Schomberg House
Encyclopedia
Schomberg House is a mansion on the south side of Pall Mall
in central London
which has a colourful history. Only the street facade survives today. It was built for Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg
, a Huguenot
general in the service of the British crown. It was adapted from Portland House, which in turn has been created by the Countess of Portland
by converting two houses into a single residence. Work began in 1694, the year after the duke inherited his title.
The street facade of Schomberg House is striking and rather unusual for a London mansion. It is of red brick, with four main storeys above the basement. The facade's street-level awning and decorative work is made of Lithodipyra (Coade stone
) manufactured by Eleanor Coade
. It is nine windows wide, with the central three bays projecting slightly and topped by a pediment
, and the two end bays projecting boldly so that they form projections somewhat like small towers. The windows are narrow and six bold bands of quoins
frame the three projections, giving the facade an energetic verticality.
Meinhardt Schomberg's dukedom became extinct on his death in 1719 and the house was subsequently let. In 1769 it was divided into three (No, 80 Pall Mall to the west, No, 81 in the centre and No. 82 to the east) by the artist John Astley
. Astley lived at No. 81 himself, and constructed a studio on the roof. In 1781 Astley was succeeded by a Scottish quack doctor called James Graham, who turned the establishment into a "Temple of Health and Hymen". The "Temple" featured a huge "celestial bed" fitted with early electrical devices, which was alleged to cure infertility, and was let to desperate and wealthy couples for £50 a night (about two years wages for a labourer). The Temple also served as a high class brothel and gambling den, and was eventually raided by the police and closed down. Meanwhile Thomas Gainsborough
, who was at the height of his career as one of the two most fashionable portrait painters in England, lived next door at No. 80 from 1774 until his death in 1788. The artist Richard Cosway
also lived at No. 81 for a time. During this period number 82 was a fashionable textile store.
In the first half of the 19th century Schomberg House was neither aristocratic nor artistic. The central house was a bookshop from 1804 to 1850, and other tenants of the three houses included a picture dealer, an auctioneer and a haberdasher. In 1850 No. 80 was demolished and replaced as part of an abortive redevelopment of the whole site. Then in 1859 Nos. 80-82 were all acquired by the government for use by the War Office
, which also occupied several other mansions in Pall Mall. In 1956 the building was largely demolished to make way for offices. However, not only were the surviving facades of Nos. 81 and 82 retained, but that of No. 80 was rebuilt in its original form. There have been further alterations since, and the interiors are now modern open plan offices, but the striking frontage remains.
Pall Mall, London
Pall Mall is a street in the City of Westminster, London, and parallel to The Mall, from St. James's Street across Waterloo Place to the Haymarket; while Pall Mall East continues into Trafalgar Square. The street is a major thoroughfare in the St James's area of London, and a section of the...
in central London
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
which has a colourful history. Only the street facade survives today. It was built for Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg
Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg
Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg, 1st Duke of Leinster, KG was a general in the service of Prince William of Orange, later King William III of England.-Military career:...
, a Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
general in the service of the British crown. It was adapted from Portland House, which in turn has been created by the Countess of Portland
Earl of Portland
Earl of Portland is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of England, first in 1633 and again in 1689.-First creation :The title of Earl of Portland was first created for the politician Richard Weston, 1st Baron Weston, in 1633...
by converting two houses into a single residence. Work began in 1694, the year after the duke inherited his title.
The street facade of Schomberg House is striking and rather unusual for a London mansion. It is of red brick, with four main storeys above the basement. The facade's street-level awning and decorative work is made of Lithodipyra (Coade stone
Coade stone
Lithodipyra , or Coade stone, was ceramic stoneware that was often described as an artificial stone in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was used for moulding Neoclassical statues, architectural decorations and garden ornaments that were both of the highest quality and remain virtually...
) manufactured by Eleanor Coade
Eleanor Coade
Eleanor Coade was a devout Baptist and remained unmarried until her death on 16 November 1821 in Camberwell Grove, Camberwell, London. Her obituary notice was published in The Gentleman's Magazine which declared her ‘the sole inventor and proprietor of an art which deserves considerable notice’...
. It is nine windows wide, with the central three bays projecting slightly and topped by a pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
, and the two end bays projecting boldly so that they form projections somewhat like small towers. The windows are narrow and six bold bands of quoins
Quoin (architecture)
Quoins are the cornerstones of brick or stone walls. Quoins may be either structural or decorative. Architects and builders use quoins to give the impression of strength and firmness to the outline of a building...
frame the three projections, giving the facade an energetic verticality.
Meinhardt Schomberg's dukedom became extinct on his death in 1719 and the house was subsequently let. In 1769 it was divided into three (No, 80 Pall Mall to the west, No, 81 in the centre and No. 82 to the east) by the artist John Astley
John Astley
John Astley may refer to:* John Astley , MP for Cricklade 1559, and for Boroughbridge 1563* Sir John Astley, 2nd Baronet, of Pateshull , Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury 1727–1734 and Shropshire 1734–1772...
. Astley lived at No. 81 himself, and constructed a studio on the roof. In 1781 Astley was succeeded by a Scottish quack doctor called James Graham, who turned the establishment into a "Temple of Health and Hymen". The "Temple" featured a huge "celestial bed" fitted with early electrical devices, which was alleged to cure infertility, and was let to desperate and wealthy couples for £50 a night (about two years wages for a labourer). The Temple also served as a high class brothel and gambling den, and was eventually raided by the police and closed down. Meanwhile Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
, who was at the height of his career as one of the two most fashionable portrait painters in England, lived next door at No. 80 from 1774 until his death in 1788. The artist Richard Cosway
Richard Cosway
Richard Cosway was a leading English portrait painter—more accurately a miniaturist—of the Regency era. He was a contemporary of John Smart, George Engleheart, William Wood, and Richard Crosse...
also lived at No. 81 for a time. During this period number 82 was a fashionable textile store.
In the first half of the 19th century Schomberg House was neither aristocratic nor artistic. The central house was a bookshop from 1804 to 1850, and other tenants of the three houses included a picture dealer, an auctioneer and a haberdasher. In 1850 No. 80 was demolished and replaced as part of an abortive redevelopment of the whole site. Then in 1859 Nos. 80-82 were all acquired by the government for use by the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
, which also occupied several other mansions in Pall Mall. In 1956 the building was largely demolished to make way for offices. However, not only were the surviving facades of Nos. 81 and 82 retained, but that of No. 80 was rebuilt in its original form. There have been further alterations since, and the interiors are now modern open plan offices, but the striking frontage remains.