Editing Knightsbridge (section)

== History ==
[[File:Westminster Met. B Ward Map 1916.svg|thumb|Map showing two Knightsbridge wards of Westminster Metropolitan Borough (to the west) as they appeared in 1916]]
Knightsbridge was a hamlet located primarily in the parish of [[Westminster St Margaret|St Margaret (detached)]] and partly in [[St Martin in the Fields (parish)|St Martin in the Fields]] (the part that later became [[St George Hanover Square]]). It also extended into the parishes of [[Kensington (parish)|Kensington]] and [[Chelsea (parish)|Chelsea]]. It was therefore divided between local authorities from a very early time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45894|title=Introduction – British History Online|website=british-history.ac.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310021310/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45894|archive-date=10 March 2014}}</ref>

In the time of [[Edward I of England|Edward I]], the manor of Knightsbridge appertained to the abbey of Westminster.<ref>''London'', David Hughson, 1809</ref> It was named after a crossing of the [[River Westbourne]], which is now an [[Subterranean river|underground river]]. It is recorded that the citizens of London met [[Matilda of England]] at the Knight's Bridge in 1141.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

From 1885 to 1887, as a result of the [[Japan–United Kingdom relations#History|opening of trade]] between [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]] and the [[Far East]], Humphreys' Hall in Knightsbridge hosted [[Japanese Village, Knightsbridge|an exhibition of Japanese culture]] in a setting built to resemble a traditional Japanese village. The exhibition was very popular, with over 250,000 visitors during its early months.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45909 British history online] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019012829/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45909 |date=19 October 2014 }}, 'Knightsbridge Green Area: Scotch Corner and the High Road', ''Survey of London'': volume 45: Knightsbridge (2000), pp. 79–88</ref> Japanese artisans illustrated "the manners, customs and art-industries of their country, attired in their national and picturesque costumes. Magnificently decorated and illuminated Buddhist temple. Five o'clock tea in the Japanese tea-house. Japanese Musical and other Entertainments. Every-day Life as in Japan".<ref>An advertisement from ''The Illustrated London News'', 3 January 1885, quoted in McLaughlin, [http://www.erudit.org/revue/ravon/2007/v/n48/017441ar.html para 10] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203220003/http://www.erudit.org/revue/ravon/2007/v/n48/017441ar.html |date=3 December 2008 }}.</ref> [[W. S. Gilbert]] and his wife attended the exhibition, which is said to have inspired him to write ''[[The Mikado]]''.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} When the Mikado requests of Ko-Ko the address of his son (Nanki-Poo) after Ko-Ko tells the Mikado that Nanki-Poo has "gone abroad", Ko-Ko replies that Nanki-Poo has gone to Knightsbridge.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/mikadolibrettoof00sulluoft#page/34/mode/2up | title=The Mikado: libretto of the Japanese comic opera in two acts | author=Arthur Sullivan with English text by W. S. Gilbert | access-date=18 August 2012}}</ref>