Wilton Crescent
Encyclopedia
Wilton Crescent is a wealthy community in Belgravia
, London.
Wilton Crescent was created by Thomas Cundy II, the Grosvenor family Estate surveyor and was drawn up with the original 1821 Wyatt plan for Belgravia. It was names at the time of Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton
, second son of Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster
on whose estate the road was built in 1825 by William Howard Seth-Smith
.
In the 19th and 20th century it was home to many prominent British politicians, ambassadors and civil servants. Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
(1900–1979) lived at 2 Wilton Crescent for many years. Today there is a blue plaque
on the house marking it. Like much of Belgravia, Wilton Crescent is characterised by grand terraces with lavish white houses which are built in a crescent shape, many of them with stuccoed balconies, particularly on the southern part of the crescent. The houses to the north of the crescent are stone clad and five stories high and were refaced between 1908 and 1912. Most of the houses had originally been built in the stucco style but such houses became stone clad during this renovation period. Other houses today have black iron balconies.
Wilton Crescent lies east of Lowndes Square
and Lowndes Street, to the northwest of Belgrave Square
. It is accessed via Wilton Place which connects it to the main road in Knightsbridge. It is adjacent to Grosvenor Crescent to the east, which contains the Indonesian Embassy. Further to the east lies Buckingham Palace
. The play Major Barbara
is partly set at Lady Britomart's house in Wilton Crescent. Wilton Crescent in nearby Alderley Edge which is home to the Sue Morris School of Ballet. In 2007 Wilton Garden in the middle of the crescent won a bronze medal by the London Gardens Society.
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
, London.
Wilton Crescent was created by Thomas Cundy II, the Grosvenor family Estate surveyor and was drawn up with the original 1821 Wyatt plan for Belgravia. It was names at the time of Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton
Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton
Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton GCH, PC , known as Thomas Grosvenor until 1814, was a British nobleman and Tory politician...
, second son of 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...
on whose estate the road was built in 1825 by William Howard Seth-Smith
William Howard Seth-Smith
William Howard Seth-Smith may refer to:*William Howard Seth-Smith I, made family fortune by building some of the most expensive residences in Knightsbridge*William Howard Seth-Smith III -noted for his building of schools and churches in Surrey...
.
In the 19th and 20th century it was home to many prominent British politicians, ambassadors and civil servants. Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
(1900–1979) lived at 2 Wilton Crescent for many years. Today there is a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
on the house marking it. Like much of Belgravia, Wilton Crescent is characterised by grand terraces with lavish white houses which are built in a crescent shape, many of them with stuccoed balconies, particularly on the southern part of the crescent. The houses to the north of the crescent are stone clad and five stories high and were refaced between 1908 and 1912. Most of the houses had originally been built in the stucco style but such houses became stone clad during this renovation period. Other houses today have black iron balconies.
Wilton Crescent lies east of Lowndes Square
Lowndes Square
Lowndes Square is an upmarket residential community in Belgravia, London. Like much of Belgravia it is characterised by grand terraces with white stucco houses. The square runs parallel with Sloane Street to the east, east of the Harvey Nichols store and Knightsbridge tube station. It is home to...
and Lowndes Street, to the northwest of Belgrave Square
Belgrave Square
Belgrave Square is one of the grandest and largest 19th century squares in London, England. It is the centrepiece of Belgravia, and was laid out by the property contractor Thomas Cubitt for the 2nd Earl Grosvenor, later the 1st Marquess of Westminster, in the 1820s. Most of the houses were occupied...
. It is accessed via Wilton Place which connects it to the main road in Knightsbridge. It is adjacent to Grosvenor Crescent to the east, which contains the Indonesian Embassy. Further to the east lies Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
. The play Major Barbara
Major Barbara (play)
Major Barbara is a three act play by George Bernard Shaw, written and premiered in 1905 and first published in 1907.-Setting:*London*Act I: Lady Britomart's house in Wilton Crescent*Act II: The Salvation Army shelter in West Ham...
is partly set at Lady Britomart's house in Wilton Crescent. Wilton Crescent in nearby Alderley Edge which is home to the Sue Morris School of Ballet. In 2007 Wilton Garden in the middle of the crescent won a bronze medal by the London Gardens Society.
Notable people
- Edward Pleydell-BouverieEdward Pleydell-BouverieEdward Pleydell-Bouverie PC, FRS , styled The Honourable from 1828, was a British Liberal politician. He was a member of Lord Palmerston's first administration as Paymaster-General and Vice-President of the Board of Trade in 1855 and as President of the Poor Law Board between 1855 and...
(1818–1889) - 44 Wilton Crescent - Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of BurmaLouis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of BurmaAdmiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
(1900–1979) - 2 Wilton Crescent - Sir Percy Loraine, 12th BaronetSir Percy Loraine, 12th BaronetSir Percy Loraine, 12th Baronet, KCMG, PC was a British diplomat.Educated at Eton College and New College, Oxford, Loraine fought in the Second Boer War in Southern Africa. In 1904, he joined the foreign service. He first served in the Middle East, at the British missions in Istanbul and Tehran,...
(1880–1961) - 19 Wilton Crescent - George Rennie (engineer)George Rennie (engineer)George Rennie was an engineer born in London, England. He was the son of the Scottish engineer John Rennie and the brother of Sir John Rennie.-Early life:...
(1791–1866) - 39 Wilton Crescent - Alfonso López PumarejoAlfonso López PumarejoAlfonso López Pumarejo was a two-time Colombian president and political figure, as a member of the Colombian Liberal Party. He served as president of Colombia for the first time between 1934 and 1938 and again between 1942 and 1945....
(twice president of Colombia) -33 Wilton Crescent