Belgrave Square
Encyclopedia
Belgrave Square is one of the grandest and largest 19th century squares in London, England. It is the centrepiece of Belgravia
, and was laid out by the property contractor Thomas Cubitt
for the 2nd Earl Grosvenor
, later the 1st Marquess of Westminster, in the 1820s. Most of the houses were occupied by 1840. The square takes its name from one of the Duke of Westminster
's subsidiary titles, Viscount Belgrave. The village of Belgrave, Cheshire
is two miles (3 km) from the Grosvenor family's main country seat of Eaton Hall
.
The original scheme consisted of four terraces, each made up of eleven grand white stuccoed houses, apart from the south east terrace, which has twelve; detached mansions in three of the corners; and a private central garden. The numbering is clockwise from the north: NW terrace Nos. 1 to 11; west corner mansion No. 12; SW terrace 13-23; south corner mansion No. 24; SE terrace Nos. 25-36; east corner mansion No. 37; NE terrace Nos. 38-48. There is also slightly later detached house at the northern corner, No. 49, which was built in by Cubitt for Sidney Herbert in 1851. The terraces were designed by George Basevi
and are possibly the grandest houses ever built in London on a speculative basis. The largest of the corner mansions, Seaford House
in the east corner, was designed by Philip Hardwick
, and the one in the west corner was designed by Robert Smirke
. The square features statues of Christopher Columbus
, Simón Bolívar
, José de San Martín
, Prince Henry the Navigator, and the 1st Marquess of Westminster, a bust of George Basevi
, and a sculpture entitled Homage to Leonardo, the Vitruvian Man
, by Italian sculptor Enzo Plazzotta
.
From its construction until World War II, the square was occupied by leading members of the British aristocracy, with an increasing number of plutocrats added to the mix in later decades. Its immediate success was encapsulated by the decision of another of London's leading freehold landlords, the Duke of Bedford
, to choose No. 6 as his London home in preference to a house on his own London estate in Bloomsbury, which had lost its aristocratic cachet. The square has been a favoured location for embassies since the nineteenth century, and houses several to this day, including the German Embassy, which occupies three houses on the west side. After World War II, most of the houses were converted into offices for charities and institutes. This is now being reversed, with lease
s of three houses being offered for sale and conversion to residential use by the Grosvenor Estate in 2004. The present Duke of Westminster
remains the freeholder of the square.
, a leading shipbuilding firm located in Belfast
, Ireland. One evening in July 1907, the Pirries hosted J. Bruce and Florence Ismay for dinner. J. Bruce Ismay
was the managing director of the White Star Line
, one of the top shipping companies of the North Atlantic. Harland and Wolff constructed all of White Star's vessels. White Star's main rival was the Cunard Line
. The Cunard Line's newest ships, the and , the largest ships in the world, had just entered service. Pirrie and Ismay discussed the new ships during the dinner, and how to counter the competition of these new ships. Their discussions led to them planning that night the construction of three ships, larger than any in the world. Later the names of the ships would be , , and RMS Gigantic, renamed after the sinking of the Titanic.
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
, and was laid out by the property contractor Thomas Cubitt
Thomas Cubitt
Thomas Cubitt , born Buxton, Norfolk, was the leading master builder in London in the second quarter of the 19th century, and also carried out several projects in other parts of England.-Background:...
for the 2nd Earl Grosvenor
Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster
Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster, KG was the son of the 1st Earl Grosvenor, whom he succeeded in 1802 as 2nd Earl Grosvenor. He was created Marquess of Westminster in 1831. He was an English Member of Parliament and an ancestor of the modern day Dukes of Westminster...
, later the 1st Marquess of Westminster, in the 1820s. Most of the houses were occupied by 1840. The square takes its name from one of the Duke of Westminster
Duke of Westminster
The title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
's subsidiary titles, Viscount Belgrave. The village of Belgrave, Cheshire
Belgrave, Cheshire
Belgrave is a historical village at the entrance to Eaton Hall in Cheshire, United Kingdom. Today it basically consists of a few houses and a large thriving Grosvenor Garden Centre. The Centre is situated on the edge of Eaton Park within the Eaton Estate...
is two miles (3 km) from the Grosvenor family's main country seat of Eaton Hall
Eaton Hall (Cheshire)
Eaton Hall is the country house of the Duke of Westminster. It is set within a large estate south of the village of Eccleston, in Cheshire, England . The house is surrounded by formal gardens, parkland, farmland and woodland. The estate covers an area of about .The first substantial house was...
.
George Basevi
Elias George Basevi FRS was an English architect. He was the favourite pupil of Sir John Soane.-Life:Basevi was the youngest son of a City of London merchant, also named George Basevi...
and are possibly the grandest houses ever built in London on a speculative basis. The largest of the corner mansions, Seaford House
Seaford House
Seaford House, originally called Sefton House, is one of the grandest surviving aristocratic mansions in London, England. It is the largest of the three detached houses which occupy three corners of Belgrave Square in the exclusive district of Belgravia...
in the east corner, was designed by Philip Hardwick
Philip Hardwick
Philip Hardwick was an eminent English architect, particularly associated with railway stations and warehouses in London and elsewhere...
, and the one in the west corner was designed by Robert Smirke
Robert Smirke (architect)
Sir Robert Smirke was an English architect, one of the leaders of Greek Revival architecture his best known building in that style is the British Museum, though he also designed using other architectural styles...
. The square features statues of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
, Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
, José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
, Prince Henry the Navigator, and the 1st Marquess of Westminster, a bust of George Basevi
George Basevi
Elias George Basevi FRS was an English architect. He was the favourite pupil of Sir John Soane.-Life:Basevi was the youngest son of a City of London merchant, also named George Basevi...
, and a sculpture entitled Homage to Leonardo, the Vitruvian Man
Vitruvian Man
The Vitruvian Man is a world-renowned drawing created by Leonardo da Vinci circa 1487. It is accompanied by notes based on the work of the famed architect, Vitruvius. The drawing, which is in pen and ink on paper, depicts a male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and...
, by Italian sculptor Enzo Plazzotta
Enzo Plazzotta
Enzo Plazzotta was an Italian-born British sculptor.He was born in Mestre, near Venice, and spent his working life in London...
.
Occupants
Duke of Bedford
thumb|right|240px|William Russell, 1st Duke of BedfordDuke of Bedford is a title that has been created five times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1414 in favour of Henry IV's third son, John, who later served as regent of France. He was made Earl of Kendal at the same time...
, to choose No. 6 as his London home in preference to a house on his own London estate in Bloomsbury, which had lost its aristocratic cachet. The square has been a favoured location for embassies since the nineteenth century, and houses several to this day, including the German Embassy, which occupies three houses on the west side. After World War II, most of the houses were converted into offices for charities and institutes. This is now being reversed, with lease
Lease
A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the lessee to pay the lessor for use of an asset. A rental agreement is a lease in which the asset is tangible property...
s of three houses being offered for sale and conversion to residential use by the Grosvenor Estate in 2004. The present Duke of Westminster
Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster
Major-General Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, , is the son of Robert George Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster, and his wife Hon. Viola Maud Lyttelton. He is the owner of property company Grosvenor Group...
remains the freeholder of the square.
RMS Titanic
In the south corner of Belgrave Square is the mansion that in the early part of the 20th Century was known as Downshire House, the London home of Lord and Lady William James Pirrie. Lord Pirrie was the chairman of Harland and WolffHarland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
, a leading shipbuilding firm located in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Ireland. One evening in July 1907, the Pirries hosted J. Bruce and Florence Ismay for dinner. J. Bruce Ismay
J. Bruce Ismay
Joseph Bruce Ismay was an English businessman who served as chairman and managing director of the White Star Line of steamships. He came to international attention as the highest-ranking White Star official among the 706 survivors Joseph Bruce Ismay (12 December 1862 – 17 October 1937) was...
was the managing director of the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
, one of the top shipping companies of the North Atlantic. Harland and Wolff constructed all of White Star's vessels. White Star's main rival was the Cunard Line
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
. The Cunard Line's newest ships, the and , the largest ships in the world, had just entered service. Pirrie and Ismay discussed the new ships during the dinner, and how to counter the competition of these new ships. Their discussions led to them planning that night the construction of three ships, larger than any in the world. Later the names of the ships would be , , and RMS Gigantic, renamed after the sinking of the Titanic.
Current tenants
- Romanian Cultural InstituteRomanian Cultural InstituteThe Romanian Cultural Institute is a state-funded institution that promotes Romanian culture and civilization in Romania and abroad. The ICR was formerly set up through reorganization of the Romanian Cultural Foundation and Romanian Cultural Publishing Foundation...
, 1 Belgrave Square - Canning House - The Hispanic & Luso Brazilian Council, 2 Belgrave Square
- Oleg DeripaskaOleg DeripaskaOleg Vladimirovich Deripaska is the Russian Chief executive officer of Basic Element company and a member of the Board of Directors and CEO of United Company RUSAL, a Russian aluminium industry company...
- 6 Belgrave Square - The Syrian EmbassyEmbassy of Syria in LondonThe Embassy of Syria in London is the diplomatic mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Kingdom. The chancery is located at 8 Belgrave Square of London.- References :...
, 8 Belgrave Square - The Embassy of Portugal, 11 Belgrave Square
- The Ghanaian High Commission, 13 Belgrave Square
- The Society of Chemical IndustrySociety of Chemical IndustryThe Society of Chemical Industry is a learned society set up in 1881 "to further the application of chemistry and related sciences for the public benefit". Its purpose is "Promoting the commercial application of science for the benefit of society". Its first president was Henry Enfield Roscoe and...
, 14-15 Belgrave Square - The Country Land and Business AssociationCountry Land and Business AssociationThe Country Land and Business Association is a voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom.-Membership:...
, 16 Belgrave Square - The Royal College of PsychiatristsRoyal College of PsychiatristsThe Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom responsible for representing psychiatrists, psychiatric research and providing public information about mental health problems...
, 17 Belgrave Square - The Official Residence of the Austrian Ambassador, 18 Belgrave Square
- The German Embassy, (21)-23 Belgrave Square
- The Spanish Embassy - Cultural Attaché, 24 Belgrave Square
- The Royal Norwegian Embassy, 25 Belgrave Square
- The Serbian EmbassyEmbassy of Serbia in LondonThe Serbian Embassy in London is Serbia's diplomatic mission to the United Kingdom. It is located at 28 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QB, which is in Belgravia.The current Ambassador of Serbia to the United Kingdom is Dejan Popović.- External links :*...
, 28 Belgrave Square - The Bahrain Embassy, 30 Belgrave Square
- The Royal College of Defence StudiesRoyal College of Defence StudiesThe Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
, Seaford HouseSeaford HouseSeaford House, originally called Sefton House, is one of the grandest surviving aristocratic mansions in London, England. It is the largest of the three detached houses which occupy three corners of Belgrave Square in the exclusive district of Belgravia...
, 37 Belgrave Square - Italian Cultural Institute, 39 Belgrave Square
- The Turkish Embassy, 43 Belgrave Square
- The Institute of Practitioners in AdvertisingInstitute of Practitioners in AdvertisingThe Institute of Practitioners in Advertising is the trade body and professional institute for 250 leading agencies in the UK's advertising, media and marketing communications industry, covering the creative, digital, direct marketing, healthcare, media, outdoor, sales promotion and sponsorship...
, 44 Belgrave Square - The Malaysian High Commission, 45 Belgrave Square
- Meridian Group, 47 Belgrave Square
- Gennady Bogolyubov, 31 Belgrave Square