The Strand: Durham House

Antiques from London on eBay

VINTAGE CABINET PLATE CRIES OF LONDON SWEET ORANGES
30 Jun 2010 at 4:57am
US $44.65
End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 3:02:29 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $44.65
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of the Strand district with this look at Durham House:

The next group of streets on the south side, namely, John, Robert, James, and William Streets, was built by four brothers of the name of Adam, who gave their Christian names to their handiwork, and from whom this particular district was called the "Adelphi," from the Greek word signifying brothers.

The site was occupied by Durham House, a palace built by Anthony de Beck, Bishop of Durham in Edward I's reign.

Bishop Tunstall in 1535 exchanged it with Henry VIII for Cold Harbour and other houses in the City, and for a time it was frequented by royalty.

The King gave a great tournament here on his marriage with Anne of Cleves.

Proclamations of the jousts were made in France, Spain, Scotland, and Flanders. The young King, Edward VI, granted the house to his sister Elizabeth for life.

The unfortunate Lady Jane Grey was married within the walls of Durham House to the son of Northumberland.

When Queen Mary ascended the throne, she gave the palace back to Bishop Tunstall, but Elizabeth regarded it as one of the royal palaces, and after her accession bestowed it on Sir Walter Raleigh.

In Aubrey's "Letters" Raleigh's occupation of the house is mentioned in a descriptive passage: "Durham House was a noble palace... I well remember his (Raleigh's) study, which was on a little turret that looked into and over the Thames, and had the prospect which is, perhaps, as pleasant as any in the world."

When Raleigh was imprisoned the See of Durham again obtained the house.

The stables, facing the Strand, were then in a very ruinous condition, and were pulled down.

On their site was built an exchange, called the New Exchange, which obtained some popularity.

This was erected partly on the pattern of the Royal Exchange, and was opened by King James I. This, Strype tells us, "was for milliners, sempstresses, and other trades that furnish dresses."

Next: The Strand: The New Exchange