St Mary le Strand

The Strand, in London, 1888 Giclee Print 12" x 9" $34.99 Unframed

Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of the Strand with this look at St Mary le Strand:

Among the buildings destroyed to make room for Somerset House was a small church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and, according to some, to St. Ursula.

The Duke of Somerset promised to build another for the people, but was beheaded before he could fulfil his promise.

On the present site of St. Mary's Church, and at the west end, stood a stone cross where the justices itinerant sat at certain seasons, and also on the site was the old Strand well. The cross became decayed, and a maypole was erected either on its site or close beside it.

The Puritans pulled down the maypole, but after the Restoration another and a much taller one, measuring in two pieces 134 feet, was put up by sailors under the direction of the Duke of York amid the rejoicings of the people.

The maypole stood until 1713, when the remaining portion was carried away to Wanstead Park, where it was used for holding a telescope.

The Church of St Mary le Strand was built 1714-1723 by James Gibbs.

It was the first of the fifty new churches ordered (not all built) by Queen Anne, and it was at first called New Church.

The style of the church has been vehemently abused, and yet it has grown in favour and has now many admirers.

It is divided into two parts, of which the lower has no window, being built solid to keep out the noise of the street.

The windows are in the upper part.

The church within is nobly ornamented and is without galleries. Before the west end of the church was the first stand for hackney coaches.

"Around that area side they take their stand,
Where the tall maypole o'erlooked the Strand;
And now—so Anne and Piety ordain—
A church collects the saints of Drury Lane."

And again the poet asks:

"What's not destroyed by Time's devouring hand?
Where's Troy—and where's the Maypole in the Strand?"

Mrs. Inchbald lived by the side of the New Church in the Strand.

Next: Strand Lane: Roman Bath