Chandos House
Encyclopedia
Chandos House is a grade I listed building at no.2 Queen Anne Street, Marylebone
, in central London
. It was designed by Robert Adam
, the most prominent architect in Georgian
Britain, and built by William Adam and Company. It is seen as the first of a series of large townhouses in London including 20 St. James's Square
and Derby House. The house was built speculatively with monies from the Adam family and from the banker Sir George Colebrooke
, later to be an Adam client himself. It was started in 1769 and finished in 1771 on a plot between another Adam house to the west, and the garden wall of Foley House to the east, on land which was part of the Duke of Portland's estate. The facade is of Craigleith
stone, perhaps as an advert for the quarry to the west of Edinburgh
on which the Adam brothers' firm had recently taken a lease.
had married as his second wife in 1777. However, following the sudden death of the Duke in 1789, the Duchess was declared a lunatic. As a consequence she was confined to the house and lost control of her estates. In May 1815 the unexpired portion of the lease (51 years) was sold by her executors and purchased by the Austro-Hungarian embassy.
The first resident ambassador was Prince Esterházy
, and for the next 25 years Chandos was the scene of entertainment on the most lavish scale. Contemporary newspapers record his wasteful splendour and oriental pomp. Eventually his extravagance proved his ruin. He left the embassy in 1842 and was succeeded by Baron Neumann.
, and its 18 bedrooms and 6 function rooms are open to hire for weddings and events.
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, in central 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...
. It was designed by Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
, the most prominent architect in Georgian
Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
Britain, and built by William Adam and Company. It is seen as the first of a series of large townhouses in London including 20 St. James's Square
St. James's Square
St. James's Square is the only square in the exclusive St James's district of the City of Westminster. It has predominantly Georgian and neo-Georgian architecture and a private garden in the centre...
and Derby House. The house was built speculatively with monies from the Adam family and from the banker Sir George Colebrooke
Sir George Colebrooke, 2nd Baronet
Sir George Colebrooke, 2nd Baronet , of Gatton in Surrey, was an English merchant banker, chairman of the East India Company and Member of Parliament, who bankrupted himself through unwise speculations....
, later to be an Adam client himself. It was started in 1769 and finished in 1771 on a plot between another Adam house to the west, and the garden wall of Foley House to the east, on land which was part of the Duke of Portland's estate. The facade is of Craigleith
Craigleith
Craigleith is a small island in the Firth of Forth off North Berwick in East Lothian, Scotland. Its name comes from the Scottish Gaelic Creag Lìte meaning "rock of Leith". It is 24 m at its highest point.-Geography and geology:...
stone, perhaps as an advert for the quarry to the west of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on which the Adam brothers' firm had recently taken a lease.
Notable occupants
In 1813 the house was still home to Anna Eliza Brydges, Duchess of Chandos, whom the 3rd DukeJames Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos PC , styled Marquess of Carnarvon from 1744 to 1771, was a British peer and politician.-Background:...
had married as his second wife in 1777. However, following the sudden death of the Duke in 1789, the Duchess was declared a lunatic. As a consequence she was confined to the house and lost control of her estates. In May 1815 the unexpired portion of the lease (51 years) was sold by her executors and purchased by the Austro-Hungarian embassy.
The first resident ambassador was Prince Esterházy
Pál Esterházy
Prince Pál Antal Esterházy de Galántha was a Hungarian prince, a member of the famous Esterházy family. He was the son of Prince Nikolaus II and succeeded his father on the latter's death in 1833.-The basis of his wealth:For several generations, the Esterházy family had been exceedingly wealthy...
, and for the next 25 years Chandos was the scene of entertainment on the most lavish scale. Contemporary newspapers record his wasteful splendour and oriental pomp. Eventually his extravagance proved his ruin. He left the embassy in 1842 and was succeeded by Baron Neumann.
Chandos House today
Today Chandos House is owned by the Royal Society of MedicineRoyal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
, and its 18 bedrooms and 6 function rooms are open to hire for weddings and events.