bank of the Thames,’[3] the site of which is still marked by Strand Lane.  Not far from the bridge stood the Bishops of Chester’s Inn (’commonly called Lichfield and Couentrie.’[4]), and adjoining it the Bishop of Worcester’s Inn, both of which were pulled down by the Protector Somerset, in 1549, when he erected Somerset House.[5] Opposite the Bishop of Worcester’s Inn formerly stood a stone cross, at which, says Stow, ’the justices itinerants sate without London.’[6] Near this spot afterwards was erected the May Pole, which was removed in 1713.[7] The next mansion was the Palace of the Savoy, adjoining to the walls of which were the gardens of the Bishop Carlisle’s Inn, afterwards called Worcester House, now the site of Beaufort Buildings.  The next in succession was Salisbury House, which has given name to Salisbury and Cecil Streets.  Proceeding onwards, and passing over Ivy Bridge, the magnificent structure of Durham House presented itself, which at one period was a royal palace.  Nearly adjoining was an Inn belonging to the Bishops of Norwich, afterwards called York House, from becoming the residence of the Archbishops of York, when their former mansion at Whitehall was converted into a royal palace by Henry the Eighth.  York Stairs, at the bottom of Buckingham Street, still marks the water-gate of the estate, which subsequently became the property of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, whose names and titles are perpetuated in the various streets, &c. built upon it.  The last mansion near the village of Charing, and now the only remaining one, was called Northampton House, afterwards Suffolk House, and now Northumberland House, from being the residence of the Dukes of Northumberland.

“On the north side, the Strand presented but few houses of note. Wimbledon House, on the spot lately occupied by D’Oyley’s Warehouse, which had been erected by Sir Edward Cecil, was burnt down in 1628.  At a little distance, westward, was Burghley House, afterwards Exeter House, and now partly occupied by Exeter ’Change; on the other part, and its attached ground, were erected the several streets and alleys receiving names from the Cecil family.”

    [1] That street was so called in compliment to the celebrated
        Lady Rachel, daughter of Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of
        Southampton, and consort of William Lord Russell.  Several
        other places in this parish were also denominated from either
        the names or titles of the Russell family—­as Russell
        Street, Bedford Street and Bury, Tavistock Street,
        Chandos Street, &c. King and Henrietta Streets were so
        named in honour of Charles I. and his Queen; and James and
        York Streets, of the Duke of York, afterwards James II.