Palace of Westminster (14517174022)

This is a very early photograph of the Palace of Westminster taken between 1858 and 1866. On the north bank on the left are the industrial units and wharves which would not be removed until the early years of the 20th century, but in 1858 a part of the area adjacent to the Victoria Tower was cleared and laid out as Black Rod's Garden. Several wharves were demolished including the Chequers Public House which fronted onto Abingdon Street.

The area on the south bank from where the photograph was taken is now the Albert Embankment, work was started here in 1866. The paddle steamer moored in the foreground is the 'Venus' which was built in 1854 for the Star Steam Packet Company by C.J. Mare & Co which later became Thames Ironworks at Blackwall. This company also provided the ironwork for Westminster Bridge, which is just out of sight on the right, in 1862. Something which you could not see from this spot today is Nelson's Column on the extreme right of the photograph.