North row, North Audley street.
North street, 1. Lamb street, Spitalfields. 2. Poplar. 3. Smith Square, Westminster.
Northampton street, Wood’s close, St. John street.
Northumberland alley, Fenchurch street.
Northumberland court, 1. Southampton buildings, Chancery lane. 2. In the strand.
Northumberland House & Charing Cross.
S. Wale delin. J. Green sc. Oxon.
Northumberland House, derives its name from the title of the ancient and noble family, in whose possession it has been above 100 years. It is the town residence of the Right Honourable the Earl and Countess of Northumberland, and one of the largest and most magnificent houses in London. It was originally built very early in the reign of James I. by Henry Howard Earl of Northampton; and it is reasonable to infer from some letters discovered in the front when it was lately rebuilt, that one Miles Glover was the architect.
At first it consisted only of three sides of a square; one of which faced the street near Charing Cross, and the other two extended towards the Thames. The entrance was then, as it is now, thro’ a spacious arched gateway for coaches in the middle of the street front; and, what is remarkable, the principal apartments were in the third or highest story. During the life of the aforesaid Lord, it was called Northampton House, after his death it became the property of his near relation the Earl of Suffolk; in whose time it does not appear to have undergone any change except in name; for it was thereupon called Suffolk House.
In the reign of Charles I. Algernon Earl Of Northumberland, the Lord High Admiral of England, married Lord Suffolk’s daughter, and about the year 1642, became the proprietor of this house; from which time it has been well known by the name it now bears. To prevent mistakes, we beg leave to observe, that the Northumberland House, which is often mentioned in history before this period, stood in Aldersgate ward in the city, and was formerly, what this house is at present, the town seat of the Earls of Northumberland. But to return.