchtower in front of the fort from numbers 33–35 onwards on the north side of the street then called Barbican, which was later incorporated into the fortifications north of the wall.
The main fort of Roman London was built between 90 and 120 AD southeast of where the Museum of London now stands at the corner of London Wall and Aldersgate Street. Around 200 AD walls were built around the city that incorporated the old fort, which became a grand entrance known as Cripplegate.
General Info
The Barbican Estate is a residential complex of around 2,000 flats, maisonettes, and houses within the City of London in Central London, in an area once devastated by World War II bombings and densely populated by financial institutions. Originally built as rental housing for middle and upper-middle-class professionals, it remains to this day an upmarket residential estate.
It contains, or is adjacent to, the Barbican Arts Centre, the Museum of London, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Barbican public library, the City of London School for Girls and a YMCA, forming the Barbican Complex.
Sash Windows Barbican
