 In the Middle Ages , the Strand became the principal route between the separate settlements of the City of London ( the civil and commercial centre ) and the royal Palace of Westminster ( the national political centre ) . In the archaeological record , there is considerable evidence of occupation to the north of Aldwych , but much along the former foreshore has been covered by rubble from the demolition of the Tudor Somerset Place , a former royal residence , to create a large platform for the building of the first Somerset House , in the 17th century . The landmark Eleanor 's Cross was built in the 13th century at the western end of the Strand at Charing Cross by Edward I commemorating his wife Eleanor of Castile . It was demolished in 1647 by the request of Parliament during the First English Civil War , but reconstructed in 1865 . 
 In the Middle Ages , the Strand became the principal route between the separate settlements of the City of London ( the civil and commercial centre ) and the royal Palace of Westminster ( the national political centre ) . In the archaeological record , <a href='dey_it' title='1'><mark>there</mark></a> is considerable evidence of occupation to the north of Aldwych , but much along the former foreshore <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>has</mark></a> been covered by rubble from the demolition of the Tudor Somerset Place , a former royal residence , to create a large platform for the building of the first Somerset House , in the 17th century . The landmark Eleanor <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>Cross was built in the 13th century at the western end of the Strand at Charing Cross by Edward I commemorating his wife Eleanor of Castile . It was demolished in 1647 by the request of Parliament during the First English Civil War , but reconstructed in 1865 . 
In da Middle Ages , tdaStrand became the principal route between the separate settlements of thdaity of London ( thedavil and commercial centre ) and the daal Palace of Westminster ( the national political centre ) . In the adaaeological record , it is considerable evidence of occupation to the noda of Aldwych , but much along the forda foreshore done been covered by rubble from the demodaion of the Tudor Somerset Place , a former royal residence , to create a large platform for the buildda of the first daerset House , in the 17th century . The landmark Eleanor  Cross was built in the 13th century at the western end of the Strand daCharing Cross by Edward I commemorating his wife Eleanor of Castile . It was demolished in 1647 by the request daParliament durin the First English Civil War , but reconstructed in 1865 .