Scottish History and Culture


How the London Police became Scotland Yard
Click for larger image

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made it famous in his Sherlockian tales of mystery and intrigue, but few North Americans realize that Scotland Yard is not actually in Scotland. In fact, the world reknowned London police agency is only remotely connected to Scotland by virtue of its name and unique place in Scottish history.

Scotland Yard is the headquarters of the London Metropolitan Police Force, located in the heart of London, England. The Metropolitan Police Force was established in 1829 as a result of the Metropolitan Police Improvement Bill that changed the force from being paid entirely by private citizens with "Blood Money", to one paid by the government.

With the change, the force also acquired a new headquarters, that being a building on the former grounds of Whitehall Palace, at #4 Whitehall Place. This location gave the police force the popular name that they are known by today, Scotland Yard.

According to William H. Gill, in his "Some Notable Sherlockian Buildings", the original police building was "a handsome building of three floors, of mellow London brick with Portable Stone tressings". It was not the building that gave the new Police force its name, but the ground on which it stood.

Click Here for Larger ImageArchaeologists have confirmed that the site shows continuous occupation since the 9th century. It lies very close to the Thames River, and was spotted with dwellings and inns. This all changed in the 16th Century, however, as events forced Henry VIII to look for a new residence.

In 1512, Westminister Palace was the residence of the English Kings, but in that year a fire burned the Palace. The only building left standing was Westminister Hall, which later became the home of Parliament. Forced to look for new lodgings, Henry VIII lived in various locations for almost twenty years. Apparently unsatisfied, in 1529 he ordered an area close to the Thames River cleared and Whitehall Palace built.

The Palace became quite extensive during Henry's reign as King, and in total the grounds spread for a half mile along the Thames. This was not one building, but a collection of buildings surrounding gardens and courtyards that were in total considered Whitehall Palace.

It is during the reign of Henry VIII and his English successors that the first stirrings of the modern name came into play. According to William H. Gill, Scottish Kings stayed in a particular area of the grounds when they came to pay homage to England. This apparently started the nickname of the area, which thereafter was coined as Scotland Yard. This all changed, when James I of England & Scotland reigned, as the King was now Scottish.

James I of England & Scotland became King in 1603 and moved into Whitehall Palace. During his reign as King, and those of his successors, the west side of the grounds became increasingly used as apartments for the families of the King and those to whom the King owed favours. These people were mostly Scottish, as was the King, and the nickname for the area that originated during the reign of Henry VIII was reinforced by continued use.

James I of England was also James VI of Scotland, Click Here for Larger ImageThe Scottish 'occupation' of the grounds continued until the 1640's, when the Civil War brought Cromwell into power. The current King, Charles I, was beheaded on the grounds of Whitehall in the Banqueting House. Cromwell remained in power and lived at Whitehall until 1658 when he died. The rightful King, Charles II, remained in exile in France.

In 1660, on the evening before Charles II was to leave for America to become the King of Virginia, he received news that he was now welcome again in England. He returned, and again took up residence in Whitehall Palace. Things returned to normalcy at Whitehall, at least for a short time.

In 1665, London was in the grip of the Plague, and approximately 70,000 of its citizens succumbed to the infestation. This disaster was relieved by another disaster in 1666, when the Great Fire of London took place. Eighty percent of the buildings in London were consumed in this hidden blessing that ended the Plague. Whitehall Palace was apparently untouched in the fire.

London was rebuilt after the fire, and in 1688 the Royal Residence of James Stuart, King James II, was moved to Kensington Palace. This apparently was done to get the King, who had asthma, away from the river.

In 1698, Whitehall Palace burnt down and the only building to survive was the Banqueting House. The area was rebuilt, but not as a Royal residence, as it now became grounds for government offices to a large extent. The nickname of the area, in particular the West Side of the grounds, as 'Scotland Yard' was retained by the public over the years.

Scotland Yard was built in the Scottish Baronial style, Click Here for Larger ImageIn 1829, the London Metropolitan Police Force was created and moved into its building in 'Scotland Yard'. The name quickly transferred itself to the Police Force itself, as when a person was in trouble they were taken to, or had to answer at Scotland Yard.

After 1880, it became apparent that population growth on the outskirts of London would require that the headquarters of the London Police Force be moved. Norman Shaw, the architect, was hired to design the new building. During this period of time, anything Highlander was popular with society, and the architect decided to build the new building in the style of a Scottish Baronial Castle.

The Police headquarters moved around 1890, and thanks to the building style, retained the nickname. No longer was Scotland Yard just an area of Whitehall. The Police moved their headquarters again in 1967 and although the new building is not built in a Scottish Style, the nickname is permanently attached in the minds of the general public.

by BW, March 2000

Links:

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

New Scotland Yard

Whitehall Palace

Lamas Archives

Business in London

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