"Richard J." wrote in message
om...
michael adams wrote:
"Richard J." wrote in message
om...
michael adams wrote:

Just a thought.

What you see on Strand on The Green are the backs of the houses.
Same as the top end of Park Lane whose "actual address" is far less
prestigeous.
So possibly in both cases the owners have taken advantage of the
fact that their houses stand on two thoroughfares and have chosed
the better one - even fitting a letter box if necessary.

As you say, "just a thought". If you'd actually been there,

I've been there any number of times.

The houses with the oriel windows are similar in style
to those in Park Lane. The rear of the house was intended to
provide a view - Park Lane into Hyde Park[,] Strand on The Green
onto the River.

Weren't you aware of that?

Well, of course the river side of the house was intended to provide a view
of the river. That's why it was built in that location. Not sure why you
think that's the back of the house, though.

Zoffanys House faces the River IIRR. At the time
the various houses were built there was no thoroughfare
only the Green behind, and houses were built facing in
either direction. All were identified simply as Mr X's Hse
on the Strand on the Green.

If there was only the Green behind, the only thoroughfare was the towpath,

....

What I meant was a named thoroughfare. Obviously the residents will have
used horses and horsedrawn transport in addition, using an unnamed
roadway or pathway around the actual Green. When the houses were built,
the whole thing, towpath, houses, and any road or pathway between the green
and houses were all known as Strand on the Green.

....

so why are you denying that the natural "front" was on the towpath?

....

Because as in the City and Westminster, the watergates amd water stairs were
at the backs of buildings not at the front. As in Somerset House and all
the other large houses which fronted onto the er Strand. Before the
Embankment was built.

....


[snip]

... you would realise that your thought doesn't match the
architecture and position of most of the buildings. Was your
previous post pure conjecture as well?

Are you denying that some houses on the river side of River Road were
originally built facing in opposite directions ? Some facing
the river and some backing onto it ?

Ah, so not all of them backing on to it, as you previously suggested.

....

I was in a rush. And anyway the subsequent influence of Estate agents and the
example of Park Lane certainly come into it somewhere.


....

Since
the houses we are talking about mostly pre-date River Road, I'm not sure how
you define "facing" and "backing on to" the river and its towpath when those
were the only thoroughfares.

....

There was access around the Green. In fact most Greens are deliniated
by having a path or roadway running around them. Otherwise they wouldn't
be Greens.

There are no front doors on the river side of a number of the houses
which means that they're backing onto the river. Others have flood
barriers and smaller doors. In the houses such as Zoffany's which
definitely are facing the river, and even with the smaller artisans
cottages further along, the doors are at the top of a flight of steps.
It might be found thet a number of the houses still have impressive
front doors on their north side, which would formerly have faced
the Green.


michael adams



--
Richard J.
(to email me, swap 'uk' and 'yon' in address)