Grosvenor Square Garden * (Westminster)
Brief Description
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Grosvenor Square within the extensive Grosvenor Estate of the Dukes of Westminster is the largest of the Mayfair squares. Built by Sir Richard Grosvenor, the square's garden was first laid out in the early C18th, later re-landscaped in the early C19th. It was originally provided as a private garden for residents of the surrounding houses, but opened to the public from 1948, when it was redesigned and a statue to President Roosevelt was erected within a formal garden area. On the east side is a Memorial Garden to commemorate Britons who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon in 2001.
Practical Information
- Site location:
- Grosvenor Square, Mayfair
- Postcode:
- W1
- What 3 Words:
- allows.rises.strike
- Type of site:
- Garden Square, Public Gardens
- Borough:
- Westminster
- Open to public?
- Yes
- Opening times:
- 8am - dusk
- Special conditions:
- Facilities:
- Events:
- Public transport:
- Tube: Bond Street (Jubilee, Central)
- Research updated:
- 04/11/2021
- Last minor changes:
- 14/07/2022
Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.royalparks.org.uk; www.grosvenor.com
Full Site Description
Site on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens, for Register Entry see https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list. The Register Entry was updated in October 2019 to reflect the landscaping modifications that occurred in the C20th and early C21st. The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England was established in 1984 and was commonly called English Heritage. In April 2015 it split into 2 separate entities, Historic England (HE), which continues to champion and protect the historic environment, and the English Heritage Trust, whose role is to look after the 400+ historic sites and monuments owned by the state. HE manages the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) that includes over 400,000 items ranging from prehistoric monuments to office blocks, battlefields and parks, which benefit from legal protection.
Grosvenor Square Garden was first laid out in the early-C18th as part of the Grosvenor Estate development for Sir Richard Grosvenor, to designs by John Alston. The layout was modified by George Richardson in the late-C18th, the garden was enlarged in the C19th, it was redesigned between 1947 and 1948 by BWL Gallannaugh and later modifications occurred in the late C20th and early C21st.
An oval garden enclosure here was apparently first begun in 1695. Sir Richard Grosvenor was granted a licence in 1710 to develop the land, although building of the houses of Grosvenor Square did not commence until 1725 and it was not completed until 1731. The first garden layout of c.1725 is attributed to William Kent or John Alston, and as shown on a view of c.1726 had a formal layout comprising a circular enclosure with railings and four entrances surrounded by extensive pavement. The garden had a formal arrangement of shrubs around a square central grass plot, with an equestrian statue of George I, erected in 1726, surrounded by 16 plots of shrubbery and, possibly, hedges. This layout was replaced in the early C19th by a simpler scheme, with shrubbery enclosing winding paths through lawns with plane trees lining the main paths. Elm trees dating from the C18th layout were replaced by plane trees along the main paths in the mid C19th, and by the early C20th the statue of George I was replaced by an octagonal shelter. The garden, owned by the Duke of Westminster, was maintained by Trustees appointed under an Act of 1835 out of rates levied on occupiers of the surrounding houses, and was their use and others paying rates under the Act. In 1928 it was described as 'A large oval-shaped area surrounded by a thick shrubbery. Very attractively laid out with lawns, hard tennis court, flower beds and some fine trees'.
The American Embassy was located in No.1 Grosvenor Square from 1938 and in WWII Grosvenor Square became the American centre of London, with General Eisenhower based at No.20 during the war. The square is now dominated by the new US Embassy, designed by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen in 1958-61, an early example of a purpose-built embassy. Most of the original houses on the square have been rebuilt from the late C18th onwards, including No.26, which was rebuilt in 1773 by Robert Adam. Apart from the American Embassy the predominant style is Neo-Georgian. In 1948 the garden was first opened to the public when the layout was modified and the central garden redesigned by Mr B W L Gallannaugh, FRIBA. The trees and some of the outer paths remained in their old informality, but the dominant feature became the straight north-south axial path, laid in Portland stone paving. Originally flanked by flower beds, this path provided a formal approach to Sir William Reid Dick's statue to President Franklin D Roosevelt of 1948, who was the US President during WWII. Gallannaugh provided the immediate setting for the memorial: a square stone platform approached by steps. At the corners are stone caskets, each inscribed with a date, which symbolise the four terms of office served by Franklin Roosevelt. On either side steps lead down to a paved court in which there is a pool, with a small bronze fountain, bounded by stone seating. Flanking walls are inscribed with the `Four Freedoms', namely: FREEDOM FROM WANT- FREEDOM FROM FEAR - FREEDOM OF SPEECH - FREEDOM TO WORSHIP. Additional seating was provided in the semi-circular ends of the flanking courts. The siting of the memorial and the layout of the garden, with its open centre and inner circuit, were intended to provide "the maximum frontal and diagonal views and ... a wide area of lawns." (The Builder). The memorial statue was unveiled by Mrs Roosevelt in 1948. Also in the square is a statue of Eisenhower by Robert Lee Dean.
The earlier perimeter path seems to have been retained but the garden was bounded by a dwarf stone wall, intended to be without railings. 18 feet inside the wall a dwarf yew hedge provided a barrier. Today the garden has a peripheral path, with a clipped holly hedge, and winding paths through lawn. Lesser trees and shrubs include ailanthus, malus and thorn.
In 1985 the Eagle Squadron Memorial, with its bronze eagle sculpted by Dame Elisabeth Frink, was erected towards the south end of the main axis. The latest addition to Grosvenor Square Garden is the September 11th Memorial Garden on the east side designed by Landuse Consultants, an oval garden with planting informed by suggestions from families of Britons who had lost their lives, including lily of the valley symbolic of hope, myrtle, rosemary for remembrance, lavender for its calming properties and ivy for fidelity. Surrounded by an evergreen hedge, the memorial garden has a stone centrepiece and pavilion with pergola constructed in green oak, inscribed with the words 'Grief is the price we pay for love', taken from a message in response to the attacks from the Queen. The planting consists of North American and British species that specifically flower and are at their best in September to coincide with the anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.
A major project to redesign Grosvenor Square Garden was instigated c.2019 and is in progress, with a public consultation exercise completing in July 2021.
Sources consulted:
E. Cecil, London Parks and Gardens, 1907, p.221; E.Beresford Chancellor, The History of the Squares of London, 1907, pp.23-41; N. Pevsner, rev. by B. Cherry, London I, 1985, pp.583-586; R. Colby, Mayfair, A Town within London, 1966; Survey of London, vol.XXXIX, Part I; Survey of London, vol.XL, Part II; The Architect and Building News, April 9, 1948, p. 323; The Builder, May 7, 1948, pp. 538-540; Report of the Royal Commission on London Squares, 1928
Further Information (Planning and Conservation)
- Grid ref:
- TQ283808 (528376,180815)
- Size in hectares:
- c.2.5
- Site ownership:
- Grosvenor Estate
- Site management:
- Royal Parks Agency
- Date(s):
- 1725-30, early C19th, 1948
- Designer(s):
- 1725: William Kent; 1947/8: B W L Gallannaugh
- Listed structures:
- LBII*: No.38 Grosvenor Square. LBII: American Embassy; Nos.4, 9, 22 & 23 Grosvenor Square; Statue of President Roosevelt; Police Public Callbox
- On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:
Yes- NHLE grade:
- Grade II
- Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:
No- Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:
Yes
Local Authority Data
The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.
- On Local List:
- No
- In Conservation Area:
- Yes
- Conservation Area name:
- Mayfair
- Tree Preservation Order:
- No
- Nature Conservation Area:
- No
- Green Belt:
- No
- Metropolitan Open Land:
- No
- Special Policy Area:
- Yes
- Other LA designation:
- None
Photos
Grosvenor Square - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 11/03/21 16:02Click a photo to enlarge.
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.