VictoriaEmbankment

Dickens's Dictionary, 1888

Victoria Embankment extends along the left bank of the Thames, from Westminster to Blackfriars, about a mile and a quarter, and was constructed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, the engineer to the Metropolitan Board of Works. The whole of the space now occupied by the Embankment was covered by water or mud, according to the state of the tide, and few London improvements have been more conducive to health and comfort. The substitution of the beautiful curve of the Embankment, majestic in its simplicity, with its massive granite walls, flourishing trees, and trim gardens, is an unspeakable improvement on the squalid foreshore, and tumble-down wharves, and backs of dingy houses, which formerly abutted on the river. It is to be regretted that difficulties of approach make this noble thoroughfare less useful than it should be. At Westminster and at CharingCross, both from Northumberland-avenue and from Whitehall-pl[ace], and at Blackfriars, the approaches are all that can be desired, and are worthy of the Embankment itself; but the streets leading from TheStrand, such, for instance, as Arundel-st and Norfolk-st, are both steep and inconvenient. The general appearance of the VictoriaEmbankment is still somewhat marred by the presence here and there of unsightly buildings, which it may be hoped will ere long be removed--and probably not even the designer of the CharingCross R[ailwa]y] Stn. would call that useful building in any way ornamental--but it is nevertheless singularly rich in architectural features. SomersetHouse, TheTemple^?, TheAdelphi -ter, the St. Stephen's Club, the National Liberal Club, the Scholar Board house, the City of London School, and other fine buildings, are either on or visible from the Embankment. It would seem from the numerous pedestals which the architect inserted in his design, that it was in contemplation to place an alarming number of statues along the road. At present the Embankment has fortunately but six statues to offer to the inspection of the critic: those of Sir James Outram, at the foot of Whitehall-pl; Brunel, near SomersetHouse; JohnStuartMill, near Norfolk-st; William Tyndale, the first English translator of the New Testament; Raikes, the originator of Sunday Schools, a short distance west of Waterloo-br; and Robert Burns, near CharingCross Stn. In curious contrast to the modern statues, and to the busy life about it, is CleopatrasNeedle, which, owing to the public spirit and energy of the late Sir (then Mr.) Erasmus Wilson and Mr. John Dixon, is now a conspicuous object on the riverwall at the bottom of Salibury-st.

Nearest Ry.Stns., Westminster (Dis), CharingCross (Dis.&S.E.), Temple (Dis.), Blackfriars (Dis.), and St. Paul's (L.C.&D.); Omnibus Rtes., TheStrand and FleetStreet^?.

• Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1888 (see LondonGuidesAndMaps)

Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1893

[The identical text is used, but after the remark on CleopatrasNeedle we get:]

The Thames Police-station is just below Waterloo-br., close to which is moored the drill ship of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers.

Nearest Bridges, Westminster, Waterloo, Blackfriars (all carriage-roads), CharingCross (foot); _Steamboat Piers_, Westminster, CharingCross, Waterloo, and Temple; Railway Stations, Westminster (Dis), CharingCross (Dis.&S.E.), Temple (Dis.), Blackfriars (Dis.), and St. Paul's (L.C.&D.); Omnibus Rtes., TheStrand and FleetStreet^?.

• Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1893. London: Charles Dickens and Evans, 1893.

-- ChrisLehrich^? - 19 Jan 2005