The Maypole in the Strand was a landmark

maypole A maypole is a tall wooden pole erected as a part of various European folk festivals, around which a maypole dance often takes place. The festivals may occur on 1 May or Pentecost (Whitsun), although in some countries it is instead erected at ...

on the Strand, London, that was in place during the 17th and early 18th centuries, on the site of the current

St Mary le Strand St Mary le Strand is a Church of England church at the eastern end of the Strand in the City of Westminster, London. It lies within the Deanery of Westminster (St Margaret) within the Diocese of London. The church stands on what was until recen ...

church.

History

The first maypole was built in the early 16th century outside the church of

, and is believed to have been around high. As was common at the time, it was a regular custom to cover the maypole with flowers each May and dance around it.Walter Thornbury, 'St Mary-le-Strand and the Maypole', in Old and New London: Volume 3 (London, 1878), pp. 84-88. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/old-new-london/vol3/pp84-88 ccessed 27 August 2020 It was destroyed in April 1644 by the Puritans during the English Civil War, after the House of Lords and House of Commons banned maypoles, believing them to represent pagan ceremonies that were considered "ungodly". It was replaced by a high structure on 14 April 1661 following

the Restoration Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to: * Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage ** Audio restoration ** Film restoration ** Image restoration ** Textile restoration * Restoration ecology ...

, and is believed to have been constructed by the local farrier John Clarges whose daughter had married

George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle JP KG PC (6 December 1608 – 3 January 1670) was an English soldier, who fought on both sides during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A prominent military figure under the Commonwealth, his support was cru ...

when he was a military general. The new maypole was the most celebrated of its kind in London throughout the late 17th century. It was damaged by wind a few years later, and subsequently restored. The maypole gradually decayed and was replaced in 1713; the current church was built in its location. In 1717, Sir Isaac Newton bought the maypole and transported it to

Sir Richard Child Richard Child, 1st Earl Tylney (5 February 1680 – March 1750), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1708 and 1734. Initially a Tory, he switched to supporting the Whigs after 1715. He held no Office of State ...

's Wanstead House, now Wanstead Park. It was used to support Newton's telescope, which at that time was the largest in the world. Maypole Alley ran north from the maypole's location on the Strand. It was renamed Newcastle Street in the early 18th century after John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, and subsequently demolished during construction of Aldwych in 1905. A temporary maypole artwork was installed on the site in 2017, as part of the London Festival of Architecture.

References

Citations Sources * * * {{coords, 51.5121, -0.1171, display=title History of the City of Westminster Former buildings and structures in the City of Westminster Isaac Newton