Grosvenor Square, London W1

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:05:58 +0200

The early years of the 18th century (the Georgian period) Grosvenor Square was laid out in Mayfair as part of the Grosvenor family's development of that area.

The Grosvenor estate represented different building/architectural styles rather than good building practice. Its buildings however did not lack impressiveness or magnificence - just uniformity.

Planned in 1720, the Square was built between 1725 and 1731.

The creation of the garden square (actually oval) was a purposeful act carried through successfully by Sir Richard Grosvenor as a garden for the residents.

There was a statue, an equestrian effigy of King George I, made of lead and wholly gilded, on a stone pedestal. The statue was erected, facing east, in about August 1726. It was subjected to malicious damage in March 1727, but was promptly repaired.

By 1926 the central garden had taken on the character usual in London's residential squares, with great trees irregularly grouped, and a tennis court. The pedestal on which the statue of King George 1 remained whilst the statue itself had disappeared some years earlier (reported missing in 1828). The pedstal remained in place until the gardens were redesigned and arranged in 1948.

In 1936 a proposal from the architect Fernand Billerey, then interesting himself in redevelopment round the Square, that an underground car-park should be made in the centre was not pursued by the Estate, however, it is widely rumoured that the Americans have developed partially under the park for their own secretive purposes.

Many of the buildings surrounding the square have been rebuilt several times since their original construction and many were rebuilt following the 1939–45 war. Today, after still further reconstruction, very few of the buildings are private residences.

In 1948 the square became a public place rather than the garden of a London square. The establishment of the American embassy in the Square in 1938 had been followed by a very extensive occupation of houses during and after the 1939–45 war by American civil and military services. It was therefore chosen as the site of the British memorial to President Roosevelt, unveiled by Mrs. Roosevelt in April 1948.

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Selfridges, Oxford Street, London W1

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 12:48:25 +0200

Back in the 70's I used to be a despatch rider based in Marylebone Lane W1. I spent a lot of time riding past Selfridges in Oxford Street and was always a little awestruck by the grandeur of the building.

Recently, I decided to research the history of the building and this is what I discovered.

Selfridges - The History

Selfridges opened for business on March 15, 1909 and was the largest department store in London.

Unlike Woolworth's and so many other stores, Selfridges was never a small store that expanded. From Day 1 it was planned as a department store.

The foundations of the building were laid in 1908 and within twelve months the massive building was completed.

Harry Gordon Selfridge had succeeded in his dream of building an American style department store in London.

Selfridge intended shopping at the store to be a recreation and therefore shoppers were greeted with music and browsing was an all day experience.

Women were only just beginning to enjoy walking alone, without the necessary gentleman escorts, and were enjoying their freedom. Selfridges encouraged this freedom by stressing shopping as a fun activity, not work. Customers didn't come to buy what they needed, they came to spend the day. There was a library and a silence room for reflection, comfortable seating and sophisticated restaurants with reasonable prices.

The magnificent building was based on ideas and designs by Gordon Selfridge himself.

The final bill for the building was £400,000.

Gordon Selfridge died in his sleep May 8th 1947. The store left the Selfridge family in 1951 when it was sold to Lord Woolton for £3.4m..

I was disappointed that the history of the building did not match its grandeur. That doesn't stop it being an awe-inspiring building though with a fascinating statue at its entrance of the Queen of Time.

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London Landmarks

Grosvenor Square, London W1

Selfridges, Oxford Street, London W1