The History of WC2

To anyone with a sense of history the Strand has a unique distinction. Whilst the Tower and Westminster Palace may have witnessed many monumental moments, there is nowhere else on our island that has felt the footsteps of so many of our forefathers – millions and millions of them from before Roman times. Virtually every great name in our history would have walked or ridden where we step today.

Prehistoric to Iron Age

Men roamed around what is now the Strand from prehistoric times. The ridge above sea level providing wood and the marshes below with their mixes of fresh and sea water an abundance of shellfish – relatively easy to obtain. Family grouping of 20-30strong (always in dispute) gave way to the more organised Celtic tribes.

Then came the Romans. The Romans brought law and order; thus for nearly 400 years there was a sense of permanancy with the people not only fishing but involving themselves in primitive agriculture and above all trading with the Roman Garrison and settlement which is now the City of London. In 410AD all this was swept aside when the Romans left Britain to its fate. For 600 years there were waves of invaders, first the Saxons and then the Vikings.

The Celts were driven out forever, then the Saxons by the Vikings but the former under Alfred the Great's grandson re conquered London and with an uneasy but workable truce with the Vikings, stability returned to the area and it was to King Edward the confessor that we owe the origins of Westminster (the Abbey and Palace), thus ensuring the vital importance of the Strand today. The Saxons called it Stronway, meaning the link between two places. When the Viking Norman's (they were not Frenchmen) came in 1066 the development of both cities continued.

The Middle Ages to 20th Century

The Strand became the first real inhabited, commercial and traveller used street in London 800 centuries before other names now known. It is hardly surprising that, in the Middle Ages and Tudor times, the Strand was well nigh impassable during bad weather.

As early as the 12th century, several large mansions stood on the banks of the Thames- not least the early Palace of the Savoy – nonetheless, in 1532 it was still 'full of pits and sloughs, very perilous and noisome'. More surprising, however, is that even as recently as the early part of the 18th century, the Strand was still run down. The street itself was constantly blocked by the loading and unloading of wagons, and the washing of casks.

The channel that ran along the middle of the road- known as the kennel – was so deep and slippery that it was a danger to horses and carriages. Servants would empty chamberpots, and rubbish and offal would all be thrown in to the kennel, causing more blockages, filth and smells.

The traffic blocks with the gilded carriages of the aristocracy patiently taking their turn behind droves of oxen, coal wagons and blaspheming draymen. Through the din and clamour and the noise of hundreds of tongues and feet, the bells of the church steeples, postman's bells, the street organs fiddlers and the tambourines of itinerant musicians and the cries of vendors of hot and cold food at the street corners.

Before gentlemen's clubs were established, no street in London was more famous for its taverns and coffee-houses than the Strand. They were used not only for dining and drinking but also for meetings, banquets, auctions, political discussions, or merely for whiling away the time in pleasant conversation – not unlike the Savoy today.

The creation of Regent Street only 200 years ago took from the Strand a lot of retail trade – but nothing else and thus the Status Quo remains. Charles Lamb wrote 'I often shed tears in the motley Strand from fullness of joy at so much life'.

Also William Wordsworth: Stalls, barrows, porters, midway in the street; The scavenger, who began with hat in hand; Ascending from alley of the Thames; And striking right across the crowded Strand.

Trafalgar Square was laid out in 1830 on the sight of Kings Mews. Nelson's Column was built between 1839 and 1842. Just before the statue its self was foisted 14 stonemasons held a dinner on its flat top. Henceforth Trafalgar Square and the Strand merged as one.

The Aldwich as we know it was only created in 1905 from what was arguably the worst slum area in the country, having been spared the ravages of the great fire in 1666 which in retrospect was a pity. Its literal links with the Strand are total and the Association has plans to still further improve this area.

The 19th century saw a continual change but without loosing its unique character as did the 20th century and now in to the 21st century. The writer believes that when you cease to see change the Strand will die.
Mention must be made of the areas four historic churches.

From East to West:

• St Clement Danes (of oranges and lemons fame) now the church of the RAF with the parish merged with St Mary-le-Strand (Sir John Betjeman's ' Jewell in the Strand')
• Then the chapel Royal of the Savoy where the Book of Common Prayer was drawn up in 1662 and now is home to the Royal Victorian order.
• Finally St Martin's-in-the-fields, as its name implies it originally looked out on the fields where the national gallery now stands – for years (and still today) famous for its care for those in need.
  

Recent Times

In recent times the changes have followed apace it was the first for gas lighting and likewise 40 years later electric lighting. The two great wars of the 20th century were momentous for the area like all of central London. The central focus point would be Charing Cross Station.

In the first war it was the scene of patriotic fervour, unhappiness, grief and the poignancy of the queues of ambulances awaiting the hospital trains bringing back the wounded. Particularly during the great battles like the Somme and Passchendaele, they stretched back to the Savoy hotel.

In the second war Charing Cross was the scene of constant troop movement, at the beginning with an aura of 'here we go again' and then, leading up to D day, of great anticipation; at that time as a civilian you required a pass to go to the South Coast area.

In Trafalgar Square there was one difference in the two wars. The first saw huge patriotic crowds at the beginning and at the end. In the second only at the end.

There are no doubt endless books to be written about this extraordinary area. To those with a sense of history come and seek; your lifetime will never be long enough to learn all you would have wished.

The Editor of WC2