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Courtesy, Associated British and Irish Railways, Inc.,
VICTORIA EMBANKMENT, SHOWING CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE ABOVE THE TREETOPS

Until 1864 the area now occupied by the Victorian Embankment was a
mud bank. At high tide the water reached the end of those streets which
run south from the Strand and at the end of one, Buckingham Street,
there still stands the York Watergate as evidence. There is now nearl3' ±±*

a mile and a half of roadway between Westminster and Blackfriars along
which is a double car track forming an important connecting loop with
the systems south of the river. Next to the new office building is the famous
Hotel Savo3". The river is beyond the fence at the right.