145 Piccadilly

Former townhouse in Mayfair, London thumb|right|The ruined site of 145 Piccadilly being used as an allotment by the Girls' Training Corps in 1942 thumb|right|The ruins of 145 Piccadilly in 1942 145 Piccadilly was a large terraced townhouse on Piccadilly in the London district of Mayfair that was built in the late 18th century. It was the residence of Hamar Bass in the late 19th century, and from 1926 to 1936 was home to the Duke and Duchess of York (subsequently King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) and their two young daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. It was badly damaged in a German air raid in 1940, during World War II, and demolished in 1959. Location and description The house faced Green Park and was near the Hyde Park Corner end of Piccadilly. It was built 1795 to designs by Samuel Pepys Cockerell for Sir Drummond Smith, 1st Baronet.143 Piccadilly and Hamilton Place Mews, Westminster, 1807–08 https://collections.soane.org/ARC14728 https://web.archive.org/web/20240205184009/https://collections.soane.org/ARC14728 Sir John Soane's Museum Collections Online Sir John Soane's Museum 5 February 2024 5 February 2024 live It was set over five storeys with 25 rooms, a ballroom and a library. The house opened onto a large hallway with green columns. The house had an electric lift and a large glass dome was situated in the roof. A morning room overlooked a small garden which led to Hamilton Gardens, a communal garden shared with the other residents of adjoining houses. Hamilton Gardens directly joined Hyde Park. History William Purey, the eldest son of William Cust, died at No. 145 on 11 February 1845, aged 44.Deaths https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS17211470/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=5cc09838 5 February 2024 The Times 25018 14 February 1845 1 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304092833/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS17211470&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=5cc09838 live The German pianist and composer Jacques Blumenthal held his Annual Grande Matinee Musicale at the house in June 1859 when it was the residence of Spencer Compton, 2nd Marquess of Northampton.Mr. Jacques Blumenthal's Annual Grande Matinee Musicale https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS17211470/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=5cc09838 5 February 2024 The Times 23328 9 June 1859 1 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304092833/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS17211470&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=5cc09838 live It was the residence of the brewer and politician Hamar Bass in the 1880s and 1890s. He left it in 1898 to his son Sir William Bass, 2nd Baronet.Will of Mr. Hamar Bass https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000484/18980716/052/0008 Tamworth Herald 16 July 1898 8 2 February 2024 Albert Maximilian von Goldschmidt-Rothschild and his wife occupied No. 145 from 1912.Court Circular The Times 39873 15 April 1912 9 The Central Voluntary Work Rooms of the British Red Cross were based at the house during World War I to coordinate the efforts of making garments for troops in the war.A Million Workers Wanted The Times 40979 7 October 1915 11 An auction of contents from the house was held on 4 October 1921 by Dowsett, Knight & Taylor.Sales By Auction https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS285675841/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=6b59b744 5 February 2024 The Times 42840 1 October 1821 1 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304092917/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS285675841&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=6b59b744 live The freehold of the house was held by the Crown Estate and the remaining 21 years of the lease were put up for tender in November 1921.Auctioneers' And Estate Agents' Directory https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS319099247/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=bc95b5d1 5 February 2024 The Times 42878 15 November 1921 19 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304092834/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS319099247&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=bc95b5d1 live A 60-year lease was put up for sale in May 1922.Property Investments https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS404165309/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=c28764e3 5 February 2024 The Times 43043 29 May 1922 19 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304092918/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS404165309&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=c28764e3 live The Health and Empire Christmas Market was opened at the house by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll in 1922.Social Calendar https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS404165309/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=c28764e3 5 February 2024 The Times 43203 1 December 1922 15 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304092918/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS404165309&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=c28764e3 live In 1924 the house was the headquarters of Lord Haig's British Legion Appeal Fund's "Poppy Day" (subsequently known as Remembrance Day).News In Brief https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS187111240/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=a43a470a 5 February 2024 The Times 43777 8 October 1924 11 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304093554/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS187111240&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=a43a470a live In November 1924 Edward, Prince of Wales visited the house after visiting the Poppy Factory in St James's Road in Bermondsey.Court Circular https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS251860840/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=d3e1405a 5 February 2024 The Times 43804 8 November 1924 11 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304093519/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS251860840&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=d3e1405a live Duke and Duchess of York thumb|The Duke and Duchess of York with Princess Elizabeth in 1926 The Duke and Duchess of York (subsequently King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) lived there with their two young daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, from 1926 to 1936.Stamp Elizabeth See all of Queen Elizabeth II's homes from birth until death https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-houses https://web.archive.org/web/20240202153915/https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/queen-elizabeth-ii-houses 19 September 2022 House and Garden 2 February 2024 2 February 2024 live The Yorks would stay at the Royal Lodge in Windsor when outside London. The house had day and night nurseries for the young princesses. The day nursery had a tall cabinet with curios and gifts from all over the British Empire given by the princess's grandmother, Queen Mary. Princess Elizabeth's rooms were on the fourth floor of the house. Elizabeth's sister, Margaret, was born in 1930. The Yorks moved into the house with their daughters following their return from a six-month tour of Australia and New Zealand. The family had previously lived at nearby 17 Bruton Street.Stokes Tim Queen Elizabeth: The London homes that made a monarch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-59249295 https://web.archive.org/web/20240202153914/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-59249295 9 September 2022 BBC News 2 February 2024 2 February 2024 live The Yorks stood before crowds on the balcony of the house on 27 June 1927 with their baby daughter, Elizabeth, following their return from the trip. The Yorks moved from 145 Piccadilly in December 1936 to Buckingham Palace with George's ascension to the British throne following the abdication of his brother Edward. Buckingham Palace had been neglected during Edward's brief reign, and George was said to have preferred to carry on living at No. 145. Plans to build a secret tunnel between the two houses were discussed.Longford Elizabeth Elizabeth Longford The reluctant Queen https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS100894910/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=ae6208b6 5 February 2024 The Times 60941 30 May 1981 6 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304093605/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS100894910&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=ae6208b6 live In her book The Little Princesses, the princesses' governess, Marion Crawford described the house as "a homelike and unpretentious household" and that she had "never known a house with a nicer atmosphere". Crawford taught the two girls in a schoolroom on the third floor. Princess Elizabeth's toys at the house included 30 toy horses and a farm set that had been collected in individual pieces from Woolworths.McLeod Kirsty Toys fit for a royal nursery https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS218468656/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=a3be0292 5 February 2024 The Times 62244 16 September 1985 13 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304093542/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS218468656&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=a3be0292 live Later history An exhibition of 'Royal and Historic Treasures' was held at the house from late June until the end of September 1939, in aid of the Heritage Craft Schools for Crippled Children in the Sussex town of Chailey.Royal Treasures https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS201798875/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=2fc1ff76 5 February 2024 The Times 48342 27 June 1939 12 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304093556/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS201798875&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=2fc1ff76 live The exhibition was the initiative of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone. The exhibition featured objects on loan from the British royal family, London livery companies and other public collections. Among the curios on display were a waistcoat worn by Christopher Wren at the opening of St. Paul's Cathedral, a sleeping bag owned by Antarctic explorer Lawrence Oates, Elizabeth I's petticoat, a table belonging to Marie Antoinette, and an artist's palette which was used by J. M. W. Turner. Queen Mary visited the exhibition on 10 July, accompanied by Mary, Princess Royal, Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, Alexander Cambridge, Earl of Athlone, Princess Helena Victoria, Princess Marie Louise, and Princess Alice. Sacha Votichenko performed on his tympanon royal for Queen Mary and her royal party.Queen Mary At No. 145, Piccadilly https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS320550122/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=8966dc1f 5 February 2024 The Times 48353 10 July 1939 12 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304093531/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS320550122&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=8966dc1f live The house was badly damaged during the London Blitz of World War II during an air raid on 7 October 1940. In 1942 the ruins of the house became the site of an allotment run by the Girls' Training Corps under the leadership of Lady Irene Haig.Irene Lady Astor of Hever https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0501066054/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=a80358e4 5 February 2024 The Times 43777 13 August 2001 11 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304093604/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALEIF0501066054&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=a80358e4 live In 1939 it was put up for rent, with a rental period expiring in 1975.News In Brief https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS17211470/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=5cc09838 5 February 2024 The Times 48202 13 January 1939 12 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304092833/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS17211470&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=5cc09838 live The 1939 annual rent was estimated at £2,500 (UK 2500 1939 0 eq £). The lease on No. 145 was bought by Alexander Korda of London Films in March 1947.The King's Former House Sold https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS120276089/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=5c41ec8d 5 February 2024 The Times 50718 25 March 1947 7 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304094444/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS120276089&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=5c41ec8d live The adjoining house, No. 144 was the headquarters of the publicity department of London Films. Korda also leased No. 146 which he converted from a private house to offices. It was demolished in 1959 as part of the development of the roads at Hyde Park Corner. In September 1969 the London Street Commune was established at the adjoining house, No. 144.Squatters invade 60-room house in Piccadilly https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS33780016/TTDA?u=wes_ttda&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=3d31895a 5 February 2024 The Times 57666 16 September 1969 2 4 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240304094453/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wes_ttda&id=GALECS33780016&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=3d31895a live In 1969 142, 143, 144, and 145 Piccadilly were owned on a leasehold tenure by Amalgamated West End Developments, a subsidiary of the Stock Conversion and Investment Trust. The InterContinental London Park Lane hotel was built in 1975 on the site of the house. References External links London Monarchy dms title Category:1795 establishments in England Category:18th-century architecture in the United Kingdom Category:1959 disestablishments in England Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1959 Category:Buildings and structures in Mayfair Category:Buildings and structures on Piccadilly Category:Demolished buildings and structures in the City of Westminster Category:Former houses in the City of Westminster Category:Houses completed in 1795 Category:Royal residences in the City of Westminster