Why scotland yard is called so

Image from 'The town: its memorable characters and events', , courtesy of the University of Toronto on Flickr. Scotland Yard is the name popularly given to the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the police force responsible for policing the majority of Greater London with the exception of the City of London and London's underground and railways.

This building was only occupied by the police in , so the name has a much earlier origin. The name Scotland Yard comes from its very earliest days, soon after the establishment of the police force in London in The first Metropolitan Police station was opened on 6 October in a street called Great Scotland Yard and was at the rear of 4 Whitehall Place which served as the office of the two newly appointed police commissioners.

The origin of the name Scotland Yard both Great and Little is unknown, but may be named after a former landowner or a connection with the Kings of Scotland. The name was in use by the 17th century. Not convinced? Find out more ». Share this article via facebook Share this article via twitter Share this article via messenger Share this with Share this article via email Share this article via flipboard Copy link.

Share this article via comment Share this article via facebook Share this article via twitter. Secretary of the Interior Sir Robert Peel—hence the nickname "bobbies," for policeman. The new police superseded the old system of watchmen. By these men had replaced the Bow Street Patrols, who enforced the decisions of magistrates, and the River Police, who worked to prevent crime along the Thames. The responsibility of organizing the new police force was placed on Colonel Charles Rowan and Richard Mayne, who occupied a private house at 4 Whitehall Place, the back of which opened onto a courtyard: the Great Scotland Yard.

The Yard's name was inspired by its site, a medieval palace which housed Scottish royalty on their visits to London. The staff of Scotland Yard was responsible for the protection of important individuals, community patrols, public affairs, recruitment and personnel management. When the Yard sent out its first plainclothes police agents in , the public felt uncomfortable with these "spies" on the streets. But the force's role in several important cases, and the charisma of many of its detectives, helped it win the people's trust.

One such personality, Inspector Charles Frederick Field, joined the force upon its establishment in He became good friends with Charles Dickens, who occasionally accompanied constables on their nightly rounds. Field retired as a chief of the detective branch in In , four out of the five heads for the detective branch were brought to trial for conspiring with criminals in a betting scheme. Send a query.

Lucky dip. Any answers? Nooks and crannies. Semantic enigmas. The body beautiful.