Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Berkeley Square in 1813. Two servants in livery stand gossiping outside
the houses on the west side.
Mr Gunter maintained an extensive garden in Earl's Court, in the village of Kensington,
which supplied the shop twice daily in season with soft fruits and exotic - and very expens-
ive - pineapples.
In the eighteenth century the south side of the square was taken up by the gardens of
Lansdowne House stretching down to Piccadilly. On the west side is a series of mid-eight-
eenth century houses with fine ironwork.
George Canning lived at No. 50. He was Foreign Secretary in 1809 when he fell out with
Lord Castlereagh over sending troops to the continent. Canning plotted to have Castlereagh
replaced as Secretary at War, but his opponent discovered what was going on and chal-
lenged him to a duel: 'Under these circumstances, I must require that satisfaction from you
to which I feel myself entitled to lay claim.' Canning wounded Castlereagh in the thigh,
sparking a political scandal.
Leave the square by Fitzmaurice Place to Curzon Street, which was highly fashionable
and still retains some grand Georgian houses. No. 8 was the home of Mary and Agnes
Berry, bluestocking sisters. Mary was an author and editor and together they held fash-
ionable intellectual salons, which the Duke of Wellington often attended. As the evening
drew on Mary would order their servant, 'No more petticoats', and he would extinguish the
porch light, the signal for no more ladies to call.
Beau Brummell's front door in Chesterfield Street.
Just after Half Moon Street there is an entrance to Shepherd Market, a characterful area
for a detour. Now it is full of shops and places to eat but originally it was the location of
the May Fair that gave this district its name.
A little further on the right hand side of Curzon Street is Crewe House, a rare example of
a mid-eighteenth century London mansion that retains its original large site. If you linger to
admire it you will get moved along by armed police - it is now the Saudi Arabian Embassy.
