Category: Strand, London

Strand, London

St Mary le Strand in Strand, London. I assume that this photograph was taken in the 1930s, or possibly earlier. The church is situated at the eastern end of Strand in the City of Westminster. It stands on what was (until August 2022) a traffic island, north of Somerset House.

The church is the second to have been called St Mary le Strand, the first was a short distance to the south. The date of its foundation is unclear but it was mentioned in a judgment in 1222. The site occupied by this church (construction began in 1714) was formerly occupied by a maypole – the centre of May Day festivities during the 16th and 17th centuries. The pole had severely decayed by the early 18th century. The church was finally consecrated on January 1st 1724.

The church had been threatened with demolition at the beginning of the 20th century, and avoided destruction during the London Blitz in WW2 – although there was some damage from a nearby bomb.

Image: Photographer unknown

The church in January 2023. The traffic island has been replaced by a pedestrian zone.

Image:© TimeViews Steven Miell

A merged version of the two images. Use the slider in the centre.

Strand, London

St Clement Danes – an Anglican church situated near to the Royal Courts of Justice (left of picture) in Strand. According to legend, the first church on the site was founded in the 9th century by the Danish invaders, although the current building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1682. Wren’s church was heavily bombed in World War 2 and restored in 1958. It then became the central church of the RAF.
Image: Photographer unknown (1900s)
This photograph (February 2022) was taken when there were no leaves on the trees – allowing the view. Considering that the church was badly damaged in the war, the restoration has worked well.
Image: © TimeViews Steven Miell
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Strand, London

A view down Strand in 1930. The photograph is dominated by the Golden Cross Hotel and Lyons Corner House. To the right of the photograph, one of the turrets of the National Gallery can be clearly seen. This is also visible in the second image.
Image: Photographer unknown
Although the Golden Cross Hotel, and Lyons have long gone, the new building is similar to the one it replaced.
Image: ©TimeViews Steven Miell (2022)
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Strand, London

A photograph of four people standing outside Australia House in London’s Strand in 1935. All four are holding signs protesting Australia’s treatment of British ex-servicemen. Slogans include – ‘AUSTRALIA Celebrate the Jubilee by giving Ruined British Ex-service Settlers FULL JUSTICE’, and ‘DON’T BUY AUSTRALIAN GOODS Until British Ex-service Settlers Receive FULL JUSTICE What about it “Honest Joe Lyons”?’
Image: Photographer unknown (National Library of Australia)
From the same position in February 2022.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two images. Use the slider in the centre.