Great Marlborough Street

Last updated

Liberty store on Great Marlborough Street Liberty, Great Marlborough Street. - geograph.org.uk - 604105.jpg
Liberty store on Great Marlborough Street

Great Marlborough Street is a thoroughfare in Soho, Central London. It runs east of Regent Street past Carnaby Street towards Noel Street.

Contents

Originally part of the Millfield estate south of Tyburn Road (now Oxford Street), the street was named after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, and was laid out around 1704. It was a fashionable address in the 18th century, but its character changed to commercial and retail use by the end of the 19th. Most of the street's original buildings have since been demolished. Great Marlborough Street has had an association with the law since the late-18th century; Marlborough Street Magistrates Court subsequently became one of the most important magistrates courts in London. The department store Liberty is on the corner of Great Marlborough Street with Regent Street and sports a Mock Tudor facade.

Geography

The road is about 0.2 miles (0.32 km) long. At its western end it joins Regent Street and runs east, crossing Kingly Street, Argyll Street, Carnaby Street, and Poland Street. At its eastern end, it becomes Noel Street. [1]

The nearest tube station is Oxford Circus to the northwest. [1] No buses run along Great Marlborough Street but there are numerous services on Regent Street. [2]

History

16th – 18th century

The Coach and Horses pub has been on Great Marlborough Street since the mid-18th century. Coach & Horse sign (geograph 4269151).jpg
The Coach and Horses pub has been on Great Marlborough Street since the mid-18th century.

In the 16th century, what is now Great Marlborough Street was land belonging to the Mercer's Company. It was surrendered to Henry VIII in 1536. The land was subsequently owned by local brewer Thomas Wilson. His son, Richard, inherited this in 1622 who sold it to William Maddox, who called the estate Millfield. In 1670, Maddox's son, Benjamin, let the land to James Kendrick for 72 years, who in turn sub-let what is now Great Marlborough Street to John Steele. The land remained undeveloped, with building focusing on Tyburn Road (now Oxford Street) to the north. [3]

The street began to be developed in the early 18th century, when Steele let five acres of land to Joseph Collens for property development. [3] It was named after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, commander of the English Army who won the Battle of Blenheim in 1704, shortly before construction started. [4] Initially the street was a fashionable address; in 1714, John Macky said it "surpasses anything that is called a street" and praised its architecture. [4] A 1734 report agreed it was popular but added "the buildings on each side being trifling and inconsiderable, and the vista ended neither way with any thing great or extraordinary". [3]

Out of one hundred peers summoned before the King in 1716, five lived in Great Marlborough Street. For a time, Thomas Onslow, 2nd Baron Onslow owned No. 11 [3] while Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarbrough at No. 12. [4] For a time in the 18th century, the street was the main London residence of Lord Nelson. [5] No. 13 was formed of two separate houses, both leased by John Richmond in 1710 and subsequently joined as a single property. It was bought by Lord Charles Cavendish in 1740 and later occupied by his son, the scientist Henry Cavendish. [6] Sir John Cust, 3rd Baronet lived at No. 14 from 1754 to 1762. The Byron family were listed as ratepayers of No. 15 during the early 18th century. William Byron, 4th Baron Byron lived here from 1727 until his death in 1736; his widow remained there until 1740. The Baron's son, William Byron, 5th Baron Byron lived here from 1745 to 1774. The Scottish sculptor Thomas Campbell worked here from 1833 to 1843, also taking over the neighbouring No. 16. [3] Sir Lambert Blackwell, 1st Baronet bought No. 16 in September 1709 and stayed there until his death in 1727. His son, Sir Charles Blackwell, 2nd Baronet subsequently lived in the house until he died in 1741. Mary Lepell, maid of honour to Caroline, Princess of Wales (and future wife of John Hervey, 2nd Baron Hervey) lived in part of a house which is now part of No. 34 from around 1716–1724. [3] Sir John Cust, 3rd Baronet, Speaker of the House of Commons lives in No. 41 (now No. 46) from 1747 to 1752. The first floor of the property was later occupied by the painter Benjamin Haydon from 1808 to 1817; Gilbert Stuart Newton is believed to have taken over his lodgings. [3]

The French instrument builder Sébastien Érard moved into No. 18 in 1794. He stayed there until his death in 1831, after which his nephew, Pierre Erard took ownership of it and the adjoining No. 18, and rebuilt the two properties to have a uniform facade. [3]

The Pantheon was based at the far eastern end of Great Marlborough Street. It was built on what had previously been gardens in 1772, becoming a popular place of entertainment during the late 18th century. The building burned down in 1792 and was rebuilt; it ceased to be an entertainment venue in 1818. It was later used as a bazaar in the mid-19th century before being demolished in 1937. The site is now the main Oxford Street branch of Marks and Spencer which has a side entrance onto Great Marlborough Street. [7]

A number of pubs have been based on Great Marlborough Street for centuries. The Coach and Horses at No. 1 and the Marlborough Head at Nos. 37–38 were both established in the 1730s. [4] However, most of the 18th century buildings on Great Marlborough Street were later demolished, which led to the decline of its reputation as a fashionable street. [3]

19th century

During the 19th century, various professionals such as architects and scientists were living in Great Marlborough Street. Thomas Hardwick lived here between 1815 and 1825, as did Charles Darwin between 1837 and 1838. [4]

A police station was established at No. 21 Great Marlborough Street in 1793. [3] This led to the establishment of Marlborough Street Magistrates Court at No. 20–21 in the early 19th century, which had become one of the most important magistrates courts in England by the end of the century. [4] William Ewart Gladstone gave evidence in the court against a blackmailer who claimed Gladstone had frequented prostitutes in Leicester Square, while the Marquess of Queensbury's libel trial against Oscar Wilde took place here in 1895. [8]

The Church of St John the Baptist was built on the site of the former Nos. 49–50 in 1885, and was consecrated on 23 November. The building cost £5,100 (now £695,826) and catered for services in the local parish that had previously been held in rooms or temporary buildings. The church covered a district between Oxford Street, Poland Street, Brewer Street, Bridle Lane, Carnaby Market and Argyll Street. [3]

The London College of Music were based at No. 47 Great Marlborough Street from 1896 to 1990. [4] Although it is one of the few 18th century buildings to survive, significant alterations have taken place, including being extended to cover four storeys. [3] Since the college relocated, the building has been occupied by the London College of Beauty Therapy, the largest publicly funded college of its kind. [9] [10]

The street inspired the name of Philip Morris's Marlboro cigarettes. [11] The original factory opened on the street in 1881. [12]

20th – 21st century

Arthur Lasenby Liberty built his eponymous department store in a Mock Tudor style. Tudor House, Liberty, London - geograph.org.uk - 104144.jpg
Arthur Lasenby Liberty built his eponymous department store in a Mock Tudor style.

In the early 20th century, a number of prominent automobile companies had showrooms on Great Marlborough Street. De Dion-Bouton, the largest automobile manufacturer in the world at the time, [13] opened a London showroom at No. 10 in 1919. [14] Charles Jarrott & Letts, Ltd (concessionaires for de Dietrich; Oldsmobile and Napier cars) was based at No. 45. [15]

The department store Liberty is on the corner of Great Marlborough Street and Regent Street. [4] The founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, was unable to expand or modernise the existing shop front due to Crown planning restrictions, so he bought numerous properties on Great Marlborough Street in 1925, and rebuilt them in a Mock Tudor design as an extension of the store. [16] It was Grade II* listed in 1972. [17] Palladium House was built on the corner of Great Marlborough Street and Argyll Street in 1928 by Raymond Hood and Gordon Jeeves. It featured an Art Deco design inspired by the Paris Exhibition of 1925 and was extended in 1935. It is now a Grade II listed building. [18]

Palladium House, now Ideal House, London Ideal House London 3191.JPG
Palladium House, now Ideal House, London

The magistrates court continued to cover significant trials that were widely reported by the media. In 1963, Christine Keeler was tried here for attempting to obstruct the course of justice. [19] In the late 1960s, a number of rock stars, including the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones, stood trial on drugs offences at the magistrates court. Richards was tried here again in 1973 for possession of heroin and owning unlicensed firearms, but was only fined £205 (now £3,131). John Lennon and Yoko Ono were tried for obscenity here in 1970. [8] The building became Grade II listed in 1970. [20] The courts closed in 1998, [21] and are now the Courthouse Hotel. [22]

The European Headquarters of Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) is at No. 10 Great Marlborough Street. London Studio and Guerrilla Games also have London offices at this address. [23] [24] Creative consultants Collective UK, now a subdivision of Time Inc., have offices on Great Marlborough Street. [25]

Cultural references

Great Marlborough Street is shown on the British Monopoly board as "Marlborough Street". This is as a result of the square being named after Marlborough Street Magistrates Court; the other two orange property squares on the board are Bow Street (named after the Bow Street Runners) and Vine Street (named after the Vine Street Police Station), completing a set based around police and law. Marlboro Cigarettes were given its name due to the first shop opening on the Great Marlborough Street. [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soho</span> District in London, England

Soho is an area of the City of Westminster in the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West End of London</span> Area of Central London, England

The West End of London is a district of Central London, London, England, west of the City of London and north of the River Thames, in which many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings and entertainment venues, including West End theatres, are concentrated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayfair</span> Area of central London, England

Mayfair is an area in London, England and is located in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. It is between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane and one of the most expensive districts in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Marlboro, Maryland</span> Town in Maryland, United States

Upper Marlboro, officially the Town of Upper Marlboro, is the county seat of Prince George's County, Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population within the town limits was 652, although Greater Upper Marlboro, which covers a large area outside the town limits, is many times larger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regent Street</span> Shopping street in London

Regent Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London. It is named after George, the Prince Regent and was laid out under the direction of the architect John Nash and James Burton. It runs from Waterloo Place in St James's at the southern end, through Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus, to All Souls Church. From there Langham Place and Portland Place continue the route to Regent's Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlboro</span> Cigarette brand

Marlboro is an American brand of cigarettes owned and manufactured by Philip Morris USA within the United States and by Philip Morris International outside the US except Canada where the brand is owned and manufactured by Imperial Tobacco Canada. Marlboro's largest cigarette manufacturing plant is located in Richmond, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnaby Street</span> Street in London

Carnaby Street is a pedestrianised shopping street in Soho in the City of Westminster, Central London. Close to Oxford Street and Regent Street, it is home to fashion and lifestyle retailers, including many independent fashion boutiques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bow Street</span> Street in London, England

Bow Street is a thoroughfare in Covent Garden, Westminster, London. It connects Long Acre, Russell Street and Wellington Street, and is part of a route from St Giles to Waterloo Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pall Mall, London</span> Street in Central London

Pall Mall is a street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster, Central London. It connects St James's Street to Trafalgar Square and is a section of the regional A4 road. The street's name is derived from pall-mall, a ball game played there during the 17th century, which in turn is derived from the Italian pallamaglio, literally "ball-mallet".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St James's</span> Human settlement in England

St James's is a central district in the City of Westminster, London, forming part of the West End. The area was once part of the northwestern gardens and parks of St. James's Palace. During the Restoration in the 17th century, the area was developed as a residential location for the British aristocracy, and around the 19th century was the focus of the development of their gentlemen's clubs. Once part of the parish of St Martin in the Fields, much of it formed the parish of St James from 1685 to 1922. Since the Second World War the area has transitioned from residential to commercial use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vine Street, London</span> Street in City of Westminster, England

Vine Street is a street in Westminster, London, running from Swallow Street, parallel to Regent Street and Piccadilly. It is now a dead end that was shortened from a longer road in the early 18th century owing to the building of Regent Street.

Marlborough Street can refer to the following:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sutton Court</span> Grade II listed building in Stowey, UK

Sutton Court is an English house remodelled by Thomas Henry Wyatt in the 1850s from a manor house built in the 15th and 16th centuries around a 14th-century fortified pele tower and surrounding buildings. The house has been designated as Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marylebone</span> Area in London, England

Marylebone is an area in London, England and is located in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. Oxford Street forms its southern boundary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlborough Street Magistrates Court</span>

Marlborough Street Magistrates Court was a court of law at 19–21 Great Marlborough Street, Soho London, between the late 18th and late 20th centuries. It was designed by the Surveyor to the Metropolitan Police, John Dixon Butler. The court saw many significant trials, including those of Oscar Wilde, Christine Keeler, Keith Richards and John Lennon. The court closed in 1998 and is now The Courthouse Hotel London, a 5-star hotel next to London Palladium Theatre, and opposite Carnaby Street and Liberty London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Townhouse (Great Britain)</span> Town or city residence of a member of the British nobility or gentry

In British usage, the term townhouse originally referred to the opulent town or city residence of a member of the nobility or gentry, as opposed to their country seat, generally known as a country house or, colloquially, for the larger ones, stately home. The grandest of the London townhouses were stand-alone buildings, but many were terraced buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganton Street</span>

Ganton Street is a street in central London that runs between Marshall Street and Kingly Street. It is crossed by Carnaby Street, and Newburgh Street joins it on its north side. The street is in a part-pedestrianised area dominated by independent clothing shops and restaurants, and on upper floors, offices, particularly media companies. Immediately to the east of Regent Street, Ganton Street is variously described as being in the West End, Soho, and "Carnaby" areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Jane (boutique)</span>

Lady Jane was the first women's fashion boutique on London's Carnaby Street. It was opened by Henry Moss and his partner Harry Fox in April 1966 and was seen as a counterpart to Warren Gold's Lord John chain.

This is a list of the etymology of street names in the London district of Mayfair, in the City of Westminster. It utilises the generally accepted boundaries of Mayfair viz. Marble Arch/Cumberland Gate and Oxford Street to the north, Regent Street to the east, Piccadilly to the south and Park Lane to the west.

This is a list of the etymology of street names in the London district of Soho, in the City of Westminster. The following utilises the generally accepted boundaries of Soho viz. Oxford Street to the north, Charing Cross Road to the east, Shaftesbury Avenue to the south and Regent Street to the west.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 "Great Marlborough Street to Great Marlborough Street". Google Maps. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Central London Bus Map" (PDF). Transport for London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 F H W Sheppard, ed. (1963). Great Marlborough Street Area. Survey of London. Vol. 31–32, St James Westminster, Part 2. London: British History Online. pp. 250–267. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Weinreb et al 2008, p. 342.
  5. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 141.
  6. ↑ Jungnickel & McCormmach 1999, pp. 73–4.
  7. ↑ F H W Sheppard, ed. (1963). The Pantheon. Survey of London. Vol. 31–32, St James Westminster, Part 2. London: British History Online. pp. 268–283. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  8. 1 2 Moore 2003, pp. 145–6.
  9. ↑ "London College of Beauty Therapy – About Us" . Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "London College of Beauty Therapy". British Firms. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "Marlboro cigarettes – name origin of the brand". highnames.com. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  12. ↑ Kluger, Richard (1997). Ashes to Ashes: America's Hundred-Year Cigarette War, the Public Health, and the Unabashed Triumph of Philip Morris. Vintage Books. p. 50. ISBN   0-375-70036-6.
  13. ↑ Housefield, James (2016). Playing with Earth and Sky: Astronomy, Geography, and the Art of Marcel Duchamp. Dartmouth College Press. p. 92. ISBN   978-1-611-68958-7.
  14. ↑ "The British De Dion Co". Commercial Motor. 3 June 1919. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "Charles Jarrott". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  16. ↑ Moore 2003, p. 143.
  17. ↑ "Premises of Messrs Liberty and Company Limited (Tudor Building), Westminster". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  18. ↑ "Palladium House". Historic England. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  19. ↑ "Bail For Christine Keeler, Two Other Women and a Man" . The Times. 7 September 1963. p. 5. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  20. ↑ "19–21, Great Marlborough Street W1, Westminster". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "Law: Outlawing local justice". The Independent. 10 September 1998. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Our Distinguished Past". Courthouse Hotel (official website). Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  23. ↑ "Contact Us". Sony. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  24. ↑ "About Us". SCE Worldwide Studios. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  25. ↑ "Time Inc acquires Collective UK to bolster digital growth". Campaign Live. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  26. ↑ Moore 2003, pp. 133, 135.

Sources

51°30′52″N0°08′19″W / 51.51447°N 0.13861°W / 51.51447; -0.13861

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.