BEDFORD HOUSE
Two pieces of land on The Strand owned by the Russell family, from c.1552 (following fall of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset).
Became central London residence of the Earls of Bedford.
Older property sitting next to river, also known as 'Russell House' or 'Russell Place'.
Building project undertaken on land on north side of the Strand, by Edward Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford c.1586, overseen by aunt and guardian Anne Russell, Countess of Warwick
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KEY EVENTS
1541 - JOHN RUSSELL obtains land north side of the Strand called 'Friars Pyes'.
Nov 1541-Feb 1542 - Jane Parker, Lady Rochford, is moved out of the Tower of London and to Russell House, under the care of ANNE SAPCOTE, due to her mental state (reported to have suffered from 'fit of madness' 3 days into imprisonment. Is visited daily by Henry VIII's physicians, who is keen for Jane to be executed for her role in his Queen Catherine Howard's infidelity and perceived treasonous acts. Jane is later returned to the Tower, and executed on 09 Feb 1542.
May 1552 - JOHN RUSSELL acquires further land on north side of the Strand - former 'convent garden' - from EDWARD VI.
14 May 1555 - Death of JOHN RUSSELL at 'Old' Bedford House/Russell House; is later interred in the Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies.
14 Mar 1559 - Death of ANNE SAPCOTE at 'Old' Bedford House/Russell House; is later interred in the Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies.
28 Jul 1585 - Death of FRANCIS RUSSELL at 'Old' Bedford House/Russell House; is later interred in the Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies.
c.1586 - Building project starts on 'New' Bedford House on north side of the Strand, on land previously acquired in 1541 and 1552. Work on new house for Edward Russell, 3rd Earl of Bedford, supervised and funded by aunt and guardian ANNE RUSSELL (as Edward still a minor).
Jan 1590 - Visit by Elizabeth I to Bedford House, where ANNE RUSSELL and AMBROSE DUDLEY are residing.
21 Feb 1590 - Death of AMBROSE DUDLEY at Bedford House; is later interred in the Beauchamp Chale, St Mary's Church, Warwick.
1630 - Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford commissions Inigo Jones to design a church (St Paul's - "the actor's church") and three terraces of house around a piazza on the 'Convent Garden' land, beginning the development of the Bedford Estate.
c1705 - Bedford House demolished following Russell family relocating to Bloomsbury (acquired through marriage in 1669).
