Somerset House

The Courtyard, Somerset House, Built in 1770, Strand, London, England, United Kingdom Photographic Print 24" x 18" $24.99 Unframed Framed   Mounted

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

The great palace called Somerset House was at first built by the Protector Somerset, brother of Jane Seymour.

He cleared away to make room for it the palace of the Bishops of Worcester and Chester, the Strand Inn belonging to the Temple, and many other buildings.

The cloister on the north side of St. Paul's containing the "Dance of Death" was demolished in order to find stones for the new building, which was unfinished when the Protector was beheaded in 1552.

The architect is supposed to have been John of Padua.

It is not, however, certain how far the place was completed at the death of the Protector.

Elizabeth gave the keeping of the house to her kinsman, Lord Hunsdon.

James called it Denmark House.

Charles gave it to his Queen, Henrietta Maria, and built a chapel for the Roman Catholic service.

Some of the Queen's attendants are buried here; their tombs are in vaults under the great square.

A register of the marriages, baptisms and burials which have taken place at Somerset House has been published by Sir T. Philips.

Here Henrietta appeared in a masque; here died Inigo Jones; here Oliver Cromwell's body lay in state; after the Restoration Henrietta returned here for a time; Catherine of Braganza succeeded; here the body of Monk, Duke of Albemarle, lay in state; and here, after Catherine left England, the place became like the Savoy, the favoured residence of the poorer nobility.

The old building was destroyed in 1775.

Next: the Strand: Somerset House: King's College