History of the Somerset House
Located on the Strand in Central London, the huge Somerset House has fascinated many for years. It has become one of the most famous spots of London and a great tourist spot. But, how many of us actually know how this building came into being? If you don’t know that then here is a short history of it:
Somerset House dates back to the 17th century. It was built somewhere in 1776 and has undergone several restoration and clean up procedures in order to maintain its magnificence. When it was first built, the building was not quite what it is now. Over the years, several additions were made to the structure. In 1547, the Duke of Somerset Edward Seymour wanted to create an architectural structure that would remind the upcoming generations of his reign. So, he ordered to pull down the numerous buildings in the area and create a house of two stories that should reflect the architectural principles of his time. However, till today, nobody knows who exactly designed the house. Was it a single man or a group of men, nobody knows.
Later on, Queen Elizabeth I acquired the ownership of the Somerset House and lived there for some time. This is why today the structure is considered so prominent. The house was used as a royal palace for some time. In 1694, after the civil war, the Somerset House was turned into army headquarters and a part of it was used to parliamentary meetings. The following years brought some new additions to the house and its history and made it what it is today!