supposed that, as they at times worked in partnership, the whole of the
buildings in the square and the houses in several of the adjoining
streets were erected by them, partly as a speculation and partly as
builders for other lessees.
There is much to support the view that Thomas Leverton was the author of
the general scheme and the designer of the houses. He took up a building
lease of No. 13 in 1775, practically at the beginning of building
operations. He was a well-known architect, who adopted the style of the
period as represented by Henry Holland and the Brothers Adam.[705] His
work shows well-balanced composition and refinement of detail. He
employed, moreover, many of the designers who worked for the Brothers
Adam, such as Bonomi, the clever draughtsman and architect, Angelica
Kauffmann and Antonio Zucchi, the Italian artist. It is also said that
he employed Flaxman to execute carving, and skilled Italian workmen to
carry out his beautiful designs for plaster work on ceilings, several of
which are illustrated in this volume.
An example of his work has already been described in the previous volume
dealing with this parish,[706] namely at No. 65, Lincoln’s Inn Fields,
erected in 1772. It will be seen, by examining plates Nos. 86 and 97 in
that volume, that these designs show a similar architectural expression
to the houses of this square, and the internal decoration (especially of
his own house, and of No. 44) follows the general character of that in
Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
With regard to the suggestion[707] that the Brothers Adam were the
designers of Bedford Square, it may be said that the only drawings found
appertaining to the square by these celebrated architects are preserved
in the Soane Museum, and represent two ceilings designed for
Stainsforth, Esq., dated 1779. Geo. Stainsforth took up his residence at
No. 8, Bedford Square in that year,[708] but the house had already been
in existence for some time, as it is referred to as the northern
boundary of No. 7, on 20th November, 1777.[709] There is no evidence
that designs for the ceilings referred to were actually carried out, as
the present ceilings of the house are plain.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
Bedford Square—
General view looking north-east (photograph).
[710]General view looking south-east (photograph).
General view of north side (photograph).
LXIX.—NO. 1, BEDFORD SQUARE.[711]
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, The Crown; lessee, Weedon Grossmith, Esq.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
This house fills a gap between the premises in Bloomsbury Street
(formerly Charlotte Street) and those forming the eastern block of the
square. It is distinctive in its elevation (Plate 63), and has marked
characteristics of a Leverton design. The well-proportioned entrance,
though finished in plaster work, is highly ornamented, the detail being
unusually refined (Plate 64). The introduction of an ornamental panel
above the main cornice of the building gives a graceful balance to the
composition. In passing, it may be noticed that the cornice of No. 2,
although not in alignment with that of this house, is of the same
section.
The entrance doorway affords direct access to a hall of uncommonly
beautiful design, extending the full width of the house, and divided by
piers into three bays (Plate 62). The central bay has two recesses, and
is ceiled with a decorative plaster oval dome resting on pendentives and
segmental arches (Plate 66). The right-hand bay has semi-circular ends
(Plate 65) flanked by niches, and there is also a niche in the centre of
the side wall, over which is placed a circular plaque. The bay to the
left contains the staircase (Plate 65). This also has semi-circular
ends. The stone steps have shaped soffits, the balustrades being of
bronze, of graceful curvature and tasteful design. The principal rooms
have fine decorative detail to the doors and windows, and rounded
internal angles are given to the walls. The dining room contains a
carved wood mantelpiece (Plate 67) and “Empire” grate; the chimney
breast above being ornamented with an oval plaque surrounded with floral
festoons. The lowest member of the cornice should be noticed, as it is
similar to that in the dining room of No. 13, Leverton’s own house, and
is composed of diminutive Greek Doric pillars suspended by their
capitals, a somewhat unusual form of decoration suggestive of tassels.
The first floor has two rooms, that in the front containing a white
marble chimneypiece. The rear room is the studio. The chimneypiece is of
white marble, very delicately carved with a fine pier glass over. Great
care has been taken with the ornamental plaster frieze (illustrated on
the next page) and ceiling (Plate 68), both of which are of exceptional
merit. The painted panels are said[712] to be by Antonio Zucchi. It is
difficult to dissociate his work from that of Angelica Kauffmann, whom
he afterwards (1781) married, but on close examination it will be
noticed that the panels reputed to be by the latter in No. 25[713]
(Plate 85) are somewhat different in arrangement and composition.
[Illustration]
The studio cornice and ceiling have been repeated in No. 10, even to the
paintings, a fact which points to one controlling influence in the
decorative treatment of these houses.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
According to the ratebooks the first occupier of No. 1 was Sir
Lionel Lyde, who took up his residence here in 1781. In 1791 he
was succeeded by Geo. Gosling, who remained until after the close
of the century.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
[714]Ground and first floor plans (measured drawing).
[714]Front view (photograph).
[714]Entrance porch (measured drawing).
[714]Entrance hall, view looking south (photograph).
[714]Entrance hall, view looking north, showing staircase
(photograph).
[714]Centre portion of ornamental ceiling in entrance hall
(photograph).
[714]Chimney breast in rear room on ground floor (photograph).
General view of rear room on first floor (photograph).
Chimneypiece in rear room on first floor (photograph).
[714]Ornamental plaster frieze in rear room on first floor
(photograph).
[714]Ornamental plaster ceiling with painted panels in rear room
on first floor (photograph).
LXX.—NOS. 6 AND 6A, BEDFORD SQUARE.[715]
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEES.
Ground landlord, The Crown; lessees, William Harris, Esq. (No. 6),
Walter F. Trow, Esq. (No. 6A).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
This house was not in existence on 20th November, 1777, as the lease of
No. 7, Bedford Square, granted on that date,[716] mentions as the
southern boundary “ground contracted to be built upon.” It first appears
in the parish ratebooks in 1781.
[Illustration:
IRON STAIR BALUSTERS
]
The house is centrally placed on the east side, and is the largest in
the square (Plate 69). It is now in two occupations, each being given a
separate entrance. The hall has been divided and a few of the earlier
openings closed, but otherwise the premises are, on the whole, as
originally erected.
An important feature is the hall containing a staircase to the first
floor, constructed of stone, with a balustrade of wrought iron formed
with pairs of simple bars alternating with an ornamental baluster. There
is an enriched cornice and ceiling below the first floor landing and
this level is marked on the wall of the hall by a beautiful band of
ornament (illustrated on the next page). The side walls above this level
are enriched with plaster mouldings. The end walls are semi-circular in
plan. The ceiling at the second floor level is an exceptionally good
example of design in plaster (Plate 70), composed of two decorated and
fluted semi-domes over the end walls, supporting pendentives which carry
a circular cornice, from which springs a domical lantern. The front room
on the ground floor has a white marble inlay chimneypiece. The front
room on the first floor to the south has a much damaged painted ceiling,
and a fine marble chimneypiece (Plate 71) with Ionic columns and
sculptured panel in the frieze.
The long room to the front on the same floor in No. 6A has a segmental
ceiling similar to that in No. 10 (Plate 74), but is not decorated.
There are two ornamental plaques in the frieze of the end walls, and the
eastern back room on the second floor contains a white marble
chimneypiece with sculptured figure and festoons.
[Illustration]
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The ratebooks show that the first occupant of the house was Lord
Loughborough, whose residence here began in 1781 and lasted until
1798. Particulars of the life of Alexander Wedderburn, Baron
Loughborough, afterwards Earl of Rosslyn, have already been given
in the previous volume dealing with the Parish of St.
Giles-in-the-Fields.[717]
In 1798 Loughborough was succeeded in the occupation of the house
by Lord Eldon.
John Scott, first Earl of Eldon, was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne
in 1751. The son of a coal-factor, he was at first intended for
that business, but through the influence of his brother William
(afterwards Lord Stowell), he went to Oxford in 1766, with a view
to taking orders. After his marriage in 1772, he gave up the
church and turned to the law. He became a student at Middle Temple
in January, 1773, and was called to the Bar in 1776. In 1783 he
became King’s counsel and was returned to Parliament as member for
the close borough of Weobley, Herefordshire. In Parliament he gave
general support to Pitt and in 1788 was appointed
solicitor-general, and was knighted. He succeeded in 1793 to the
attorney-generalship, in which he conducted the vigorous
prosecutions against British sympathisers with French
Republicanism, and became for the time the best hated man in
England. In 1799 he became Lord Chief Justice of the Court of
Common Pleas, and on the formation of Addington’s ministry in
1801, he was appointed Lord Chancellor. Lord Eldon continued in
office as Chancellor under Pitt (1804–1806), and on the formation
of the Portland administration in 1807, resumed the Great Seal,
which he retained for twenty years. His influence in the Cabinet
was supreme, and he was, in all but name, prime minister of
England. His one aim in politics was to keep in office and
maintain things as he found them. In 1821, Lord Eldon was created
Viscount Encombe and Earl of Eldon. He died in London on 13th
January, 1838.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
[718]Ground and first floor plans (measured drawing).
Staircase in No. 6 (photograph).
[718]Stair balusters (measured drawing).
Ornamental ceiling of landing and lantern light over staircase
(photograph).
[718]Lantern over staircase (photograph).
Panel on wall of staircase (photograph).
[718]Detail of plaster decoration of staircase (photograph).
Marble chimneypiece in front room on ground floor
(photograph).
General view of rear room on ground floor (photograph).
[718]Marble chimneypiece in front room on first floor
(photograph).
Marble chimneypiece in rear room on second floor (photograph).
General view of front room on first floor (No. 6A)
(photograph).
No. 8, Bedford Square—
Inner doorway and fanlight (photograph).
Lantern over staircase (photograph).
LXXI.—NO. 9, BEDFORD SQUARE.[719]
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, The Crown; lessees, executors to the late Mrs. Edward
Clarke.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
On 20th November, 1777, a lease[720] was granted, as from Michaelmas,
1775, of “all that parcel of ground, with the messuage thereon erected
on the east side of Bedford Square ... being the second house southward
from the opening opposite Bedford Street [Bayley Street].” The house was
obviously No. 9, which first appears in the parish ratebooks for the
year 1779.
The ground floor front room has a white marble chimneypiece inlaid with
coloured marble, over which, on the chimney breast, is an oval plaque
with a figure subject (Plate 72) and ornamental plaster decorations.
There are two other plaques (Plate 72) of the same shape, one over the
door of this room and the other on the chimney breast in the rear room.
Another piece of figure work is placed over the door to the front room
on the first floor, representing Anacreon and Eros.
The two rooms on the first floor have finely ornamented ceilings, that
in the front room being illustrated in Plate 73. The chimneypieces are
chiefly of white marble, the one in the front room having Ionic capitals
and coloured marble shafts, while that in the rear room is inlaid with
coloured marble, and has a sculptured panel in the frieze.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The ratebooks show that Jas. Langston lived at No. 9 from 1779 to
1797, and Mrs. Langston is shown in occupation of the house during
the remainder of the century.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
[721]Chimneypiece in front room on ground floor (plaque and frieze
reproduced) (photograph).
[721]Plaque over door and frieze in front room on ground floor
(photograph).
[721]Plaque on chimney-breast and frieze in rear room on ground
floor (photograph).
Alto relievo over entrance to drawing room (photograph).
Marble chimneypiece in rear room on first floor (photograph).
[721]Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on first floor
(photograph).
Ornamental plaster ceiling in rear room on first floor
(photograph).
LXXII.—NO. 10, BEDFORD SQUARE.[722]
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, The Crown; lessees, The Virol Research Laboratories,
Ltd.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE:—
No. 10 was not built by 20th November, 1777, for a lease[723] of No. 9,
granted on that date, refers to the northern boundary as “ground
contracted to be built upon.” It does not find a place in the parish
ratebooks until 1781.
This house is the northernmost of the eastern block. The plan has been
considerably altered, especially on the ground floor.
[Illustration: GROUND FLOOR PLAN FIRST FLOOR PLAN]
The alterations made on that floor include the removal of the partition
at the rear of the front room, the formation of a passage to the modern
premises at the rear, the closing of the windows in the rear wall, the
shifting of the fireplace from the flank to the rear wall, and the
construction of a large bay window in its place. On the first floor a
portion of the external wall has been removed, and a small addition
constructed for use as offices.
Fortunately the beautiful ceilings on this floor have been preserved.
That to the front room is segmental in shape and ornamented with plaster
decorations and three painted circular panels (Plate 74). The frieze and
ceiling of the rear room are similar to those of No. 1, Bedford
Square,[724] even to the painted panels. The paintings are well
preserved. The central panel, reproduced below, should be compared with
that illustrated in Plate 68.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
[Illustration]
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The names of the occupants of the house during the latter part of
the 18th century are given by the ratebooks as follows:—
1781–83. —— Lande.
1783–89. —— Lyde.
1789–90. Chas. Shaw Lefevre.
1790–97. John Lefevre.
1797–98. Chas. Lefevre.
1798– Henry Davison.
The “Chas. Shaw Lefevre” and “Chas. Lefevre” shown in the parish
ratebooks as occupying the house in 1789–90 and 1797–98[725]
respectively was Charles Shaw, a barrister, who, on his marriage
with Helena, only daughter of John Lefevre (possibly the occupier
in 1790–96), assumed the additional name of Lefevre. His eldest
son, Charles, afterwards Viscount Eversley, was born in 1794, and,
therefore, while the family was not resident here; but the birth
of his second son, John George (afterwards Sir John George
Shaw-Lefevre) took place at this house on 24th January, 1797.[726]
John George had a distinguished career as a public official. He
had a passion for acquiring languages, and mastered fourteen. He
died in 1879.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
[727]Ground and first floor plans (measured drawing).
[727]General view of front room on first floor showing paintings
on ceiling (photograph).
[726]Ornamental plaster ceiling with painted panels in rear room
on first floor (central panel reproduced) (photograph).
LXXIII.—NO. 11, BEDFORD SQUARE.[728]
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, The Crown; lessee, George Frederick Hatfield, Esq.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
This house (Plate 76) is situated at the south-eastern end of Gower
Street, with its entrance in Montague Place. It has no connection with
the Bedford Square blocks. The boundary between the parishes of St.
Giles-in-the-Fields and St. George, Bloomsbury, passes through the
house, and is indicated by two tablets fixed to the flank wall.
The house has an interesting plan (Plate 75). The small hall is entered
through a semi-octagonal bay, and beyond is the staircase lighted by a
lantern. To the left is the original dining room with a cleverly
screened serving door at the head of the basement stairs. The white
marble and inlay chimneypiece in this room is a fine specimen of carving
(Plate 77).
The room to the right is now used as the dining room. It has been
considerably altered in appearance by a modern partition, but its
original form can be seen by the plan. The eastern side is circular, and
has a casement window affording access to a verandah, which is screened
by the two small rooms on either side. A curious feature to note is that
the northern room impinges upon the first house in Gower Street.
The drawing room on the first floor has a sculptured white marble
chimneypiece, and an enriched frieze and cornice (illustrated below).
[Illustration]
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The ratebooks show that the occupants of this house before 1800
were as follows:—
1782–84. Dr. Tye.
1784–86. Hon. John Cavendish.
1786– Hon. Henry Cavendish.
Henry Cavendish was the elder son of Lord Charles Cavendish,
brother of the third Duke of Devonshire, and was born in 1731. His
only interest in life seems to have been in natural philosophy,
and his manners were characterised by extraordinary reticence and
timidity. His scientific discoveries were remarkable, and his work
was not only exceedingly wide in scope, but marked by extreme
accuracy. In 1766 he began a brilliant series of communications to
the Royal Society on the chemistry of gases, containing amongst
others his discoveries of the compound nature of water and the
composition of nitric acid. He apparently anticipated Black in the
discovery of latent heat and specific heat; and he will ever be
known to fame as the first man to determine accurately the density
of the earth. He died on 10th March, 1810. Most of his time seems
to have been spent at his residence near Clapham Common, No. 11,
Bedford Square serving as a town house. In 1904, the Duke of
Bedford affixed on the latter house a bronze tablet commemorative
of Cavendish’s residence.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
[729]Ground and first floor plans (measured drawing).
[729]Exterior (photograph).
General view of staircase from entrance hall (photograph).
[729]Marble chimneypiece in front room on ground floor
(photograph).
Rear room on ground floor (photograph).
Marble chimneypiece in drawing room on first floor (photograph).
[729]Detail of frieze and cornice in drawing room on first floor
(photograph).
LXXIV.—NO. 13, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessee, Halsey
Ricardo, Esq., F.R.I.B.A.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
Thomas Leverton, the architect, took the building lease of these
premises in 1775,[730] and subsequently resided here. The house,
however, is not mentioned in the parish ratebooks until 1781. It has
been much altered by the original staircase having been removed, and a
wooden one substituted, enabling some small rooms to be formed at the
front and rear.
The front room on the ground floor has a white marble chimneypiece with
Ionic columns, having Siena marble shafts. The frieze is omitted in this
case with good effect. The cornice of the room is similar to that of the
ground floor back room of No. 1, being decorated with diminutive Greek
Doric columns, suspended by their capitals, as in No. 1.
The first floor front room has a white marble chimneypiece of
19th-century design, but the ornamental plaster ceiling (Plate 78) is
original. It has painted panels after the manner of Antonio Zucchi or
Angelica Kauffmann, and is probably by the latter artist.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The occupants of this house during the end of the 18th century
were, according to the ratebooks, as follows:—
1781. Jas. Richardson.
1782–83. Richard Walker.
1784–91. Marchant Tubb.
1791–95. Mrs. Royal.
1796– Thos. Leverton.
Thomas Leverton, son of Lancelot Leverton, a builder, was born in
1743 at Woodford. He became an architect and gradually acquired an
extensive practice. His share in the design of houses in Bedford
Square has already been noticed.[731]
Before settling at No. 13, Bedford Square, his chief residences
seem to have been in Great Queen Street and Charlotte Street.[732]
He died at the house in Bedford Square in 1824.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
Marble chimneypiece in front room on ground floor (photograph).
[733]Ornamental plaster ceiling with painted panels in front room
on first floor (photograph).
LXXV.—NO. 14, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessee, Arthur
Rhuvon Guest, Esq.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
The front room on the first floor has a well designed plaster ceiling
(Plate 79), the wall frieze being enriched with griffins, of a slightly
different type to those in No. 11. The chimneypiece is of white marble
with a central decorative panel.
The rear room on the same floor has also an ornamental plaster ceiling
of very simple design, and the white marble chimneypiece is inlaid with
Siena marble.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
According to the ratebooks the first occupant of the house was
Thos. Hibbart, who resided there during 1780 and 1781. He was
followed by Jas. Bailey from 1782 to 1793, and from the latter
year, Sir Alexander Monro was in occupation.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE THE FOLLOWING:—
[734]Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on first floor
(photograph).
Marble chimneypiece in front room on first floor (photograph).
Ornamental plaster ceiling in rear room on first floor
(photograph).
LXXVI.—NO. 15, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessees, the
Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of
Music for Local Examinations in Music.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DATE OF STRUCTURE.
The front doorway (Plate 80), with its decorative leadwork fanlight, is
a typical example of the majority in the square.
The first floor front room has an ornamental plaster ceiling, somewhat
similar to others already noticed. There is an interesting plaster
cornice in the rear room of the same floor, and a carved marble chimney
piece on the second floor.
CONDITION OF REPAIR.
The premises are in good repair.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
The occupants of this house, according to the ratebooks, were as
follows:—
1780–81. —— Pole.
1784–90. John Cologan.
1790–94. Jno. Stephenson.
1794–95. Mrs. Stephenson.
1795–98. Robt. Tubbs.
1798– Jas. Williams.
IN THE COUNCIL’S COLLECTION ARE:—
[735]Entrance doorway (photograph).
Ornamental plaster ceiling in front room on first floor
(photograph).
Marble chimneypiece in front room on second floor (photograph).
LXXVII.—NO. 18, BEDFORD SQUARE.
GROUND LANDLORD AND LESSEE.
Ground landlord, His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G.; lessee, Herbert
Sefton-Jones, Esq.