Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-01-04


the time when King Edward lay
in state in Westminster hall, that
thousands OF Londoners made
their first acquaintance with the
riverside district which lies between
YauXball and Lambeth bridges. No
one who Witnessed the wonderful spec
tacle presented by the vast crowds
that thronged Grosveuor road Mill
bank street and Abingdon street in
their patient pilgrimage can ever for
get it, Joining the multitude at or
even beyond NauXhall bridge. those
who walked step by step, felt that
when at last they reached Lambeth
bridge the goal was almost in sight
for just beyond the great Victoria
tower was the royal death chamber.
Few paused 10 notice the rather squat
IA appearance of the approach by MIL
bank street to the houses of Tarua-
ment and old palace yard as compared
with ne splendor O, The opposite ape
proach along the spacious ways of
Whitehall and the emhanament, and
few knew much of the proposed
scheme destined 10 transform this
part of London and make it worthy
Of the imperial center of the meuop-
oils
In the old days the river banks here
on both sides were lonely marshland;
where Lambeth bridge now spans the
stream there was an ancient horse
ferry. (Horseferry road preserves its
name, the revenues OF which be-
longed to the archbishops of Canter-
bury, whose palace of Lambeth lies
opposite, on the Surrey side. Just out
side the southern wall OF the abbey
precincts there arose in later times
little suburb much favored by the gen
try OF the days of Anne and the
Georges. College street, Cowley street
and Barton street still show the
quaint dignified facades OF these
charming specimens of eighteenth cen
fury domestic architecture. Here in
1916, in Smith square. was built the
singular church of st. John, with it's
four belfry towers, which was ad-
mired and abused more, perhaps, than
any church in London; some likened
1t to "a parlor-table upset with its, legs
in the air, a chef doeuvre OF the abb
surdity of it's architect, Thomas Arch
err; others spoke OF 1t as an orna-
ment TO the city of Westminster, and
regretted that a vista had not been
opened up from old palace yard to
show its beauty. Nowadays. perhaps.
We are better able to appreciate its
merits, the originality of its design
and its massive construction. ST.
Johns church is the central feature
of the Millbank improvement scheme
now being carried out at immense
cost by the London county council.
This great scheme, known as the
Thames Embankment Extension and
Westminster Improvements at Mill
bank" was proposed thirteen years
ago In q resolution Of the council that
a plan should be prepared for the en-
bankment Of the Thames from the Vic
toria tower garden to Lambeth bridge,
including the widening of Millbank
street In 1901 provision was made
for the scheme by a capital vote OF
S7,575 900, of which the sum OF $5,-
$4,000 was the estimated cost of ac-
curing the properties east and west
OF Millbank street and for widening
the west side of the street itself:
while s25O,OOO was reserved for the
rehousing of the laboring classes dis
lodged by so extensive a sweeping
away OF the unsightly dwellings oc
cupying the site.
The most important part OF the
scheme is the construction of the new
gardens between the existing Victoria
tower gardens and Lambeth bridge,
the extension OF the embankment be.
tween the houses of parliament and
the bridge, and the widening of Mill.
bank street, which will thus form q
broad and spacious approach from the
south. The new gardens and embank
ment will take the place OF old rows
of wharves and breweries. Few. how
aver, will regret that stateliness and