London’s history crystallised in a single word

David was out walking the eerily quiet streets of central London today. What he saw put him in mind, first, of Malaga and then of one of the "nodal, defining moments of London's history. A nodal, defining moment that's preserved in stone. AKA London's long, colourful, dramatic – hell, yes, let's get some adjectives into this parade – history crystalised in a single word