Grosvenor House
Encyclopedia
Grosvenor House was one of the largest private townhouse
s situated on London
's exclusive Park Lane
in the district of Mayfair
. The house was the home of the Grosvenor
family (better known as the Dukes of Westminster) for more than a century. Their original London house was on Millbank
but, after the family had developed their Mayfair estates, they moved to Park Lane to build a house worthy of their wealth (a vast amount) and of their status and influence in the 19th century.
The site was occupied by a small house named 'Gloucester House' (after Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
(d.1805) who owned it) with the front entrance on Upper Grosvenor Street. This house was purchased by Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster
(d.1845) in 1805 for £20,000. He spent £17,000 on extending the house to make it more fashionable with the times. In 1821, a large picture gallery 50 feet (15.2 m) long was added to the west of the house. It was in here that many of the Grosvenor treasures were held.
Another extension was added in 1842, in the form of a 110 feet (33.5 m) long classical-style colonnade
d entrance screen on Upper Grosvenor Street. At each end was a triumphal arch
with pediments above sculpted with the Grosvenor arms
. Thomas Cundy
, the architect of this vast house then proposed a larger mansion to go all the way along to Park Street extending all the way to 230 feet (70.1 m). This was dropped as the 2nd Marquess thought it was to be too lavish.
In 1870 Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster
(d.1899) (later the 1st Duke) commissioned Henry Clutton
to add a Porte-Cochére to the north and had many of the state rooms redesigned. In 1889 electricity was introduced, being one of the first buildings in London
to do so.
built on the site. The Grosvenor House is the first JW Marriott Hotel Brand in the United Kingdom
.
, Velázquez
and other old masters. Some of these were sold between the wars but most remain in the other Grosvenor homes, mainly their country seat - Eaton Hall
in Cheshire
.
Townhouse
A townhouse is the term historically used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries to describe a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year...
s situated on 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...
's exclusive Park Lane
Park Lane (road)
Park Lane is a major road in the City of Westminster, in Central London.-History:Originally a country lane running north-south along what is now the eastern boundary of Hyde Park, it became a fashionable residential address from the eighteenth century onwards, offering both views across Hyde Park...
in the district of 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...
. The house was the home of the Grosvenor
Grosvenor
-Baronets/Marquesses/Dukes of Westminster::*Sir Richard Grosvenor, 1st Baronet *Sir Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Baronet , son of 1st baronet*Sir Thomas Grosvenor, 3rd Baronet , grandson of 2nd baronet...
family (better known as the Dukes of Westminster) for more than a century. Their original London house was on Millbank
Millbank
Millbank is an area of central London in the City of Westminster. Millbank is located by the River Thames, east of Pimlico and south of Westminster...
but, after the family had developed their Mayfair estates, they moved to Park Lane to build a house worthy of their wealth (a vast amount) and of their status and influence in the 19th century.
Brief history
Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh was a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of George II and a younger brother of George III.-Early life:...
(d.1805) who owned it) with the front entrance on Upper Grosvenor Street. This house was purchased by Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster
Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster
Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster, KG was the son of the 1st Earl Grosvenor, whom he succeeded in 1802 as 2nd Earl Grosvenor. He was created Marquess of Westminster in 1831. He was an English Member of Parliament and an ancestor of the modern day Dukes of Westminster...
(d.1845) in 1805 for £20,000. He spent £17,000 on extending the house to make it more fashionable with the times. In 1821, a large picture gallery 50 feet (15.2 m) long was added to the west of the house. It was in here that many of the Grosvenor treasures were held.
Another extension was added in 1842, in the form of a 110 feet (33.5 m) long classical-style colonnade
Colonnade
In classical architecture, a colonnade denotes a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building....
d entrance screen on Upper Grosvenor Street. At each end was a triumphal arch
Triumphal arch
A triumphal arch is a monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, crowned with a flat entablature or attic on which a statue might be...
with pediments above sculpted with the Grosvenor arms
Scrope v. Grosvenor
Scrope v. Grosvenor was one of the earliest heraldic law cases brought in England. The case resulted from the fact that two different families were using the same undifferenced coat of arms. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the composition of coats of arms was very simple...
. Thomas Cundy
Thomas Cundy
Thomas Cundy may refer to one of three English architects, father, son and grandson:*Thomas Cundy *Thomas Cundy *Thomas Cundy III...
, the architect of this vast house then proposed a larger mansion to go all the way along to Park Street extending all the way to 230 feet (70.1 m). This was dropped as the 2nd Marquess thought it was to be too lavish.
In 1870 Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster
Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster
Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster KG, PC, JP , styled Viscount Belgrave between 1831 and 1845 and Earl Grosvenor between 1845 and 1869 and known as the 3rd Marquess of Westminster between 1869 and 1874, was an English landowner, politician and racehorse owner.He inherited the estate of...
(d.1899) (later the 1st Duke) commissioned Henry Clutton
Henry Clutton
Henry Clutton was an English architect and designer and a student of Edward Blore and also worked with William Burges.-Work:* Battle Abbey, Sussex* Cliveden, Buckinghamshire* Hoar Cross Hall, Staffordshire...
to add a Porte-Cochére to the north and had many of the state rooms redesigned. In 1889 electricity was introduced, being one of the first buildings 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...
to do so.
Demolition
The house was in the Grosvenor's possession until the First World War as the government requested it for their use. After the war the family decided it was too lavish to maintain so it was sold. The house was demolished and the Grosvenor House HotelGrosvenor House Hotel
Grosvenor House is a large and luxurious hotel. The iconic Mayfair, London hotel is owned by the Sahara Group. The name has also been licensed to a property in Dubai....
built on the site. The Grosvenor House is the first JW Marriott Hotel Brand in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Art collections
It is said that the house housed one of the best private art collections in the world with paintings by GainsboroughThomas 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...
, Velázquez
Diego Velázquez
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist...
and other old masters. Some of these were sold between the wars but most remain in the other Grosvenor homes, mainly their country seat - Eaton Hall
Eaton Hall (Cheshire)
Eaton Hall is the country house of the Duke of Westminster. It is set within a large estate south of the village of Eccleston, in Cheshire, England . The house is surrounded by formal gardens, parkland, farmland and woodland. The estate covers an area of about .The first substantial house was...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
.
Sources
- Walford, Edward. Old & New London: A Narrative of Its History, Its People & Its Places, 6 vols., London, 19th.c., vol 4, pp.370-372.
External links
- Detailed architectural history from the Survey of LondonSurvey of LondonThe Survey of London is a research project to produce a comprehensive architectural survey of the former County of London. It was founded in 1894 by Charles Robert Ashbee, an Arts-and-Crafts architect and social thinker, and was motivated by a desire to record and preserve London's ancient monuments...
- Hotel Website