Horse Guards Parade, SW1A

Horse Guards Parade dates to the time of Henry VIII.

Horse Guards Parade was once the site for the Palace of Whitehall’s jousting and other tournaments which were held during the reign of Henry VIII. Since then it was used for a variety of ceremonies as well as being the Headquarters of the British Army.

The Palace of Whitehall, the largest palace in Europe at that time, was destroyed by fire in 1698 and replaced by the present Horse Guards building in 1753.

After being a government car park during the twentieth century, in April 1993, the Royal Parks Review Group recommended that Horse Guards Parade should be restored for public use.

Horse Guards Parade is the ceremonial parade ground for the Trooping the Colour on the monarch’s official birthday.

Licence: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence

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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

The Underground Map Whitehall, SW1A Added: 8 Dec 2020 00:24 GMT	Othello takes a bow On 1 November 1604, William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello was presented for the first time, at The Palace of Whitehall. The palace was the main residence of the English monarchs in London from 1530 until 1698. Seven years to the day, Shakespeare’s romantic comedy The Tempest was also presented for the first time, and also at the Palace of Whitehall. Reply
Linda Webb Hungerford Stairs Added: 27 Sep 2021 05:51 GMT	Hungerford Stairs In 1794 my ancestor, George Webb, Clay Pipe Maker, lived in Hungerford Stairs, Strand. Source: Wakefields Merchant & Tradesmens General Directory London Westminster 1794 Source: Hungerford Stairs Reply
Fumblina Whitfield Street, W1T Added: 21 Feb 2023 11:39 GMT	Error on 1800 map numbering for John Street The 1800 map of Whitfield Street (17 zoom) has an error in the numbering shown on the map. The houses are numbered up the right hand side of John Street and Upper John Street to #47 and then are numbered down the left hand side until #81 BUT then continue from 52-61 instead of 82-91. Reply
TUM The Underground Map Added: 27 Aug 2022 10:22 GMT	The Underground Map Michael Faraday successfully demonstrated the first electrical transformer at the Royal Institute, London. Reply
Roy Batham Covent Garden Added: 7 Jan 2022 07:17 GMT	Smithy in Longacre John Burris 1802-1848 Listed 1841 census as Burroughs was a blacksmith, address just given as Longacre. Source: Batham/Wiseman - Family Tree Reply
Scott Hatton Blackmoor Street, WC2B Added: 11 Sep 2020 19:47 GMT	Millions Of Rats In Busy London The Daily Mail on 14 April 1903 reported "MILLIONS OF RATS IN BUSY LONDON" A rat plague, unprecedented in the annals of London, has broken out on the north side of the Strand. The streets principally infested are Catherine street, Drury lane, Blackmore street, Clare Market and Russell street. Something akin to a reign of terror prevails among the inhabitants after nightfall. Women refuse to pass along Blackmore street and the lower parts of Stanhope street after dusk, for droves of rats perambulate the roadways and pavements, and may be seen running along the window ledges of the empty houses awaiting demolition by the County Council in the Strand to Holborn improvement scheme. The rats, indeed, have appeared in almost-incredible numbers. "There are millions of them," said one shopkeeper, and his statement was supported by other residents. The unwelcome visitors have been evicted from their old haunts by the County Council housebreakers, and are now busily in search of new homes. The Gaiety Restaurant has been the greatest sufferer. Rats have invaded the premises in such force that the managers have had to close the large dining room on the first floor and the grill rooms on the ground floor and in the basement. Those three spacious halls which have witnessed many as semblages of theatre-goers are now qui:e deserted. Behind the wainscot of the bandstand in the grillroom is a large mound of linen shreds. This represents 1728 serviettes carried theee by the rats. In the bar the removal of a panel disclosed the astonishing fact that the rats have dragged for a distance of seven or eight yards some thirty or forty beer and wine bottles and stacked them in such a fashion as to make comfortable sleeping places. Mr Williams. the manager of the restaurant, estimates that the rats have destroyed L200 worth of linen. Formerly the Gaiety Restaurant dined 2000 persons daily; no business whatever is now done in this direction. Reply
Bruce McTavish Lambeth North Added: 11 Mar 2021 11:37 GMT	Kennington Road Lambeth North station was opened as Kennington Road and then Westminster Bridge Road before settling on its final name. It has a wonderful Leslie Green design. Reply
Scott Hatton Savile Row, W1S Added: 30 Jan 2023 11:28 GMT	The Beatles on a London rooftop The Beatles’ rooftop concert took place on the rooftop of the Apple Corps building in London. It was their final public performance as a band and was unannounced, attracting a crowd of onlookers. The concert lasted for 42 minutes and included nine songs. The concert is remembered as a seminal moment in the history of rock music and remains one of the most famous rock performances of all time. Reply
Julian Collingwood House, W1W Added: 23 Mar 2021 10:11 GMT	Dennis Potter Author Dennis Potter lived in Collingwood House in the 1970’s Reply
Jessie Doring Tisbury Court, W1D Added: 22 Feb 2021 04:33 GMT	Tisbury Court Jazz Bar Jazz Bar opened in Tisbury Court by 2 Australians. Situated in underground basement. Can not remember how long it opened for. Reply
Brian J MacIntyre Dolphin Square Added: 8 Jan 2023 17:27 GMT	Malcolm Davey at Raleigh House, Dolphin Square My former partner, actor Malcolm Davey, lived at Raleigh House, Dolphin Square, for many years until his death. He was a wonderful human being and an even better friend. A somewhat underrated actor, but loved by many, including myself. I miss you terribly, Malcolm. Here’s to you and to History, our favourite subject. Love Always - Brian J MacIntyre Minnesota, USA Reply
Pauline jones Bessborough Place, SW1V Added: 16 Oct 2017 19:04 GMT	Bessborough Place, SW1V I grew up in bessborough place at the back of our house and Grosvenor road and bessborough gardens was a fantastic playground called trinity mews it had a paddling pool sandpit football area and various things to climb on, such as a train , slide also as Wendy house. There were plants surrounding this wonderful play area, two playground attendants ,also a shelter for when it rained. The children were constantly told off by the playground keepers for touching the plants or kicking the ball out of the permitted area, there was hopscotch as well, all these play items were brick apart from the slide. Pollock was the centre of my universe and I felt sorry and still do for anyone not being born there. To this day I miss it and constantly look for images of the streets around there, my sister and me often go back to take a clumped of our beloved London. The stucco houses were a feature and the backs of the houses enabled parents to see thier children playing. Reply
Robert smitherman Saunders Street, SE11 Added: 23 Aug 2017 11:01 GMT	Saunders Street, SE11 I was born in a prefab on Saunders street SE11 in the 60’s, when I lived there, the road consisted of a few prefab houses, the road originally ran from Lollard street all the way thru to Fitzalan street. I went back there to have a look back in the early 90’s but all that is left of the road is about 20m of road and the road sign. Reply
Richard Roques Hungerford Stairs Added: 21 Jan 2021 16:53 GMT	Buckingham Street residents Here in Buckingham Street lived Samuel Pepys the diarist, Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling Reply
Jude Allen Orange Street, WC2H Added: 29 Jul 2021 07:53 GMT	Bra top I jave a jewelled item of clothong worn by a revie girl. It is red with diamante straps. Inside it jas a label Bermans Revue 16 Orange Street but I cannot find any info online about the revue only that 16 Orange Street used to be a theatre. Does any one know about the revue. I would be intesrested to imagine the wearer of the article and her London life. Reply

LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Eileen Brecknock Road, N7 Added: 10 Nov 2023 09:42 GMT	Brecknock Road Pleating Company My great grandparents ran the Brecknock Road pleating Company around 1910 to 1920 and my Grandmother worked there as a pleater until she was 16. I should like to know more about this. I know they had a beautiful Victorian house in Islington as I have photos of it & of them in their garden. Source: Family history Reply
Squirrel’s Lane, IG9 Added: 6 Nov 2023 16:59 GMT	061123 Why do Thames Water not collect the 15 . Three meter lengths of blue plastic fencing, and old pipes etc. They left here for the last TWO Years, these cause an obstruction,as they halfway lying in the road,as no footpath down this road, and the cars going and exiting the park are getting damaged, also the public are in Grave Danger when trying to avoid your rubbish and the danger of your fences. Source: Squirrels Lane. Buckhurst Hill, Essex. IG9. I want some action ,now, not Excuses.MK. Reply
Christian Cornwall Road, W11 Added: 31 Oct 2023 10:34 GMT	Cornwall Road, W11 Photo shows William Richard Hoare’s chemist shop at 121 Cornwall Road. Reply
Vik Oaks Road, TW6 Added: 30 Oct 2023 18:48 GMT	Old pub sign from the Rising Sun Hi I have no connection to the area except that for the last 30+ years we’ve had an old pub sign hanging on our kitchen wall from the Rising Sun, Stanwell, which I believe was / is on the Oaks Rd. Happy to upload a photo if anyone can tell me how or where to do that! Reply
Phillip Martin Ashburnham Place, SE10 Added: 16 Oct 2023 06:25 GMT	16 Ashburnham Road On 15 October 1874 George Frederick Martin was born in 16 Ashburnham Road Greenwich to George Henry Martin, a painter, and Mary Martin, formerly Southern. Reply
Christine Bithrey Holly Park, N4 Added: 15 Oct 2023 15:20 GMT	The Hollies (1860 - 1900) I lived in Holly Park Estate from 1969 I was 8 years old when we moved in until I left to get married, my mother still lives there now 84. I am wondering if there was ever a cemetery within The Hollies? And if so where? Was it near to the Blythwood Road end or much nearer to the old Methodist Church which is still standing although rather old looking. We spent most of our childhood playing along the old dis-used railway that run directly along Blythwood Road and opposite Holly Park Estate - top end which is where we live/ed. We now walk my mothers dog there twice a day. An elderly gentleman once told me when I was a child that there used to be a cemetery but I am not sure if he was trying to scare us children! I only thought about this recently when walking past the old Methodist Church and seeing the flag stone in the side of the wall with the inscription of when it was built late 1880 If anyone has any answers please email me [email protected] Reply
Chris hutchison Broadhurst Gardens, NW6 Added: 15 Oct 2023 03:04 GMT	35 broadhurst gardens. 35 Broadhurst gardens was owned by famous opera singer Mr Herman “Simmy”Simberg. He had transformed it into a film and recording complex. There was a film and animation studio on the ground floor. The recording facilities were on the next two floors. I arrived in London from Australia in 1966 and worked in the studio as the tea boy and trainee recording engineer from Christmas 1966 for one year. The facility was leased by an American advertising company called Moreno Films. Mr Simbergs company Vox Humana used the studio for their own projects as well. I worked for both of them. I was so lucky. The manager was another wonderful gentleman called Jack Price who went on to create numerous songs for many famous singers of the day and also assisted the careers of Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. “Simmy” let me live in the bedsit,upper right hand window. Jack was also busy with projects with The Troggs,Bill Wyman,Peter Frampton. We did some great sessions with Manfred Mann and Alan Price. The Cream did some demos but that was before my time. We did lots of voice over work. Warren Mitchell and Ronnie Corbett were favourites. I went back in 1978 and “Simmy “ had removed all of the studio and it was now his home. His lounge room was still our studio in my minds eye!! Reply
Sue L Battersea Added: 13 Oct 2023 17:21 GMT	Duffield Street, Battersea I’ve been looking for ages for a photo of Duffield Street without any luck. My mother and grandfather lived there during the war. It was the first property he was able to buy but sadly after only a few months they were bombed out. My mother told the story that one night they were aware of a train stopping above them in the embankment. It was full of soldiers who threw out cigarettes and sweets at about four in the morning. They were returning from Dunkirk though of course my mother had no idea at the time. I have heard the same story from a different source too. Reply

NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

Charing Cross Charing Cross denotes the junction of the Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square

Charing Cross

Embankment Embankment underground station has been known by various names during its long history - including, indeed, ’Embankment’.

Embankment

Embankment to Charing Cross walk Arguably the shortest walk between two stations of the London Underground

Embankment to Charing Cross walk

Hungerford Bridge Hungerford Bridge is a rail bridge crossing the Thames into Charing Cross station.

Hungerford Bridge

Hungerford Stairs The Hungerford Stairs were the entrance point to Hungerford Market from the River Thames. They are now the site of Charing Cross railway Station.

Hungerford Stairs

Nelson’s Column Nelson’s Column is a monument in Trafalgar Square built to commemorate Horatio Nelson’s decisive victory at the Battle of Trafalgar during which he lost his life.

Nelson’s Column

Northumberland House Northumberland House was a large Jacobean townhouse in London, which was the London residence of the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland.

Northumberland House

Royal Society The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering and medicine.

Royal Society

St James’s St James’s is an exclusive area in the West End of London.

St James’s

Westminster Westminster - heart of government.

Westminster

Westminster to Green Park walk The heart of government

Westminster to Green Park walk

NEARBY STREETS

Admiralty House, SW1A Admiralty House is a block on Whitehall.

Admiralty House, SW1A

Apple Tree Yard, SW1Y Apple Tree Yard is thought named after the apple trees formerly to be found here.

Apple Tree Yard, SW1Y

Babmaes Street, SW1Y Babmaes Street was originally called Wells Street.

Babmaes Street, SW1Y

Birdcage Walk, SW1H Birdcage Walk runs east from Great George Street, along the south side of St James’s Park.

Birdcage Walk, SW1H

Blue Bridge, SW1A Blue Bridge crosses St James’s Park lake.

Blue Bridge, SW1A

Bridge Street, SW1A Bridge Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1A postal area.

Bridge Street, SW1A

Buckingham Street, WC2N Buckingham Street is named after George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham.

Buckingham Street, WC2N

Canada House, SW1Y Canada House is located on Trafalgar Square.

Canada House, SW1Y

Cannon Street, WC2N Cannon Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2N postal area.

Cannon Street, WC2N

Canon Row, SW1A Canon Row is at least one thousand year’s old.

Canon Row, SW1A

Carlton Gardens, SW1Y Carlton Gardens was developed before 1832.

Carlton Gardens, SW1Y

Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y Carlton House Terrace consists of a pair of terraces - white stucco-faced houses on the south side of the street overlooking St James’s Park.

Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y

Charing Cross, SW1A Charing Cross, long regarded as London’s central point, as an address is an enigma.

Charing Cross, SW1A

Charles II Street, SW1Y Charles II Street is named for the ’Merry Monarch’.

Charles II Street, SW1Y

Chatham House, SW1Y Chatham House is a building on St James’s Square.

Chatham House, SW1Y

Cockpit Steps, SW1H Cockpit Steps leads from Birdcage Walk to Old Queen Street.

Cockpit Steps, SW1H

Cockspur Court, SW1A Cockspur Court is a building on Cockspur Court.

Cockspur Court, SW1A

Cockspur Street, SW1A Cockspur Street is possibly after the cock fighting that formerly occurred here, cocks often having spurs attached to their feet during fights.

Cockspur Street, SW1A

Commissioner’s Yard, SW1A Commissioner’s Yard is a small street behind New Scotland Yard.

Commissioner’s Yard, SW1A

Craig’s Court, SW1A Craig’s Court is an alleyway off Whitehall.

Craig’s Court, SW1A

Craven Passage, WC2N Craven Passage is named after William Craven, 3rd Baron Craven, who owned the land when the street was built in the 1730s.

Craven Passage, WC2N

Craven Street, WC2N Craven Street is named after William Craven, 3rd Baron Craven, who owned the land when the street was built in the 1730s.

Craven Street, WC2N

Curtis Green Building, SW1A Curtis Green Building can be found on Victoria Embankment.

Curtis Green Building, SW1A

Derby Gate, SW1A Derby Gate is one of the streets of London in the SW1A postal area.

Derby Gate, SW1A

Dover House, SW1A Dover House is a block on Whitehall.

Dover House, SW1A

Downing Street, SW1A Downing Street has been the home of British Prime Minsters since the eighteenth century.

Downing Street, SW1A

Duke Of York Street, SW1Y Duke Of York Street runs between Jermyn Street and St James’s Square.

Duke Of York Street, SW1Y

Duncannon Street, WC2N Duncannon Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2N postal area.

Duncannon Street, WC2N

Embankment Place, WC2N Embankment Place runs from Villiers Street, under a railway arch, on to Northumberland Avenue.

Embankment Place, WC2N

Fludyer Street, SW1A Fludyer Street used to be a street which lay parallel to, and south of, Downing Street.

Fludyer Street, SW1A

Goodwins Court, WC2N Goodwins Court is one of the streets of London in the WC2N postal area.

Goodwins Court, WC2N

Great George Street, SW1P Great George Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.

Great George Street, SW1P

Great Scotland Yard, SW1A Great Scotland Yard is one of the streets of London in the SW1A postal area.

Great Scotland Yard, SW1A

Gwydyr House, SW1A Gwydyr House is a building on Whitehall.

Gwydyr House, SW1A

Horse Guards Avenue, SW1A Horse Guards Avenue stretches from Whitehall to the Embankment.

Horse Guards Avenue, SW1A

Horse Guards Road, SW1A Horse Guards Road runs along the eastern edge of St James’s Park.

Horse Guards Road, SW1A

Hungerford House, WC2N Residential block

Hungerford House, WC2N

Hungerford Lane, WC2N Hungerford Lane was a dark narrow alley that went alongside and then under Charing Cross Station.

Hungerford Lane, WC2N

King Charles Street, SW1A King Charles Street is a street of government buildings, one block south of Downing Street.

King Charles Street, SW1A

King Street, SW1A King Street was an ancient thoroughfare between the regions of the Court and the Abbey in Westminster.

King Street, SW1A

Kinnaird House, SW1Y Kinnaird House is a block on Pall Mall.

Kinnaird House, SW1Y

Kipling House, WC2N Kipling House is a block on Villiers Street.

Kipling House, WC2N

Kirkland House, SW1A Kirkland House is a block on Whitehall.

Kirkland House, SW1A

Little George Street, SW1P Little George Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.

Little George Street, SW1P

Main Building, SW1A Main Building is a block on Horse Guards Avenue.

Main Building, SW1A

Municipal Insurance House, SW1H Municipal Insurance House can be found on Old Queen Street.

Municipal Insurance House, SW1H

New Street, SW1A New Street was made part of Spring Gardens in 1881.

New Street, SW1A

New Zealand House, SW1Y New Zealand House is a block on Haymarket.

New Zealand House, SW1Y

Northumberland Avenue, WC2N Northumberland Avenue runs from Trafalgar Square in the west to the Thames Embankment.

Northumberland Avenue, WC2N

Northumberland House, WC2 Northumberland House is a block on Northumberland Avenue.

Northumberland House, WC2

Northumberland Street, WC2N Northumberland Street commemorates the former Northumberland House, built originally in the early 17th century for the earls of Northampton and later acquired by the earls of Northumberland.

Northumberland Street, WC2N

Oceanic House, SW1Y Oceanic House is a block on Pall Mall East.

Oceanic House, SW1Y

Old Admiralty Building, SW1A Old Admiralty Building is a block on Spring Gardens.

Old Admiralty Building, SW1A

Old Queen Street, SW1H Old Queen Street is parallel to Birdcage Walk.

Old Queen Street, SW1H

Pall Mall East, SW1A Pall Mall East is an eastern extension of Pall Mall towards Trafalgar Square.

Pall Mall East, SW1A

Pall Mall, SW1Y Pall Mall was laid out as grounds for playing pall mall in the 17th century.

Pall Mall, SW1Y

Parliament Square, SW1A Parliament Square is one of the most important squares in Westminster, home to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

Parliament Square, SW1A

Parliament Street, SW1A Parliament Street is the name of the southernmost stretch of Whitehall as it meets Parliament Square.

Parliament Street, SW1A

Portcullis House, SW1A Portcullis House is a building on Bridge Street.

Portcullis House, SW1A

Queen Anne’s House, SW1H Queen Anne’s House is a block on Queen Anne’s Gate.

Queen Anne’s House, SW1H

Rex House, SW1Y Rex House is a building on Regent Street.

Rex House, SW1Y

Richmond House Whitehall, SW1A Richmond House Whitehall is one of the streets of London in the SW1A postal area.

Richmond House Whitehall, SW1A

Richmond House, SW1A Richmond House is a block on Whitehall.

Richmond House, SW1A

Richmond Terrace Mews, SW1A Richmond Terrace Mews originally led to New Scotland Yard.

Richmond Terrace Mews, SW1A

Richmond Terrace, SW1A Richmond Terrace is on the site of Richmond House, destroyed by a fire on 21 December 1791.

Richmond Terrace, SW1A

Royal Opera Arcade, SW1Y Royal Opera Arcade was originally part of an opera house theatre, built by John Nash.

Royal Opera Arcade, SW1Y

Sabadell House, SW1Y Sabadell House is a block on Pall Mall.

Sabadell House, SW1Y

Spring Gardens, WC2N Spring Gardens derives its name from the Spring Garden, formed in the 16th century.

Spring Gardens, WC2N

St James’s Square, SW1Y St James’s Square is the only square in the district of St James’s.

St James’s Square, SW1Y

Suffolk Place, SW1Y The Earl of Suffolk (Thomas Howard) was the reason for the naming of Suffolk Place.

Suffolk Place, SW1Y

Suffolk Street, SW1Y Suffolk Street was named after Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, who owned a stable yard attached to Northumberland House which lay on this site.

Suffolk Street, SW1Y

The Arches, WC2N The Arches is one of the streets of London in the WC2N postal area.

The Arches, WC2N

The Grand Building, WC2N The Grand Building is located on Strand.

The Grand Building, WC2N

The Mall, SW1Y The Mall is the processional route between Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.

The Mall, SW1Y

The Terrace, SW1A The Terrace is a road in the SW1A postcode area

The Terrace, SW1A

Trafalgar Square, WC2N Trafalgar Square commemorates Horatio Nelson’s 1805 victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Trafalgar Square, WC2N

Victoria Embankment, SW1A Victoria Embankment leads north out of the Westminster area.

Victoria Embankment, SW1A

Victoria Embankment, WC2N Victoria Embankment was built as part of Joseph Bazalgette’s Embankment scheme.

Victoria Embankment, WC2N

Villiers Street, WC2N Villiers Street was named after George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham

Villiers Street, WC2N

Warwick House Street, SW1A Warwick House Street formerly approached Warwick House, built in the 17th century for Sir Philip Warwick.

Warwick House Street, SW1A

Watergate Walk, WC2N Watergate Walk is named after a former watergate built in 1626 for George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham as an entrance for the former York House.

Watergate Walk, WC2N

Waterloo Place, SW1Y Waterloo Place, an extension of Regent Street, is awash with statues and monuments that honour heroes of the British Empire.

Waterloo Place, SW1Y

Westminster Bridge, SE1 Westminster Bridge links Westminster on the west side with Lambeth on the east side.

Westminster Bridge, SE1

Westminster Pier, SW1A Westminster Pier is one of the streets of London in the SW1A postal area.

Westminster Pier, SW1A

Whitehall Court, SW1A Whitehall Court runs north from Horse Guards Avenue.

Whitehall Court, SW1A

Whitehall Gardens, SW1A Whitehall Gardens is a road in the SW1A postcode area

Whitehall Gardens, SW1A

Whitehall House, SW1 Whitehall House is sited on Whitehall.

Whitehall House, SW1

Whitehall House, SW1A Whitehall House is a block on Whitehall.

Whitehall House, SW1A

Whitehall Place, SW1A Whitehall Place is one of the streets of London in the SW1A postal area.

Whitehall Place, SW1A

Whitehall, SW1A Whitehall is recognised as the centre of the government of the United Kingdom.

Whitehall, SW1A

York Buildings, WC2N York Buildings marks a house was built on this site in the 14th century for the bishops of Norwich.

York Buildings, WC2N

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Westminster

Westminster - heart of government.

While the underground station dates from 1868, Westminster itself is almost as old as London itself. It has a large concentration of London’s historic and prestigious landmarks and visitor attractions, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

Historically part of the parish of St Margaret in the City and Liberty of Westminster and the county of Middlesex, the name Westminster was the ancient description for the area around Westminster Abbey – the West Minster, or monastery church, that gave the area its name – which has been the seat of the government of England (and later the British government) for almost a thousand years.

Westminster is the location of the Palace of Westminster, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which houses the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

The area has been the seat of the government of England for almost a thousand years. Westminster is thus often used as a metonym for Parliament and the political community of the United Kingdom generally. The civil service is similarly referred to by the area it inhabits, Whitehall, and Westminster is consequently also used in reference to the ’Westminster System’, the parliamentary model of democratic government that has evolved in the United Kingdom.

The historic core of Westminster is the former Thorney Island on which Westminster Abbey was built. The Abbey became the traditional venue of the coronation of the kings and queens of England. The nearby Palace of Westminster came to be the principal royal residence after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and later housed the developing Parliament and law courts of England. It can be said that London thus has developed two distinct focal points: an economic one in the City of London; and a political and cultural one in Westminster, where the Royal Court had its home. This division is still very apparent today.

The monarchy later moved to the Palace of Whitehall a little towards the north-east. The law courts have since moved to the Royal Courts of Justice, close to the border of the City of London.

The Westminster area formed part of the City and Liberty of Westminster and the county of Middlesex. The ancient parish was St Margaret; after 1727 split into the parishes of St Margaret and St John. The area around Westminster Abbey formed the extra-parochial Close of the Collegiate Church of St Peter surrounded by—but not part of—either parish. Until 1900 the local authority was the combined vestry of St Margaret and St John (also known as the Westminster District Board of Works from 1855 to 1887), which was based at Westminster City Hall on Caxton Street from 1883. The Liberty of Westminster, governed by the Westminster Court of Burgesses, also included St Martin in the Fields and several other parishes and places. Westminster had its own quarter sessions, but the Middlesex sessions also had jurisdiction. The area was transferred from Middlesex to the County of London in 1889 and the local government of Westminster was reformed in 1900 when the court of burgesses and parish vestries were abolished, to be replaced with a metropolitan borough council. The council was given city status, allowing it to be known as Westminster City Council.

The underground station was opened as Westminster Bridge on 24 December 1868 by the steam-operated Metropolitan District Railway (MDR) (now the District line) when the railway opened the first section of its line from South Kensington. It was originally the eastern terminus of the MDR and the station cutting ended at a concrete wall buffered by timber sleepers. The approach to the station from the west runs in cut and cover tunnel under the roadway of Broad Sanctuary and diagonally under Parliament Square. In Broad Sanctuary the tunnel is close to Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s church and care was required to avoid undermining their foundations when excavating in the poor ground found there.

The station was completely rebuilt to incorporate new deep-level platforms for the Jubilee line when it was extended to the London Docklands in the 1990s. During the works, the level of the sub-surface platforms was lowered to enable ground level access to Portcullis House. This was achieved in small increments carried out when the line was closed at night.

LOCAL PHOTOS

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William Shakespeare TUM image id: 1509551019 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Transmission TUM image id: 1509553463 Licence:	Overflow of the Thames at Lambeth Stairs on Tuesday 29 January 1850. Lambeth Stairs was near to Lambeth Palace. Poor river wall maintenance meant that the area was flooded whenever there was an unusually high tide. Credit: Illustrated London News TUM image id: 1623706174 Licence:	Trafalgar Square was a former station on the Bakerloo Line before it combined with Strand station on the Northern Line to become the new Charing Cross underground station. Credit: The Underground Map TUM image id: 1624972963 Licence:	Strand stretches along the River Thames between Trafalgar Square and Aldwych Credit: The Underground Map TUM image id: 1625131830 Licence:
Wood engraving showing mothers, with their children, exercising at Tothill Fields Prison Credit: Wiki Commons TUM image id: 1504357431 Licence:	Piccadilly Theatre (2007) Credit: Turquoisefish TUM image id: 1556885906 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Hungerford Stairs circa 1828 TUM image id: 1557403389 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Buses outside the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, early twentieth century Credit: Stockholm Transport Museum TUM image id: 1557142527 Licence:	The Sea Life London Aquarium is located on the ground floor of County Hall on the South Bank of the River Thames, near the London Eye. It opened in March 1997 as the London Aquarium and hosts about one million visitors each year. TUM image id: 1557161405 Licence:
Westminster Abbey with a procession of Knights of the Bath (1749) Credit: Canaletto TUM image id: 1557315488 Licence:	The Royal Opera House, Bow Street frontage, with the statue of Dame Ninette de Valois in the foreground Credit: Russ London TUM image id: 1557227200 Licence:	London Hippodrome in 2017 Credit: Ethan Doyle White TUM image id: 1528649183 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Sectional view of Wyld’s Great Globe, which stood in Leicester Square, London 1851–62 Credit: Illustrated London News TUM image id: 1490829375 Licence:	De Hems, 11 Macclesfield Street and the entrance to Horse & Dolphin Yard. Credit: Colonel Warden TUM image id: 1526658322 Licence: CC BY 2.0

In the neighbourhood...

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Trafalgar Square was a former station on the Bakerloo Line before it combined with Strand station on the Northern Line to become the new Charing Cross underground station.
Credit: The Underground Map
Licence:

Strand stretches along the River Thames between Trafalgar Square and Aldwych
Credit: The Underground Map
Licence:

Hungerford Stairs circa 1828
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Buses outside the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, early twentieth century
Credit: Stockholm Transport Museum
Licence:

Westminster Abbey with a procession of Knights of the Bath (1749)
Credit: Canaletto
Licence:

London Hippodrome in 2017
Credit: Ethan Doyle White
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Sectional view of Wyld’s Great Globe, which stood in Leicester Square, London 1851–62
Credit: Illustrated London News
Licence:

Trafalgar Square (1905) The steeplejack firm of W. Larkins Co Ltd. are at work cleaning Nelson’s Column for the first time since it was erected in 1843. The firm had been founded by Willliam Larkins in 1897 and he is pictured at the top next to Lord Nelson.
Licence: CC BY 2.0

The Strand frontage of Northumberland House (1752) The Percy Lion is atop the central façade and the statue of Charles I at right survives to this day The pedestrianised area in the foreground became the site of Trafalgar Square - back then it was the Royal Mews
Credit: Giovanni Canaletto
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The Adelphi Building on Savoy Place, looking north from Victoria Embankment Gardens (2018)
Credit: Wiki Commons/Acabashi
Licence: CC BY 2.0

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