Strand, London
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Strand is a street in London. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length has been longer than that.
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[edit] History
It derives itse name from the Old English word for 'shore' or 'river bank'. (Danish/Norwegian, German and Dutch have also derived their word for beach from the same Germanic root - many beaches in Ireland are still called strands). This was because (prior to the construction of The Embankment in the 19th century the street ran directly along the River Thames. One of its churches may originate from that time.
Along with Aldwych, it has been a major settlement area since Saxon times outside of the old Roman city walls, as well as a route between the ruins of the old Roman city of Londinium and the new Saxon city of Lundenwic, and later in the middle ages between the separate settlements of London (the civilian-commercial centre) and Westminster (the royal-political centre). Until the 16th or 17th century its only rival as a link of development and activity between these places was the River Thames, and as such contained several palaces.
[edit] Strand or The Strand?
The street is popularly referred to as The Strand although the street address is actually just "Strand", hence, strictly speaking, "366 Strand" and not "366, The Strand". On the Monopoly board it is written as "Strand", while on the title deed card it is "The Strand".
[edit] Prominent buildings
- Australia House
- Bush House (whose address is "BBC World Service, Strand, London WC2B 4PH, UK" but whose main entrance is on the North side facing Aldwych and Kingsway)
- King's College London, whose main campus (called the Strand Campus) is located off this street, next to Somerset House
- Royal Courts of Justice
- Shell Mex House
- Simpson's-in-the-Strand
[edit] Hotels
[edit] Theatres
[edit] Palaces of the Strand
- Durham House
- Somerset House
- Northumberland House, demolished circa 1866
- Savoy Palace, demolished 1381
- York House, Strand
- Inn, or residence, of the Bishop of Carlisle [1]
- Cecil House
- Suffolk House [2]
[edit] Churches
Two of the churches in the Strand now stand on island sites amidst the traffic. St Clement Danes is believed to date back to the 9th century, but the present building is mainly a 17th century work by Sir Christopher Wren. St Mary-le-Strand was designed by James Gibbs and completed in 1717, to replace one demolished by Protector Somerset for building material for his adjacent Somerset House.
[edit] Tube and railway stations
Two tube stations were once named after it:
- the former 'Strand tube station', now called Aldwych and disused.
- the former 'Strand tube station' on the Northern Line
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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