Northumberland Avenue

Northumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square

Northumberland Avenue is a London street, running from Trafalgar Square in the west to The Embankment in the east. The avenue was built on the site of Northumberland House, the London home of the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland.

Several British Government ministry departments are located in buildings located in Northumberland Avenue, among them DEFRA. The Ministry of Defence and the Air Ministry formerly occupied the triangular-shaped Metropole Hotel. The Nigerian High Commission, as well as a halls of residence for the London School of Economics are located there, opposite the pub the Sherlock Holmes.

Northumberland Avenue has a square on the Monopoly board named after it.

History

Northumberland Avenue begins at Trafalgar Sqauare

In 1608–09, the Earl of Northampton built Northumberland House on the eastern portion of the former property of the Chapel and Hospital of St Mary Rounceval, at Charing Cross. This was a considerable property consisting of house and gardens, running down to the river, and adjoining Scotland Yard - to the west. The house suffered some damage in the Wilkes' Election Riots of 1768, but the Duke saved his property by the expedient of opening the nearby Ship Ale House, which drew off the rioters.^[1]

In June 1874, the whole of the Duke's property at Charing Cross, was purchased by the Metropolitan Board of Works for the formation of Northumberland Avenue.^[1]

Thomas Edison's British headquarters, Edison House, were situated on Northumberland Avenue. Many prominent personalities of the day had their voices recorded there by the phonograph, including William Ewart Gladstone and P. T. Barnum; these recordings still exist today.

See also

• List of eponymous roads in London

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Northumberland House, Survey of London: volume 18: St Martin-in-the-Fields II: The Strand (1937), pp. 10-20. Date accessed: 14 February 2009

Coordinates: 51°30′24″N 0°07′27″W / 51.5068°N 0.1242°W / 51.5068; -0.1242