carried on at Somerset House. The east wing is occupied by King's
College, founded in 1828. Opposite to Somerset House a stream came down
from the higher ground; it was crossed by the Strand Bridge. The waters
flowed through the palace into the river.

On the east side of Somerset House stood Arundel House, originally
Bath's Inn, as the town-house of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. In this
house were set up the famous Arundel marbles. The Duc de Sully, who was
lodged here during his embassy to England on the accession of James I.,
speaks of it as a most commodious house. Near Arundel House and Somerset
House was an Inn of Chancery called Chester Inn.

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 Ma