Whitehall: Old Scotland Yard

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EARLY ENGLISH PORCELAIN C & S; LONDON SHAPE, ORIENTAL THEME. CA. 1820-40 PERFECT
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1571 London Geo. Buchanan's Mary Queen of Scots original 1st ed in English
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Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of Whitehall with a look at Old Scotland Yard:

The part of Whitehall included in St. Martin's parish is not very large, yet it is of some importance.

On the west side is Old Scotland Yard, for long associated with the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, now removed to New Scotland Yard. Stow says:

"On the left hand from Charing Cross are also divers tenements lately built till ye come to a large plot of ground inclosed with brick, and is called Scotland, where great buildings have been for receipt of the Kings of Scotland and other estates of that country, for Margaret Queen of Scots and sister to King Henry VIII had her abiding here when she came to England after the death of her husband, as the Kings of Scotland had in former times when they came to the Parliament of England."

Here for some time was the official residence of the Surveyor of Works to the Crown, and Inigo Jones and Sir Christopher Wren were both occupants.

Sir J. Vanbrugh also resided at Scotland Yard, and as Secretary to the Council Milton had an official residence here before he went to Petty France.

Craig's or Cragg's Court, in which is the Royal Almonry office, is shown in old maps.

Strype speaks of it as a "very handsome large Court, with new buildings fit for gentry of Repute."

It was built in 1702, and is supposed to have been called after the father of Secretary Craggs, who was a friend of Pope and Addison.

Woodfall, the publisher, had a West End office in the court, and Romney the painter lived there. There is a fine old Queen Anne house still standing at the back of the court.

Next: The Village of Charing