1-11, Belgrave Square SW1 London, England, UK

North-west terrace of Belgrave Square — The north-west terrace was built some time between 1826 and 1837, and later than the two south terraces which are more decorative. Each of Belgrave Square's four terraces was designed by George Basevi, and its three corner mansions, an unusual device, were designed by separate architects. Each terrace has emphases at its ends and in the middle, making it resemble the facade of a palace. Grade I listed. It is a very grand square, covering some ten acres, lent a coherence by the terraces (although they are subtly different) and the landlord's continuing restrictions on decoration (any colour you like as long as it's cream). The generally greater embellishment (e.g. heavier cornices) is typical of the age, as late Georgian transmuted into Italianate. Comparison with a mid-Georgian square such as Bedford Square is instructive TQ2981 : South Side of Bedford Square. Much of Belgravia was developed in the 1820s, having previously been a rural area renowned for its footpads and robbers ("a dreary tract of stunted, dusty, trodden grass, beloved by bull-baiters, badger-drawers, and dog-fighters"). It was, and still is, owned by the Grosvenor family, the Dukes of Westminster, whose main builder was Thomas Cubitt (reputed to have done "more to change the face of London than any other man"). It was unpromising land on which to build because of its clay which retained water and left the area resembling a swamp ("lagoon of the Thames"). The determined Cubitt kept digging until he met gravel, burned the clay to make bricks, and he was away. It soon proved a profitable development, helped in part by George IV's decision to convert nearby Buckingham House into his residence. Image credit: Stephen Richards

Listed Building Description

Text courtesy of Historic England. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.

TQ 2879 NW CITY OF WESTMINSTER BELGRAVE SQUARE, SW1 88/ 97/26 (north-west side) 24.2.58 Nos 1 to 11 (consec) GV I

Grand terrace of houses. Circa 1825. George Basevi. Stucco. Roofs not visible. Graeco-Roman style. Balanced composition with giant Corinthian columns to first and second floor to centre 5 bays and 3 bays to either end. 3 storeys plus attic and basement. Each house 3 windows wide. Projecting columnar porches with waterleaf capitals. Panelled doors. Channelling to ground floor of centre and end bays. Round headed windows to ground floor. Other windows square headed, architraved, mostly sashed; French casements to first floor; mainly retaining glazing bars. Continuous balcony to first floor cornice. Balustraded parapet with urn finials. Returns to right and left with entrances to end houses. Interiors not inspected. Cast iron area railings. One of four grand terraces facing Belgrave Square.

Listing NGR: TQ2817379494