Somerset House

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Denmark House

In the civil parish of City Of Westminster. In the historic county of Middlesex (Modern Authority of London Borough of Westminster, 1974 county of Greater London).

House acquired by the crown in 1551 as an unfinished property of the executed Duke of Somerset. Became the residence of Edward VI in 1553, the first Renaissance palace built in England. Known as Denmark House in 1603. Some of C17 remodelling was carried out by Inigo Jones. Demolished in 1775, it was replaced by the first large government office block. It is built around a central courtyard with a free-standing North wing. Photographic surveys of the basement and chimney pieces were undertaken in by RCHME in 1997 and 1998. Laid out on the land previously occupied by the Inns of the bishops of Lichfield, Worcester and Llandaff (qv).

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ30708081

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 404849
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

• Web site links
  • http://www.oldlondonmaps.com/viewspages/0045.html
• Books
  • Weinreb, Ben and Hibbert, Christopher (eds), 1983 [rev edn 1993], The London Encyclopeadia (Macmillian) p818-9
    Colvin, H.M., Ransome, D.R. and Summerson, John, 1982, The history of the King's Works, vol4: 1485-1660 (part 2) (London) p252-71
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol1 (London) p85-7
• Journal Articles
  • Godfrey, W., 1922, Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society Vol10 p216-9
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • Speed, John, 1611-12, The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain [http://faculty.oxy.edu/horowitz/home/johnspeed/Cities28.htm]
    William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/midlesexeng.html#mids13]