Carlton House Terrace
Encyclopedia
Carlton House Terrace refers to a street in the St. James's
district of the City of Westminster
in London
, England
, and in particular to two terraces of white stucco
-faced houses on the south side of the street overlooking St. James's Park
. These terraces were built in 1827–32 to overall designs by John Nash
with detailed input by other architects including Decimus Burton
. They took the place of Carlton House, and the freehold still belongs to the Crown Estate
.
to the rear. The reason for this was that Nash wanted the houses to make the best possible use of the view of the park, and also to present an attractive facade to the park. The service accommodation was placed in two storeys of basements (rather than the usual one) and underneath broad terraces between the houses and the park.
The Duke of York Column
and Steps are located between the East and West terraces, leading down from Waterloo Place to the Mall
and St. James's Park. The buildings were severely damaged in the Second World War. The facades have been restored to their original state, but many of the interiors are much altered. The first occupants were free to commission their own architect to complete the interior – eleven chose Nash, of which only that in number 7 remains largely intact.
Up until World War II, Carlton House Terrace was one of the most fashionable residential addresses in London. The Prussia
n Legates, and later their successors the German Ambassadors, inhabited Number 9 from 1849 until World War II
, eventually combining it with Number 8. The terrace has had several famous residents including:
Most of the houses are now occupied by businesses, institutes and learned societies.
The Crown Estate has had its headquarters in four houses in the terrace for many years (numbers 13–16), but as of 2005 it is reconstructing a building in Regent Street
, which is also part of the Crown Estate, for its own use. In September 2006, the Hindujas, who presently have an apartment at number 24, successfully purchased the property for 58 million pounds. The terrace features a statue of George VI of the United Kingdom
.
field marshal
Lord Kitchener once lived at Number 2 and Number 4 was home to Lord Palmerston
for a time and later served as General Charles de Gaulle
's headquarters during World War II
. All the houses except numbers 1 and 2 have been replaced by office blocks. Number 1 was, until 16 October 2007, an official ministerial residence normally used by the Foreign Secretary
. Number 2 is used by the Privy Council Office
.
Plans were also made to demolish Marlborough House
to the west and replace it with a terrace of similar dimensions to the two in Carlton House Terrace, and this idea even featured on some contemporary maps, including Christopher and John Greenwood large scale London map of 1830, but this proposal was not implemented.
St. James's
St James's is an area of central London in the City of Westminster. It is bounded to the north by Piccadilly, to the west by Green Park, to the south by The Mall and St. James's Park and to the east by The Haymarket.-History:...
district of the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and in particular to two terraces of white stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
-faced houses on the south side of the street overlooking St. James's Park
St. James's Park
St. James's Park is a 23 hectare park in the City of Westminster, central London - the oldest of the Royal Parks of London. The park lies at the southernmost tip of the St. James's area, which was named after a leper hospital dedicated to St. James the Less.- Geographical location :St. James's...
. These terraces were built in 1827–32 to overall designs by John Nash
John Nash (architect)
John Nash was a British architect responsible for much of the layout of Regency London.-Biography:Born in Lambeth, London, the son of a Welsh millwright, Nash trained with the architect Sir Robert Taylor. He established his own practice in 1777, but his career was initially unsuccessful and...
with detailed input by other architects including Decimus Burton
Decimus Burton
Decimus Burton was a prolific English architect and garden designer, He is particularly associated with projects in the classical style in London parks, including buildings at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and London Zoo, and with the layout and architecture of the seaside towns of Fleetwood and...
. They took the place of Carlton House, and the freehold still belongs to the Crown Estate
Crown Estate
In the United Kingdom, the Crown Estate is a property portfolio owned by the Crown. Although still belonging to the monarch and inherent with the accession of the throne, it is no longer the private property of the reigning monarch and cannot be sold by him/her, nor do the revenues from it belong...
.
Overview
The two terraces are Grade I listed buildings. Each terrace consists of nine large houses. They are unusual among expensive London terraced houses in that they do not have a mewsMews
Mews is a primarily British term formerly describing a row of stables, usually with carriage houses below and living quarters above, built around a paved yard or court, or along a street, behind large city houses, such as those of London, during the 17th and 18th centuries. The word may also...
to the rear. The reason for this was that Nash wanted the houses to make the best possible use of the view of the park, and also to present an attractive facade to the park. The service accommodation was placed in two storeys of basements (rather than the usual one) and underneath broad terraces between the houses and the park.
The Duke of York Column
Duke of York Column
The Duke of York Column is a monument in London, England, to Prince Frederick, Duke of York, the second eldest son of King George III. The designer was Benjamin Dean Wyatt. It is located near where Regent Street meets The Mall at Waterloo Place, in between the two terraces of Carlton House...
and Steps are located between the East and West terraces, leading down from Waterloo Place to the Mall
The Mall (London)
The Mall in central London is the road running from Buckingham Palace at its western end to Admiralty Arch and on to Trafalgar Square at its eastern end. It then crosses Spring Gardens, which was where the Metropolitan Board of Works and, for a number of years, the London County Council were...
and St. James's Park. The buildings were severely damaged in the Second World War. The facades have been restored to their original state, but many of the interiors are much altered. The first occupants were free to commission their own architect to complete the interior – eleven chose Nash, of which only that in number 7 remains largely intact.
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Legates, and later their successors the German Ambassadors, inhabited Number 9 from 1849 until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, eventually combining it with Number 8. The terrace has had several famous residents including:
- Lord Palmerston (Prime MinisterPrime Minister of the United KingdomThe Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
): at Number 5 from 1840–46. - Earl GreyCharles Grey, 2nd Earl GreyCharles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC , known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the...
(Prime Minister): at Number 13 from 1851–57 and again from 1859–80. - William Ewart GladstoneWilliam Ewart GladstoneWilliam Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
(Prime Minister): at Number 4 in 1856 and Number 11 from 1857–75. - Lord Curzon (Foreign SecretarySecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsThe Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a senior member of Her Majesty's Government heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and regarded as one of the Great Offices of State...
and Viceroy of India): at Number 1 from 1905–25. - Joachim von RibbentropJoachim von RibbentropUlrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945. He was later hanged for war crimes after the Nuremberg Trials.-Early life:...
(German Ambassador): at Numbers 8 and 9 from 1936–38.
- Number 1 is the headquarters of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and MiningInstitute of Materials, Minerals and MiningThe Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining is a major UK engineering institution whose activities encompass the whole materials cycle, from exploration and extraction, through characterisation, processing, forming, finishing and application, to product recycling and land reuse...
- Number 2 houses the Royal College of PathologistsRoyal College of PathologistsThe Royal College of Pathologists, founded in 1962, was established to co-ordinate this development and maintain the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. Today the College advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology...
- Numbers 3–4 houses the Royal Academy of EngineeringRoyal Academy of Engineering-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
- Number 5 houses the Turf ClubTurf Club (Gentlemen's Club)-External links:* - official website *...
- Numbers 6–9 are now the home of the Royal SocietyRoyal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(the present German Embassy is in Belgrave SquareBelgrave SquareBelgrave 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...
) - Numbers 10–11 houses the British AcademyBritish AcademyThe British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
- Number 12 is The Institute of Contemporary ArtsInstitute of Contemporary ArtsThe Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
, which also occupies much of the basement of the East Terrace.
The Crown Estate has had its headquarters in four houses in the terrace for many years (numbers 13–16), but as of 2005 it is reconstructing a building in Regent Street
Regent Street
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
, which is also part of the Crown Estate, for its own use. In September 2006, the Hindujas, who presently have an apartment at number 24, successfully purchased the property for 58 million pounds. The terrace features a statue of George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
.
Carlton Gardens
At the west end of the Carlton House Terrace is a cul-de-sac called Carlton Gardens, which was developed at around the same time. It contained seven large houses. World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
field marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Lord Kitchener once lived at Number 2 and Number 4 was home to Lord Palmerston
Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, KG, GCB, PC , known popularly as Lord Palmerston, was a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century...
for a time and later served as General Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
's headquarters during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. All the houses except numbers 1 and 2 have been replaced by office blocks. Number 1 was, until 16 October 2007, an official ministerial residence normally used by the Foreign Secretary
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a senior member of Her Majesty's Government heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and regarded as one of the Great Offices of State...
. Number 2 is used by the Privy Council Office
Privy Council Office
Privy Council Office may refer to:*Privy Council Office *Privy Council Office...
.
Plans were also made to demolish Marlborough House
Marlborough House
Marlborough House is a mansion in Westminster, London, in Pall Mall just east of St James's Palace. It was built for Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, the favourite and confidante of Queen Anne. The Duchess wanted her new house to be "strong, plain and convenient and good"...
to the west and replace it with a terrace of similar dimensions to the two in Carlton House Terrace, and this idea even featured on some contemporary maps, including Christopher and John Greenwood large scale London map of 1830, but this proposal was not implemented.
External links
- The Royal Society: Homes of the Society with architectural history and list of known tenants of numbers 6–9.
- 10-11 Carlton House Terrace: site for the venue, including history of the building.