.
On Sunday, the tour group had several options. Kristine and Victoria led a walking tour of St. James's. Some others had different agendas. One went to Stratford on Avon for the day; some did a Harry Potter Tour, for example.
We walked from our hotel near Victoria Station past Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Monument, Being a Sunday, the traffic circle and the Mall were open for strollers and bicycles. Our weather was perfect, warm and sunny without being humid or sticky.
Flower Beds were gloriously abundant.
We headed up the path in Green Park past Lancaster House, Spencer House, and other posh residences.
Lancaster House
Spencer House, West Facade
We cut through the narrow Milkmaids Passage which opens into a few short streets and cul-du-sacs of western St. James's.
The Stafford Hotel (much remodeled) was once the home of Sir William, 3rd Baronet Lyttelton, and his wife (1787-1870), the former Lady Sarah Spencer, niece of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. After her husband's death, Lady Lyttelton became a governess to the children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The hotel's fine restaurant is titled The Lyttelton. For more about the hotel,
click here.
Wandering around the maze of streets in this little corner of St. James's, we found a mix of modern (often brutalist) office/apartment complexes and a few listed buildings fro the 18th century.
for example, those below:
21 Arlington Street, built 1738-40 by Architect Giacomo Leoni for Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington, an excellent example of Palladianism stripped down to its essentials (ig nore the aadded top floor)
Royal Overseas Club, in Park Place
We followed the ins and outs of this maze to the entrance facade of Spencer House in St. James's Place.
Spencer House, built 1756-66 by Architects John Vardy and James "Athenian" Stuart for John, 1st Earl Spencer. It is now owned by the Rothschild Enterprise's RIT Capital Partners and open on most Sundays for a tour of the State Rooms. The website is
here and includes photos of both the exterior and interior.
Nearby is a handsome brick house once the residence of Williams Huskisson (1770-1830). The blue plaque calls him a statesman; he was often a strong opponent politically in Parliament of the Duke of Wellington. He is also the first man to be killed in a railway accident when a demonstration run of the Rocket ran over him in the presence of many notables including the duke.
No. 29 was once the residence of Winston Churchill.
#5 was the home of Sir Robert Walpole (1676-1745)
and his son Horace Walpole (1717-1797)
Another famous resident of St James Place, at #4, was composer and pianist
Frederic Chopin (1810-49)
Duke's Hotel is another elegant institution on St. James Place
St. James's Place after several twists and turns, opens into St. James's Street, that famous location of St. James's Palace, gentlemen's clubs of the British variety, and several very old merchants. The numbering begins at the Palace and goes north up the east side of the street to Piccadilly then crosses to the west side and counts southward back to the Palace.
The Palace at the bottom of the street
Grenadier Guard at St James's Palace, built by Henry VIII
But feeling the need for a sit-down and some coffee, we retired to a cafe in Piccadilly before taking up our tour again.
Berry Bros. and Rudd, Ltd, Wine Merchants, #3 St. James's Street
A Passage beside the wine store leads to Pickering Place, above and below.
This little space was once known as a spot for dueling, but it must have been pretty tight!
Pickering Place,with a plaque of Lord Palmerston
Another plaque commemorates the location of the Texas legation 1842-1846.
Denise particularly was excited to find this. Wonder why? A Texan, perhaps?
Lock and Co. Hatters have served british dignitaries for more than 300 years.
Lobb and Co. Bootmakers
Closer to Piccadilly on the east side of the street are two famous Clubs
Boodle's, #27 St. James's Street
.
The chemist's shop, D. R. Harris, founded in 1790, is located at #29. The website is
here.
White's Club, #37/38 St. James's Street, founded 1693
Om the west side, heading back to St. James's Palace, you will find Brook's Club.
Brooks's 60 St. James's Street, club founded in 1762
The headquarters of Justerini and Brooks Ltd. at 61 St. James St
across Park Place from Brooks's.
The Carlton Club, #69 St. James's Street, founded in 1832
#74 St. James's Street, formerly the Conservative Club, completed in 1845
Returning to Piccadilly, we stopped for a welcome sit-down and a coffee or tea. Even on a Sunday morning, Piccadilly was busy, as usual an international mish-mash of tourists globe-wide. Great people watching!
Burlington Arcade
We walked east on Piccadilly past a number of famous sites:
on the north side of the street, Burlington Arcade.
And Burlington House, home of the Royal Academy of Arts.
Tucked almost beside Burlington House is the famous residence, Albany, once the home of Lord Byron and more recently, Georgette Heyer. Built originally as Melbourne House. it was traded by that family to the Duke of York and Albany (2nd son of George III) in exchange for what became Melbourne House in Whitehall, now the Scotland office just south of Horse Guards. Later it became prestigious bachelor quarters, eventually open to women as well.
Albany
On the South side of the street, that esteemed purveyor of all things delicious, Fortnum and Mason, established in 1707 in Duke Street, and supplier worldwide, including to the army in the Peninsular War in the early 19th century, right up to today's British forces -- not to mention picnickers, racegoers, opera lovers, and foodies everywhere.,
Fortnum and Mason
Hatchards
Hatchards
Hatchards Bookstore, established 1797 Their website is
here.
Soon, we arrive at the wonderful St James's Church, Piccadilly.
Outside the church is a small but lively marketplace
Baptismal font
The famous wood carvings of Grinling Gibbons
Organ loft at the rear of the church
Floris Perfumers on Jermyn Street
Nearby, a plaque marking the location of the residence of Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
Chequers Pub
Time for another pause that refreshes, this time at Chequers...a charming little pub in Duke street. At the rear of the building or accessible from a passage beside it is Mason's Yard, another hidden collection of interesting sites, including the White Cube Gallery and the member's entrance of the London Library.
William III in St. James's Square
At last we came to St. James;s Square, still a leafy oasis, though a private park as so many of the squares in London are.
There are still a few of the buildings originally built here, though much remodeled, and many replaced. At #4 is the Naval and Military Club, better known as the In and Out Club.
#4 St. James's Square
The plaque honors Nancy Astor (1879-1964), first woman to sit in Parliament, who once lived here.
Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St. Albans, 1605-1684
Following the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660, Henry Jermyn was Lord Chancellor, and received a grant of land north of St. James's Palace, which he had cleared and laid out for development. He is known as the Father of the West End. He died shortly before the completion of St. James's Church, just north of St. James Square.
At #10 St. James's Square stands Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, site of many important multilateral events. The building was once home to three Prime Ministers,
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708-1778), Edward Geoffrey Stanley, Earl of Derby (1799-1869), and William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898).
Plaque honoring three Prime Ministers at #10 St. James's Square
Ada, Countess of Lovelace (1815-52) at #12 St James's Square
Ada Lovelace was the only legitimate child of Lord Byron and his wife, Anabella Millbanke. She was a mathematician and a pioneer in computing.
London Library, #14 St. James's Square
The private library, established in 1841, is a favorite of many British writers and historians. Kristine and victoria returned here the week after the tour for a special viewing during London Open House Week. Watch for our report in a few weeks.
#16 St. James's Square, once the Boehm residence where the Prince Regent
received the despatches of the Duke of Wellington after the Battle of Waterloo,
now the East India Services Club
By this time we were all ready for our tea, so we hiked back to Piccadilly and the wonderful Richoux Tea Room at #172.
The Survivors l to r: Victoria, Diane, Ki, Donna, Marilyn, Kristine
NEXT ON FRIDAY: THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON TOUR STORMS WALMER CASTLE
