Scotland Yard

Scotland yard, about the mid-way betn the statue at Cha+ [Charing Cross] and Whitehall, near the Thames, so called (says Stow) for that here were stately Buildings for the Reception of the King, Prince, and Nobility of Scotland.

Scotland yard, Whitehall; so named from a palace which formerly stood there for the reception of the Kings of Scotland, when they came to do homage for the county of Cumberland, and other fiefs held by them of the Crown of England. Stowe's Survey

Scotland-Yard (Great), Charing-Cross or Whitehall,—is op. the Admiralty, and about thirty-five doors on the L. from the Strand, towards Westminster-bridge.

Scotland-Yard, Great, Charing Cross or Whitehall, is opposite the Admiralty, and derives its name from a magnificent palace built there, for the reception of the Scottish monarchs whenever they visited this metropolis.

Scotland Yard, Whitehall, was divided into Great and Little, situated between Whitehall and Northumberland Avenue. It was so called, it is said, after the Kings of Scotland and their ambassadors, who were occasionally lodged here.

On the left hand from Charing Cross be also divers fair tenements lately built, till ye come to a large plot of ground inclosed with brick, and is called Scotland, where great buildings have been for receipt of the kings of Scotland and other estates of that country; for Margaret, Queen of Scots, and sister to King Henry VIII., had her abiding there, when she came into England after the death of her husband, as the kings of Scotland had on former times, when they came to the Parliament of England.—Stow, p. 168.

Part of Scotland Yard was long the official residence of the Surveyor of the Works to the Crown. It was occupied by Inigo Jones. There is a letter from him dated "Office of Works, Scotland Yard, August 16, 1620, complaining that "many masons employed on the Banquetting Hall have run away." Inigo's successor, Sir John Denham, the poet of Cooper's Hill, died here, March 1668.

June 10, 1666.—He [Pierce, the surgeon] tells me further, how the Duke of York is wholly given up to his new mistress, my Lady Denham, going at noonday with all his gentlemen with him to visit her in Scotland Yard; she declaring she will not be his mistress, as Mrs. Price, to go up and down the Privy-stairs, but will be owned publicly: and so she is.—Pepys.

His successor, Sir C. Wren, had his office here; and in a house designed by himself and built out of the ruins of Whitehall (destroyed by fire in 1697) lived Sir John Vanburgh. It was probably built by him as comptroller of the Royal Works, for he did not succeed Sir C. Wren.

Milton, on his appointment as Latin Secretary to the Council of State in 1649, was granted an official residence in Scotland Yard, and there he continued to reside till 1652, when he removed to "a pretty garden-house" in Petty France. Whilst in Scotland Yard he lost his infant and only son, March 1650; and also the sight of his left eye. Mrs. Cibber lived in Scotland Yard, and here Charles Burney, previously a pupil of her brother Dr. Arne, was introduced to her in 1749, and laid the foundation of his fashionable career. Here in 1761 died Mrs. Dunch, known to the readers of Horace Walpole and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Samuel Pegge, author of the Curialia and of Anecdotes of the English Language, died here, May 22, 1800. After the death of his wife Thomas Campbell took the lease of a large house in Middle Scotland Yard from midsummer 1829; gave evening parties, and was visited by the great Cuvier, August 23, 1830. He describes the situation as "admirably convenient for all parts of London."

Scotland Yard has been much contracted of late years, and the offices of the Police Commissioners, long associated with the place, have been removed to Whitehall Place. A large building (R. N. Shaw, R.A., architect), to be used as police offices, is now (1890) in course of construction on the Thames embankment, near the old Board of Control Office. It is to be called New Scotland Yard.