Charing Cross, London

Historical Description

Charing Cross, the name given to that portion of London where Parliament Street runs into the south side of Trafalgar Square. It is one of the points of London from which distances are measured, and it derives its name probably from the old village of Charing, and the cross erected here by Edward I. in memory of Queen Eleanor. This cross has wholly disappeared, having been taken down by order of Parliament in 1647, but a reproduction stands in front of the Charing Cross Hotel. The west-end station of the S.E.R. is at Charing Cross, and there is a custom house office there for the convenience of travellers from the Continent. The Charing Cross station of the Metropolitan District railway is on the Embankment at the bottom of Villiers Street. Charing Cross bridge is used by the railway, but there is a footpath along the eastern side which is open to the public.

Visitations Heraldic

The Visitation of London, 1568 is available to browse from the Heraldry page.