Park Crescent, London

For other uses, see Park Crescent (disambiguation).
The west curve of Park Crescent

Park Crescent is at the north end of Portland Place and south of Marylebone Road in London. The Crescent consists of elegant stuccoed terraced houses by the architect John Nash, which form a semicircle. The Crescent is part of Nash's town-planning scheme linking central London to Regent's Park. This scheme was executed under the patronage of the Prince Regent. The Crescent is reportedly held on a long lease from the Crown Estate.[1]

History

A map showing the Park Crescent ward of St Marylebone Metropolitan Borough as it appeared in 1916.

Work on Park Crescent started in 1806, but the builder Charles Mayor went bankrupt after 6 houses had been built so it was completed only in 1819 to 1821.[2] Famous residents in the nineteenth century included Lord Lister, who, prior to his elevation to the peerage was created a baronet, of Park Crescent in the Parish of St Marylebone in the County of Middlesex.[3]

The interiors of the buildings have been completely rebuilt. After the Second World War, Park Crescent was in poor condition (as were other Nash terraces near Regent's Park). The facades were restored in the 1960s and are protected as grade I listed buildings,[4] but behind the curve of the Crescent, the Crown Estate built new structures. Interior features which are visible from the street, such as light fittings, have to respect the Regency design of the facade.

In recent years the crescent has been the home of institutions such as International Students House, London and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.[1] Many houses are now converted into expensive flats.[5] In the twenty-first century part of the Crescent has been modernised by Amazon Property and more redevelopment has been proposed.[4]

Garden

Statue (1824) of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent by Sebastian Gahagan.

The semicircle is divided into two halves by Portland Place. Between the arms of the crescent is a private garden. Just inside the garden railings, facing the top of Portland Place, is a bronze statue of Queen Victoria's father, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn.[6] Sculpted by Sebastian Gahagan and installed in January 1824, the statue is seven feet two inches tall and represents the Duke in his Field Marshal's uniform, over which he wears his ducal dress and the regalia of the Order of the Garter.[7]

Mews

There are mews behind the Crescent.

Subterranean structures

References

  1. 1 2 "Great Capital Partnership sells..." (Press release). 2013.
  2. ↑ page 183, John Nash A complete catalogue, Michael Mansbridge, 1991, Phaidon Press
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25300. p. 6687. 28 December 1883.
  4. 1 2 Tonkin, Sam (2016). "Outrage over plans to demolish Grade I listed crescent designed by Buckingham Palace architect". Daily Mail.
  5. ↑ Park Crescent, London W1 — House prices.
  6. ↑ Statue: Prince Edward Duke of Kent, London remembers website
  7. ↑ Lives & Portraits of Public Characters. 3. London: J. Cumberland. 1828. p. 50.
  8. ↑ Park Square NW1, Open Garden Squares.

Media related to Park Crescent, London at Wikimedia Commons Coordinates: 51°31′22″N 0°08′46″W / 51.52287°N 0.14622°W / 51.52287; -0.14622

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.