Dartmouth House
Encyclopedia
Dartmouth House is a large and luxurious Georgian
house in Mayfair
, central London
, England
. It now acts at the headquarters for the English-Speaking Union
(ESU), an educational charity. It is located at 37 Charles Street, southwest off Berkeley Square
.
Over 40,000 people use the building each year.
The original building was constructed in the 1750s and what today comprises Dartmouth House was two separate residences, numbers 37 and 38 Charles Street. The first owner of number 37 was Marchionesses of Carnarvon
1757–1776.
In 1870, the banker Edward Baring
bought both properties and on his creation as Baron Revelstoke
in 1885, he converted the two houses into one to house his collection of Louis XIV furniture and art. He remodelled and refurbished the house in an Anglo-French style. There is a painted ceiling by Pierre-Victor Galland
above the grand staircase. However a crisis at Baring Brothers and Co Bank
meant that spending on the buildings was curtailed and all building and design work ceased. Many of Lord Revelstoke’s furnishings and objects d’art had to be sold at auction, although he continued to live here until his death in 1897.
The next owner, Lord Dartmouth
(6th Earl of Dartmouth) made the most significant changes to the interior of the house in 1900, with the creation of the Long and Small Drawing Rooms. The house was used as the Dartmouth family home until the outbreak of war in 1914, when it was used by the British Red Cross
as a military hospital
. It was sold again in 1918 to the Hon. Mrs Robert Lindsay
.
Dartmouth House was purchased by the English-Speaking Union in 1926 for the sum of £45,000 from the Hon. Mrs Robert Lindsay. It was formally opened as the London Headquarters of the ESU by the then Prime Minister
, Sir Stanley Baldwin
, on the 22 February 1927.
Today, Dartmouth House is an important heritage building in Mayfair. It was upgraded by the UK government Department of Culture, Media and Sport to be a Grade II* listed building. In addition to being the home of the ESU, the building is a location for private events, weddings and corporate events. The restaurant "Leith's at Dartmouth" is located in the Revelstoke Room.
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
house in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, 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...
, 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...
. It now acts at the headquarters for the English-Speaking Union
English-Speaking Union
The English-Speaking Union is an international educational charity which was founded by the journalist Evelyn Wrench in 1918. The ESU aims to "bring together and empower people of different languages and cultures," by building skills and confidence in communication, such that individuals realize...
(ESU), an educational charity. It is located at 37 Charles Street, southwest off Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square is a town square in the West End of London, England, in the City of Westminster. It was originally laid out in the mid 18th century by architect William Kent...
.
Over 40,000 people use the building each year.
The original building was constructed in the 1750s and what today comprises Dartmouth House was two separate residences, numbers 37 and 38 Charles Street. The first owner of number 37 was Marchionesses of Carnarvon
Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon
Colonel Henry George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon, DL , styled The Honourable from 1780 to 1793 and subsequently Lord Porchester to 1811, was a British peer and Whig politician.-Background:...
1757–1776.
In 1870, the banker Edward Baring
Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke
Edward Charles Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke , was a British banker.-Biography:A member of the famous Baring banking family, "Ned" Baring was the second son of Henry Baring from his second marriage, to Cecilia Anne . Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet, was his grandfather and Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of...
bought both properties and on his creation as Baron Revelstoke
Baron Revelstoke
Baron Revelstoke, of Membland in the County of Devon, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1885 for the businessman Edward Baring, head of the family firm of Barings Bank...
in 1885, he converted the two houses into one to house his collection of Louis XIV furniture and art. He remodelled and refurbished the house in an Anglo-French style. There is a painted ceiling by Pierre-Victor Galland
Pierre-Victor Galland
Pierre-Victor Galland was a French decorative painter.Until the age of 16, Galland studied metalwork with his father, Jacques Galland, a goldsmith. He then joined the studio of Henri Labrouste, studying architecture...
above the grand staircase. However a crisis at Baring Brothers and Co Bank
Barings Bank
Barings Bank was the oldest merchant bank in London until its collapse in 1995 after one of the bank's employees, Nick Leeson, lost £827 million due to speculative investing, primarily in futures contracts, at the bank's Singapore office.-History:-1762–1890:Barings Bank was founded in 1762 as the...
meant that spending on the buildings was curtailed and all building and design work ceased. Many of Lord Revelstoke’s furnishings and objects d’art had to be sold at auction, although he continued to live here until his death in 1897.
The next owner, Lord Dartmouth
Earl of Dartmouth
Earl of Dartmouth is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1711 for William Legge, 2nd Baron Dartmouth. The Legge family descended from Edward Legge, Vice-President of Munster. His eldest son William Legge was a Royalist army officer and close associate of Prince Rupert of the...
(6th Earl of Dartmouth) made the most significant changes to the interior of the house in 1900, with the creation of the Long and Small Drawing Rooms. The house was used as the Dartmouth family home until the outbreak of war in 1914, when it was used by the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
as a military hospital
Military hospital
Military hospital is a hospital, which is generally located on a military base and is reserved for the use of military personnel, their dependents or other authorized users....
. It was sold again in 1918 to the Hon. Mrs Robert Lindsay
Earl of Crawford
The title Earl of Crawford is one of the most ancient extant titles in Great Britain, having been created in the Peerage of Scotland for Sir David Lindsay in 1398. It is the premier earldom recorded on the Union Roll.The title has a very complex history...
.
Dartmouth House was purchased by the English-Speaking Union in 1926 for the sum of £45,000 from the Hon. Mrs Robert Lindsay. It was formally opened as the London Headquarters of the ESU by the then Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Sir Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
, on the 22 February 1927.
Today, Dartmouth House is an important heritage building in Mayfair. It was upgraded by the UK government Department of Culture, Media and Sport to be a Grade II* listed building. In addition to being the home of the ESU, the building is a location for private events, weddings and corporate events. The restaurant "Leith's at Dartmouth" is located in the Revelstoke Room.