James Gunter
Encyclopedia
James Gunter was an English confectioner, fruit grower and scientific gardener who created what became one of the great residential estates in West London.
Gunter was taken into partnership in 1777 by Domenico Negri who had opened a confectioner's shop in Berkeley Square
in 1757 under the sign of the Pot & Pine Apple. In 1797 Gunter was living in New Bond Street when an incident occurred which showed his nature. A servant of his had stolen and pawned a silver ladel and other goods and was found guilty at the Old Bailey
. Her defence was "Mr. Gunter has been a worthy master to me, I hope he will be favourable; he always behaved well to me" resulted in her receiving a fine of one shilling and six months in the House of Correction, while others convicted os similar crimes were sentenced to seven years transportation.
Gunter decided to develop his own farms and market garden
s to grow fruit and first became involved in the Earl's Court area - then a prime market garden area - when he took a sub-lease of part of Home Field and Great Court Field from a local farmer in 1797. He bought the freehold of these properties in 1799. He also bought Earls Court Lodge which became the Gunters’ family home for 60 years. By 1799 he had also become sole proprietor of Gunter's Tea Shop
which became one of the most fashionable Mayfair meeting places. Earls Court Lodge became nicknamed "Currant-Jelly Hall".
In 1805 Gunter purchased some land where Coleherne Road and Redcliffe Square
are now situated. By 1807 Gunter had also bought from speculative builder Thomas Smith some land in Great Court Field and the Home Field land. He also bought a large plot where The Boltons
now stands. He was unsuccessful in his bid to buy some land that would hae connected his other plots to The Boltons area but carried on acquiring land on a piecemeal basis with more land at Redcliffe Square and the Boltons and in 1812 bought land between the Boltons and Fulham Road
. He started building villas on his property between 1808 and 1810 around Earls Court Road and Old Brompton Road
, although these were subsequently demolished in later developments.
Gunter died at Worthing at the age of 73.
Gunter had a son Robert, who was left the land in trust for his then unborn son. Robert however also purchased land and left this to his second son James Gunter while the elder son Robert Gunter
inherited from his grandfather. These grandchildren Robert and James, who both fought in the Crimean War, shared all the land between them fairly and developed the property extensively particularly after the arrival of the Metropolitan District Railway
.
Gunter was taken into partnership in 1777 by Domenico Negri who had opened a confectioner's shop in 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...
in 1757 under the sign of the Pot & Pine Apple. In 1797 Gunter was living in New Bond Street when an incident occurred which showed his nature. A servant of his had stolen and pawned a silver ladel and other goods and was found guilty at the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
. Her defence was "Mr. Gunter has been a worthy master to me, I hope he will be favourable; he always behaved well to me" resulted in her receiving a fine of one shilling and six months in the House of Correction, while others convicted os similar crimes were sentenced to seven years transportation.
Gunter decided to develop his own farms and market garden
Market garden
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. It is distinguishable from other types of farming by the diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically, from under one acre ...
s to grow fruit and first became involved in the Earl's Court area - then a prime market garden area - when he took a sub-lease of part of Home Field and Great Court Field from a local farmer in 1797. He bought the freehold of these properties in 1799. He also bought Earls Court Lodge which became the Gunters’ family home for 60 years. By 1799 he had also become sole proprietor of Gunter's Tea Shop
Gunter's Tea Shop
Gunter's Tea Shop in London's Berkeley Square had its origins in a food business named “Pot and Pine Apple” started in 1757 by Italian Domenico Negri. Various English, French and Italian wet and dry sweetmeats were made and sold from the business. In 1777 James Gunter became Negri’s business...
which became one of the most fashionable Mayfair meeting places. Earls Court Lodge became nicknamed "Currant-Jelly Hall".
In 1805 Gunter purchased some land where Coleherne Road and Redcliffe Square
Redcliffe Square
Redcliffe Square is a town square located in the Kensington area of southwest central London, England . Recliffe Square Gardens are located in the square....
are now situated. By 1807 Gunter had also bought from speculative builder Thomas Smith some land in Great Court Field and the Home Field land. He also bought a large plot where The Boltons
The Boltons
The Boltons is a street located in the Brompton district of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England . The street is divided into two crescents to the west and east with large expensive houses and communal gardens in the centre.To the northwest via Boltons Place is Old Brompton...
now stands. He was unsuccessful in his bid to buy some land that would hae connected his other plots to The Boltons area but carried on acquiring land on a piecemeal basis with more land at Redcliffe Square and the Boltons and in 1812 bought land between the Boltons and Fulham Road
Fulham Road
Fulham Road is a street in London, England, that runs from the A219 road in right in the centre of Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, through Chelsea to Brompton Road Knightsbridge and the A4 in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.Fulham Road runs parallel...
. He started building villas on his property between 1808 and 1810 around Earls Court Road and Old Brompton Road
Old Brompton Road
Old Brompton Road is a major street in the South Kensington district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London.It starts from South Kensington tube station and runs south-west, through a mainly residential area, until it reaches West Brompton and the area around Earl's Court tube station...
, although these were subsequently demolished in later developments.
Gunter died at Worthing at the age of 73.
Gunter had a son Robert, who was left the land in trust for his then unborn son. Robert however also purchased land and left this to his second son James Gunter while the elder son Robert Gunter
Robert Gunter
Sir Robert Gunter, 1st Baronet was a British army officer, property developer and Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1905....
inherited from his grandfather. These grandchildren Robert and James, who both fought in the Crimean War, shared all the land between them fairly and developed the property extensively particularly after the arrival of the Metropolitan District Railway
Metropolitan District Railway
The Metropolitan District Railway was the predecessor of the District line of the London Underground. Set up on 29 July 1864, at first to complete the "Inner Circle" railway around central London, it was gradually extended into the suburbs...
.