Asquith House, SW1P

Block in/near Westminster

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Block · Westminster · SW1P ·
FEBRUARY
23
2001

Asquith House is a block on Monck Street.





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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY


The Underground Map   
Added: 8 Dec 2020 00:24 GMT   

Othello takes a bow
On 1 November 1604, William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello was presented for the first time, at The Palace of Whitehall. The palace was the main residence of the English monarchs in London from 1530 until 1698. Seven years to the day, Shakespeare’s romantic comedy The Tempest was also presented for the first time, and also at the Palace of Whitehall.

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Emma Seif   
Added: 25 Jan 2022 19:06 GMT   

Birth of the Bluestocking Society
In about 1750, Elizabeth Montagu began hosting literary breakfasts in her home at 23 (now 31) Hill Street. These are considered the first meetings of the Bluestocking society.

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Linda Webb   
Added: 27 Sep 2021 05:51 GMT   

Hungerford Stairs
In 1794 my ancestor, George Webb, Clay Pipe Maker, lived in Hungerford Stairs, Strand. Source: Wakefields Merchant & Tradesmens General Directory London Westminster 1794

Source: Hungerford Stairs

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TUM   
Added: 27 Aug 2022 10:22 GMT   

The Underground Map
Michael Faraday successfully demonstrated the first electrical transformer at the Royal Institute, London.

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Roy Batham   
Added: 7 Jan 2022 07:17 GMT   

Smithy in Longacre
John Burris 1802-1848 Listed 1841 census as Burroughs was a blacksmith, address just given as Longacre.

Source: Batham/Wiseman - Family Tree

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Scott Hatton   
Added: 11 Sep 2020 19:47 GMT   

Millions Of Rats In Busy London
The Daily Mail on 14 April 1903 reported "MILLIONS OF RATS IN BUSY LONDON"

A rat plague, unprecedented in the annals of London, has broken out on the north side of the Strand. The streets principally infested are Catherine street, Drury lane, Blackmore street, Clare Market and Russell street. Something akin to a reign of terror prevails among the inhabitants after nightfall. Women refuse to pass along Blackmore street and the lower parts of Stanhope street after dusk, for droves of rats perambulate the roadways and pavements, and may be seen running along the window ledges of the empty houses awaiting demolition by the County Council in the Strand to Holborn improvement scheme.

The rats, indeed, have appeared in almost-incredible numbers. "There are millions of them," said one shopkeeper, and his statement was supported by other residents. The unwelcome visitors have been evicted from their old haunts by the County Council housebreakers, and are now busily in search of new homes. The Gaiety Restaurant has been the greatest sufferer. Rats have invaded the premises in such force that the managers have had to close the large dining room on the first floor and the grill rooms on the ground floor and in the basement. Those three spacious halls which have witnessed many as semblages of theatre-goers are now qui:e deserted. Behind the wainscot of the bandstand in the grillroom is a large mound of linen shreds. This represents 1728 serviettes carried theee by the rats.

In the bar the removal of a panel disclosed the astonishing fact that the rats have dragged for a distance of seven or eight yards some thirty or forty beer and wine bottles and stacked them in such a fashion as to make comfortable sleeping places. Mr Williams. the manager of the restaurant, estimates that the rats have destroyed L200 worth of linen. Formerly the Gaiety Restaurant dined 2000 persons daily; no business whatever is now done in this direction.

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Bruce McTavish   
Added: 11 Mar 2021 11:37 GMT   

Kennington Road
Lambeth North station was opened as Kennington Road and then Westminster Bridge Road before settling on its final name. It has a wonderful Leslie Green design.

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Scott Hatton   
Added: 30 Jan 2023 11:28 GMT   

The Beatles on a London rooftop
The Beatles’ rooftop concert took place on the rooftop of the Apple Corps building in London. It was their final public performance as a band and was unannounced, attracting a crowd of onlookers. The concert lasted for 42 minutes and included nine songs. The concert is remembered as a seminal moment in the history of rock music and remains one of the most famous rock performances of all time.

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Jessie Doring   
Added: 22 Feb 2021 04:33 GMT   

Tisbury Court Jazz Bar
Jazz Bar opened in Tisbury Court by 2 Australians. Situated in underground basement. Can not remember how long it opened for.

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Lived here
Brian J MacIntyre   
Added: 8 Jan 2023 17:27 GMT   

Malcolm Davey at Raleigh House, Dolphin Square
My former partner, actor Malcolm Davey, lived at Raleigh House, Dolphin Square, for many years until his death. He was a wonderful human being and an even better friend. A somewhat underrated actor, but loved by many, including myself. I miss you terribly, Malcolm. Here’s to you and to History, our favourite subject.
Love Always - Brian J MacIntyre
Minnesota, USA

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Comment
Pauline jones   
Added: 16 Oct 2017 19:04 GMT   

Bessborough Place, SW1V
I grew up in bessborough place at the back of our house and Grosvenor road and bessborough gardens was a fantastic playground called trinity mews it had a paddling pool sandpit football area and various things to climb on, such as a train , slide also as Wendy house. There were plants surrounding this wonderful play area, two playground attendants ,also a shelter for when it rained. The children were constantly told off by the playground keepers for touching the plants or kicking the ball out of the permitted area, there was hopscotch as well, all these play items were brick apart from the slide. Pollock was the centre of my universe and I felt sorry and still do for anyone not being born there. To this day I miss it and constantly look for images of the streets around there, my sister and me often go back to take a clumped of our beloved London. The stucco houses were a feature and the backs of the houses enabled parents to see thier children playing.

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Robert smitherman   
Added: 23 Aug 2017 11:01 GMT   

Saunders Street, SE11
I was born in a prefab on Saunders street SE11 in the 60’s, when I lived there, the road consisted of a few prefab houses, the road originally ran from Lollard street all the way thru to Fitzalan street. I went back there to have a look back in the early 90’s but all that is left of the road is about 20m of road and the road sign.

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Lived here
Richard Roques   
Added: 21 Jan 2021 16:53 GMT   

Buckingham Street residents
Here in Buckingham Street lived Samuel Pepys the diarist, Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling

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Comment
Jude Allen   
Added: 29 Jul 2021 07:53 GMT   

Bra top
I jave a jewelled item of clothong worn by a revie girl.
It is red with diamante straps. Inside it jas a label Bermans Revue 16 Orange Street but I cannot find any info online about the revue only that 16 Orange Street used to be a theatre. Does any one know about the revue. I would be intesrested to imagine the wearer of the article and her London life.

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Born here
sam   
Added: 31 Dec 2021 00:54 GMT   

Burdett Street, SE1
I was on 2nd July 1952, in Burdett chambers (which is also known as Burdett buildings)on Burdett street

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LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Born here
   
Added: 27 Mar 2023 18:28 GMT   

Nower Hill, HA5
lo

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Comment
   
Added: 26 Mar 2023 14:50 GMT   

Albert Mews
It is not a gargoyle over the entrance arch to Albert Mews, it is a likeness of Prince Albert himself.

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Christine D Elliott   
Added: 20 Mar 2023 15:52 GMT   

The Blute Family
My grandparents, Frederick William Blute & Alice Elizabeth Blute nee: Warnham lived at 89 Blockhouse Street Deptford from around 1917.They had six children. 1. Alice Maragret Blute (my mother) 2. Frederick William Blute 3. Charles Adrian Blute 4. Violet Lillian Blute 5. Donald Blute 6. Stanley Vincent Blute (Lived 15 months). I lived there with my family from 1954 (Birth) until 1965 when we were re-housed for regeneration to the area.
I attended Ilderton Road School.
Very happy memories of that time.

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Pearl Foster   
Added: 20 Mar 2023 12:22 GMT   

Dukes Place, EC3A
Until his death in 1767, Daniel Nunes de Lara worked from his home in Dukes Street as a Pastry Cook. It was not until much later the street was renamed Dukes Place. Daniel and his family attended the nearby Bevis Marks synagogue for Sephardic Jews. The Ashkenazi Great Synagogue was established in Duke Street, which meant Daniel’s business perfectly situated for his occupation as it allowed him to cater for both congregations.

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Dr Paul Flewers   
Added: 9 Mar 2023 18:12 GMT   

Some Brief Notes on Hawthorne Close / Hawthorne Street
My great-grandparents lived in the last house on the south side of Hawthorne Street, no 13, and my grandmother Alice Knopp and her brothers and sisters grew up there. Alice Knopp married Charles Flewers, from nearby Hayling Road, and moved to Richmond, Surrey, where I was born. Leonard Knopp married Esther Gutenberg and lived there until the street was demolished in the mid-1960s, moving on to Tottenham. Uncle Len worked in the fur trade, then ran a pet shop in, I think, the Kingsland Road.

From the back garden, one could see the almshouses in the Balls Pond Road. There was an ink factory at the end of the street, which I recall as rather malodorous.

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KJH   
Added: 7 Mar 2023 17:14 GMT   

Andover Road, N7 (1939 - 1957)
My aunt, Doris nee Curtis (aka Jo) and her husband John Hawkins (aka Jack) ran a small general stores at 92 Andover Road (N7). I have found details in the 1939 register but don’t know how long before that it was opened.He died in 1957. In the 1939 register he is noted as being an ARP warden for Islington warden

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Added: 2 Mar 2023 13:50 GMT   

The Queens Head
Queens Head demolished and a NISA supermarket and flats built in its place.

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Comment
Mike   
Added: 28 Feb 2023 18:09 GMT   

6 Elia Street
When I was young I lived in 6 Elia Street. At the end of the garden there was a garage owned by Initial Laundries which ran from an access in Quick Street all the way up to the back of our garden. The fire exit to the garage was a window leading into our garden. 6 Elia Street was owned by Initial Laundry.

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V:0

NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE
St Mary’s Church, Vincent Square St Mary’s was established in 1837 and closed in 1923.
Tothill Fields Bridewell Tothill Fields Bridewell (also known as Tothill Fields Prison and Westminster Bridewell) was a prison located in Westminster between 1618 and 1884.
Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, is one of the world’s greatest churches.
Westminster Under School Westminster Under School is an independent school and preparatory school for boys aged 7 to 13 and is attached to Westminster School.

NEARBY STREETS
Abbey Orchard Street, SW1P Abbey Orchard Street was the heart of a former slum area.
Abingdon Street, SW1P Abingdon Street has linked Old Palace Yard and Millbank since at least 1593.
Admiral House, SW1P Admiral House is sited on Willow Place.
Angela Hooper Place, SW1E Angela Hooper Place is a location in London.
Arneway Street, SW1P Arneway Street is named for Thomas Arneway, former benefactor to the Westminster parish poor.
Artillery House, SW1P Artillery House is a block on Artillery Row.
Artillery Place, SW1P Artillery Place was named after a former nearby artillery practice ground which stood here in the 19th century.
Artillery Row, SW1P Artillery Row skirts a former artillery ground.
Astral House, SW1P Astral House is sited on Regency Place.
Aubrey Beadsley House, SW1 Aubrey Beadsley House is a block on Vauxhall Bridge Road.
Barton Street, SW1P Barton Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Bennett’s Yard, SW1P Bennett’s Yard is a road in the SW1P postcode area
Bloomburg Street, SW1V Bloomburg Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1V postal area.
Brewer’s Green, SW1H Brewers Green is one of the streets of London in the SW1H postal area.
Broadway, SW1H Broadway - formerly the location of the headquarters of both London Transport and the Metropolitan Police.
Brunswick Court, SW1P Brunswick Court is a block on Montaigne Close.
Butler Place, SW1H Butler Place is one of the streets of London in the SW1H postal area.
Caxton Street, SW1H William Caxton was responsible for the introduction of the printing press to England.
Chadwick Street, SW1P Chadwick Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Chapter Street, SW1P Chapter Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Church House, SW1P Church House is a block on Great Smith Street.
Cleland House, SW1P Cleland House can be found on John Islip Street.
Clergy House, SW1 Clergy House is located on Stillington Street.
Cobbold Court, SW1P Cobbold Court is a block on Elverton Street.
Coburg Close, SW1P Coburg Close is a road in the SW1P postcode area
Cowley Street, SW1P Cowley Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Cranbrook House, SW1P Cranbrook House is a block on Horseferry Road.
Dacre House, SW1H Dacre House is a block on Dacre Street.
Dacre Street, SW1H Dacre Street is named after Lady Anne Dacre.
Dalkeith Court, SW1P Dalkeith Court is located on Dalkeith Court.
Dean Abbott House, SW1P Dean Abbott House is sited on Regency Street.
Dean Bradley House, SW1P Dean Bradley House is a building on Horseferry Road.
Dean Bradley Street, SW1P George Granville Bradley was Dean of Westminster Abbey from 1881.
Dean Farrar Street, SW1H Frederic William Farrar was a canon of Westminster Abbey.
Dean Ryle Street, SW1P Dean Ryle Street was named after Herbert Edward Ryle.
Dean Stanley Street, SW1P Dean Stanley Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Dean Trench Street, SW1P Dean Trench Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Deans Yard, SW1P Dean’s Yard comprises most of the precincts of the former monastery of Westminster, not occupied by the Abbey buildings.
Duke House, SW1P Duke House is a block on Vincent Street.
Eglise House, SW1 Eglise House is a block on Little Smith Street.
Elizabeth Court, SW1P Elizabeth Court is a block on Elizabeth Court.
Elverton Street, SW1P Elverton Street is a road in the SW1P postcode area
Emery Hill Street, SW1P Emery Hill Street is a road in the SW1P postcode area
Esterbrooke Street, SW1P Esterbrooke Street is a road in the SW1P postcode area
Fielden House, SW1P Fielden House is a block on Little College Street.
Francis House, SW1P Francis House is sited on Francis Street.
Francis Street, SW1P Francis Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Gayfere Street, SW1P Gayfere Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
George Eliot House, SW1 George Eliot House is a block on Vauxhall Bridge Road.
Gordon House, SW1P Residential block
Great College Street, SW1P Great College Street borders the south side of Westminster School.
Great Minster House, SW1P Great Minster House is a block on Horse Ferry Road.
Great Peter Street, SW1P Great Peter Street bears the name of the patron saint of Westminster Abbey.
Great Smith Street, SW1P Great Smith Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Greencoat House, SW1P Greencoat House is a block on Francis Street.
Greencoat Place, SW1P Greencoat Place is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Greycoat Gardens, SW1P Greycoat Gardens is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Greycoat Place, SW1P Greycoat Place is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Greycoat Street, SW1P Greycoat Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Greycote Place, SW1P Greycote Place is a location in London.
Hatherley Street, SW1V Hatherley Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Hide Place, SW1P Hide Place is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Hide Tower, SW1P Hide Tower is a building on Regency Street.
Horseferry House, SW1P Horseferry House is sited on Horseferry Road.
Horseferry Road, SW1P Horseferry Road is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Howick Place, SW1P Howick Place is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Jessel House, SW1P Jessel House is a block on Page Street.
John Islip Street, SW1P John Islip Street commemorates the Abbot of Westminster between 1500 and 1532.
Kingsgate Parade, SW1E Kingsgate Parade is one of the streets of London in the SW1E postal area.
Lesley Court, SW1P Lesley Court is a building on Strutton Ground.
Lewcos House, SW1P Lewcos House is a block on Regency Street.
Little Cloisters, SW1P Little Cloisters is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Little College Street, SW1P Little College Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Little Deans Yard, SW1P Little Deans Yard is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
London Scottish House, SW1P London Scottish House is a block on Horseferry Road.
Lord North Street, SW1P Lord North Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Marsham Street, SW1P Marsham Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Medway House, SW1P Medway House is a building on Horseferry Road.
Medway Street, SW1P Medway Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Millbank House, SW1P Millbank House is a block on Millbank.
Millbank Tower, SW1P Millbank Tower is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Millbank, SW1P Millbank was the beginning of a riverside walk from Westminster Abbey to Chelsea.
Monck Street, SW1P Monck Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Mulberry House, SW1P Mulberry House can be found on Dean Trench Street.
Neville House, SW1 Neville House can be found on Page Street.
New Palace Yard, SW1P New Palace Yard was built by William II (William Rufus).
NIOC House, SW1H NIOC House is a block on Victoria Street.
Nobel House, SW1P Nobel House is sited on Smith Square.
Norfolk House, SW1P Norfolk House is located on Page Street.
North Court, SW1 North Court is a block on Great Peter Street.
North Court, SW1P North Court is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Norton House, SW1P Norton House is a block on Arneway Street.
Octavia House, SW1P Octavia House is a block on Medway Street.
Old Palace Yard, SW1P Old Palace Yard lies between the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey.
Old Pye House, SW1P Old Pye House is a block on St Ann’s Street.
Old Pye Street, SW1P Old Pye Street gets its name from Sir Robert Pye, member of parliament for Westminster in the time of Charles I.
Ormond House, SW1P Ormond House is sited on Arneway Street.
Page Street, SW1P Page Street runs from Regency Street in the west to the junction of John Islip Street and Dean Ryle Street in the east.
Palmer Street, SW1H Palmer Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1H postal area.
Pelham House, SW1P Pelham House is sited on Monck Street.
Petty France, SW1H Petty France is one of the streets of London in the SW1H postal area.
Post Office Way, SW1H Post Office Way is a road in the SW1P postcode area
Princess Mary House, SW1P Princess Mary House is located on Vincent Street.
Probyn House, SW1P Probyn House is a block on Page Street.
Queen Annes Gate Buildings, SW1H Queen Annes Gate Buildings is one of the streets of London in the SW1H postal area.
Regency House, SW1P Regency House is a block on Regency Place.
Regency Place, SW1P Regency Place is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Regency Street, SW1P Regency Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Ridley House, SW1P Ridley House is a block on Monck Street.
Rochester Row, SW1P Rochester Row was home to the Bishop of Rochester in 1666.
Rochester Street, SW1P Rochester Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Romney Street, SW1P Romney Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Rutherford Street, SW1P Rutherford Street is a road in the SW1P postcode area
Schomberg House, SW1P Schomberg House is sited on Page Street.
Seaforth Place, SW1E Seaforth Place is a road in the SW1E postcode area
Smith Square, SW1P Smith Square was originally developed by Sir James Smith around 1726.
Spenser Street, SW1P Spenser Street is a road in the SW1E postcode area
St Anns Street, SW1P St Anns Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
St Ermin’s Hill, SW1H St Ermin’s Hill is a small side street off Broadway.
St Matthew Street, SW1P St Matthew Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
St Vincents Centre, SW1P St Vincents Centre is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
St. Matthew Street, SW1P St. Matthew Street is a road in the SW1P postcode area
Stewart House, SW1P Stewart House is a block on Erasmus Street.
Stillington Street, SW1P Stillington Street is a road in the SW1P postcode area
Strutton Court, SW1P Strutton Court is a block on Strutton Ground.
Strutton Ground, SW1P Strutton Ground is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Thames House, SW1P Thames House is a block on Millbank.
The Courthouse, SW1P The Courthouse is a block on Horseferry Road.
The Fry Building, SW1P The Fry Building is located on Horseferry Road.
The Sanctuary, SW1P The Sanctuary is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
The Terrace, SW1P The Terrace is a road in the SW1P postcode area
The Zig Zag Building, SW1E The Zig Zag Building is located on Victoria Street.
Thirleby Road, SW1P Thirleby Road is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Thorney Street, SW1P Thorney Street is a road in the SW1P postcode area
Tothill Street, SW1H Tothill Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1H postal area.
Transport House, SW1P Transport House can be found on Dean Bradley Street.
Tufton Court, SW1 Tufton Court can be found on Tufton Street.
Tufton Street, SW1P Tufton Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Udall Street, SW1V Udall Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
United House, SW1P United House is a block on Francis Street.
Vandon Court, SW1H Vandon Court is a block on Petty France.
Vandon Passage, SW1H Vandon Passage probably dates from the fifteenth century.
Vandon Street, SW1H Vandon Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1H postal area.
Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V Vauxhall Bridge Road is one of the streets of London in the SW1V postal area.
Victoria Chambers, SW1P Victoria Chambers is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Victoria Street, SW1E Victoria Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1W postal area.
Victoria Street, SW1P Victoria Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1H postal area.
Vincent House, SW1P Vincent House is sited on Hide Place.
Vincent Square, SW1P Vincent Square is a large grass-covered square which provides playing fields for Westminster School, which owns it.
Vincent Street, SW1P Vincent Street is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Walcott Street, SW1P Walcott Street was named after Reverend MEC Walcott, curate of the St Margaret’s, Westminster in the 1840s.
Wellington House, SW1E Wellington House is located on Buckingham Gate.
Westminster House, SW1P Westminster House is sited on Millbank.
Westminster Mansions, SW1P Westminster Mansions is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Westminster Palace Gardens, SW1P Westminster Palace Gardens is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Wilcox Place, SW1P Wilcox Place is one of the streets of London in the SW1E postal area.
Willow Place, SW1P Willow Place is one of the streets of London in the SW1P postal area.
Windsor House, SW1H Windsor House is a block on Victoria Street.
Windsor Place, SW1P Windsor Place connects Francis Street with Greencoat Place.


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Westminster

Westminster - heart of government.

While the underground station dates from 1868, Westminster itself is almost as old as London itself. It has a large concentration of London’s historic and prestigious landmarks and visitor attractions, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

Historically part of the parish of St Margaret in the City and Liberty of Westminster and the county of Middlesex, the name Westminster was the ancient description for the area around Westminster Abbey – the West Minster, or monastery church, that gave the area its name – which has been the seat of the government of England (and later the British government) for almost a thousand years.

Westminster is the location of the Palace of Westminster, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which houses the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

The area has been the seat of the government of England for almost a thousand years. Westminster is thus often used as a metonym for Parliament and the political community of the United Kingdom generally. The civil service is similarly referred to by the area it inhabits, Whitehall, and Westminster is consequently also used in reference to the ’Westminster System’, the parliamentary model of democratic government that has evolved in the United Kingdom.

The historic core of Westminster is the former Thorney Island on which Westminster Abbey was built. The Abbey became the traditional venue of the coronation of the kings and queens of England. The nearby Palace of Westminster came to be the principal royal residence after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and later housed the developing Parliament and law courts of England. It can be said that London thus has developed two distinct focal points: an economic one in the City of London; and a political and cultural one in Westminster, where the Royal Court had its home. This division is still very apparent today.

The monarchy later moved to the Palace of Whitehall a little towards the north-east. The law courts have since moved to the Royal Courts of Justice, close to the border of the City of London.

The Westminster area formed part of the City and Liberty of Westminster and the county of Middlesex. The ancient parish was St Margaret; after 1727 split into the parishes of St Margaret and St John. The area around Westminster Abbey formed the extra-parochial Close of the Collegiate Church of St Peter surrounded by—but not part of—either parish. Until 1900 the local authority was the combined vestry of St Margaret and St John (also known as the Westminster District Board of Works from 1855 to 1887), which was based at Westminster City Hall on Caxton Street from 1883. The Liberty of Westminster, governed by the Westminster Court of Burgesses, also included St Martin in the Fields and several other parishes and places. Westminster had its own quarter sessions, but the Middlesex sessions also had jurisdiction. The area was transferred from Middlesex to the County of London in 1889 and the local government of Westminster was reformed in 1900 when the court of burgesses and parish vestries were abolished, to be replaced with a metropolitan borough council. The council was given city status, allowing it to be known as Westminster City Council.

The underground station was opened as Westminster Bridge on 24 December 1868 by the steam-operated Metropolitan District Railway (MDR) (now the District line) when the railway opened the first section of its line from South Kensington. It was originally the eastern terminus of the MDR and the station cutting ended at a concrete wall buffered by timber sleepers. The approach to the station from the west runs in cut and cover tunnel under the roadway of Broad Sanctuary and diagonally under Parliament Square. In Broad Sanctuary the tunnel is close to Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s church and care was required to avoid undermining their foundations when excavating in the poor ground found there.

The station was completely rebuilt to incorporate new deep-level platforms for the Jubilee line when it was extended to the London Docklands in the 1990s. During the works, the level of the sub-surface platforms was lowered to enable ground level access to Portcullis House. This was achieved in small increments carried out when the line was closed at night.


LOCAL PHOTOS
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William Shakespeare
TUM image id: 1509551019
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Broadway SW1
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Entrance to Pickering Place
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In the neighbourhood...

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The Lillington Gardens estate
Credit: Ewan Munro
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Westminster Abbey with a procession of Knights of the Bath (1749)
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Broadway SW1
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Cockpit Steps in Westminster once led down to the Royal Cockpit - an 18th century cockfighting venue. The Royal Cockpit disappeared in 1810 but the stairs have remained.
Credit: GoArt/The Underground Map
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Parliament Square (1980) Parliament Square features a large open green area in the centre with trees to its west, and it contains twelve political statues of statesmen and other notable individuals.
Credit: Wiki Commons/Misterweiss
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Recruiting Sergeants (1877) "The most prominent figure in the accompanying photograph, standing with his back to the Abbey, and nearest to the kerb stone, is that of Sergeant Ison, who is always looked upon with more than ordinary curiosity as the representative of the 6th Dragoon Guards, or Carbineers - a regiment which of late has been chiefly distinguished for having included in its ranks no less a person than Sir Roger Tichborne himself! To the right we have the representatives of two heavy regiments, Sergeant Titswell, of the 5th Dragoon Guards, and Sergeant Badcock, of the 2nd Dragoons, or Scots Greys; the latter is leaning against the corner of the public-house. Close to him may be recognized the features of Sergeant Bilton, of the Royal Engineers, while Sergeant Minett, of the 14th Hussars, turns his head towards Sergeant McGilney, of the 6th Dragoons, or Enniskillen, whose stalwart frame occupies the foreground. This group would not, however, have been complete without giving a glimpse at Mr. Cox, the policeman, to whose discretion and pacific interference may be attributed the order which is generally preserved even under the most trying circumstances at the Mitre and Dove." From ’Street Life in London’ by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith
Credit: John Thomson and Adolphe Smith
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Westminster Hall (1821) Westminster Hall is one of the few parts of the Palace of Westminster still managed by the Crown - since 1965, both parliament houses no longer are. From the twelfth century to the nineteenth, coronation banquets honouring new monarchs were held here, the last being that of George IV in 1821. The Hall has been used as a place for lying in state during state and ceremonial funerals. Such an honour is usually reserved for the Sovereign and for their consorts.
Licence: CC BY 2.0


Phone box and Elizabeth Tower
Credit: IG/steven.maddison
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Westminster Bridge. Photograph dates between 1870 and 1885 - exact date unknown Designed by Thomas Page, Westminster Bridge opened in 1862 to allow traffic to flow between the West End and South London. Photographer: Francis Godolphin Osbourne Stuart
Credit: A. D. White Architectural Photographs, Cornell University (Creative Commons licence)
Licence: CC BY 2.0


87 bus, Westminster
Credit: IG/ldnbyshane
Licence: CC BY 2.0


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