Somerset House in Strand
Somerset House in Strand
Record No
140140
Title
Somerset House in Strand
Description
View of the front elevation of Somerset House in Strand, Covent Garden. The facade, in Portland stone, is nine windows wide with nine monumental arches at ground level, the central three opening up to the quadrangle behind. The upper level includes giant Corinthian columns with a royal crest at the top. The name Somerset House stems from Edward Seymour, who became Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector after Edward VI came to the throne in 1547. He built a palatial residence on the site, then known as Somerset Place. It fell into the hands of the Crown and became a royal palace after the overthrow and execution of the Duke of Somerset in 1552. Demolition of Old Somerset House began in 1775. The present house was created as The New Public Offices to unite scattered government offices in 1776-96 and was designed by Sir William Chambers. The eastern extension for King's College dates from 1829-35 and was designed by Sir Robert Smirke and the western extension of offices to Lancaster Place by Sir James Pennethorne and built in 1853-56. Somerset House and the old King's College building was Grade I listed in 1972; listing number 1237041. The house has been transformed into a centre for the visual arts and the Courtauld Institute of Art, including the Courtauld Gallery, with its important collection of old master and impressionist paintings, occupies the North Wing. Several cars and a van can be seen. A leafless tree stands in the foreground.
Date of execution
1975
Section
The London Archives
Collection
LCC Photograph Library
Medium
photograph
Catalogue No
SC_PHL_01_531_75_8907
London picture map location
Exact
Subjects
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