London Gs Back to the Future

How South Bank might look

15 October 2015 London as a Catholic nation is digitally re-imagined by graphic artists New report reveals how Britain might have looked had the spies of yesteryear not foiled the Gunpowder Plot, thwarted attempts to murder Queen Elizabeth I, and aided Henry VIIIs break from Rome

A new report by acclaimed historian Dr Tracy Borman, Chief Curator for Historic Royal Palaces, shows how feats of intelligence and espionage during Tudor and Stuart times shaped Britains culture, religion and even architecture

Graphic artists produce images of top predictions including:

-Catholic Monasteries which would have become widespread in London if Henry VIII had not revolutionised religion in this country; - An opulent palace fit for James Is daughter Elizabeth which might have taken the place of the Palace of Westminster if Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot had succeeded; - A large riverside castle which could have been built on the insistence of Mary, Queen of Scots if she had become Queen of England

- Research conducted to celebrate the launch of new series Historys Ultimate Spies which airs on TV channel Yesterday on Friday 16th October at 10pm

Download images HERE

Scottish style castles, grand monasteries and opulent palaces would dominate the London skyline in modern Britain were it not for a few ingenious spies. Thats the verdict of a new report released today, which suggests that had the espionage and intelligence agents in the Tudor and Stuart times been unsuccessful in their missions Londons iconic skyline would be completely changed.

The Historys Ultimate Spies report, written by acclaimed historian Dr Tracy Borman, was commissioned to celebrate the launch of Historys Ultimate Spies on TV channel Yesterday at 10pm on Friday 16th October.

The report focuses on the spy networks created by Thomas Cromwell to aid Henry VIIIs break with Rome, Francis Walsingham - regarded as one of historys greatest ever spymasters and credited with foiling many plots to kill the protestant Elizabeth I and replace her on the throne with the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots, and Robert Cecil, who thwarted the infamous Gunpowder Plot.

The report is accompanied by visual representations of how London might have looked had the intelligence agents failed.

LONDONS SKYLINE RE-IMAGINED Catholic Monasteries in the City:

In order to do King Henry VIIIs bidding, Thomas Cromwell established a network of spies that steered Henry through his troubles with Rome, divorces, assassinations attempts and the establishment of a new religion. One of Henrys boldest actions was to set about dissolving Catholic monasteries as a part of a larger move towards his new Church of England. If Cromwell had not been successful, these would have not only remained but grown in number, so Londons skyline would have featured many more grand monasteries.

Mary, Queen of Scots Riverside Castle:

A fierce Protestant, Francis Walsingham rose to become one of historys greatest ever spymasters and an indispensable servant to Queen Elizabeth I. His hatred and suspicion of Catholicism drove him ever on and his formidable network of spies helped to foil many plots against the Queen; the most infamous of all being the plan to assassinate her and put Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne of England.

Had Mary, Queen of Scots become Queen of England, she would have looked to make her mark by building Scottish-style castles in keeping with examples such as Edinburgh or Sterling castle alongside the River Thames.

Bormans report adds that the royals favoured riverside palaces, as the Thames offered the primary mode of transport at the time, and also provided a good source of water for washing and getting rid of waste. Mary would have most likely picked a spot by the river for her new castle and the Southbank, which would have been close to the centre of what was a much smaller London in these times, would have been a sensible option for the site for it.

A Grand, Opulent Castle fit for a Queen

As Walsingham was to Elizabeth, Robert Cecil was to her successor James I. Cecil was a formidable political operator, who devised and established an extraordinary web of spies and informers designed to ensure the Kings security. Cecils greatest triumph was the thwarting of the infamous catholic Gunpowder Plot. There is a theory that the great spymaster knew all about it from day one and orchestrated the whole plot in order to bring maximum discredit on Catholics.

Had the Gunpowder Plot been successful, James Is young catholic daughter Elizabeth would have been placed on the throne, and one prediction made by Borman is that the void left by the destroyed Houses of Parliament might have been filled by an opulent castle for the young princess.

Borman writes that Elizabeth was known to be spoilt and have extravagant taste, spending lavishly throughout her life on fine clothes and jewels. History shows she went on to marry Frederick, Elector Palatine, who built her a splendid palace with menagerie and Italian-Style garden. It would be no surprise that a grand, new home would be something Elizabeth requested had she become Queen much earlier had the Gunpowder Plot not been foiled.

KEY FINDINGS The report also found there would be several social and cultural connotations had history changed in this way, as well as further potential changes to Londons skyline.

Large Abbeys and monasteries would have been much more common. Borman writes in the report that the great Abbeys of Fountains and Rievaulx might still be seen for miles around as the Dissolution of Monasteries would not have taken place without Thomas Cromwell and his supporters.

Had James I been assassinated in the gunpowder plot the English Civil War could have been avoided, as his son and heir Charles I would never have become King. It was Charles actions which were almost wholly responsible

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