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.

[2] Stow's "Survey," p. 829, edit. 1618.

[3] Ibid. p. 130.

[4] Ibid.

[5] The church of St. Mary le Strand was first termed St. Mary le
Strand Cross; but, as the Protector Somerset, in the reign of
Edward VI. deprived the inhabitants of it, in order to afford
a site for his intended palace (Somerset House), our
historians have barely mentioned it, some of whom suppose it
to have been alluded to in the decretal sentence of Stephen,
Arc