Issue 40 winter 23 web - Flipbook - Page 20
The history of
Cambridge House
The house, situated in the fashionable parish of St
George's, Hanover Square, Westminster, was built in
1756–1761 by Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont
(1710–1763), of Orchard Wyndham in Somerset and of
Petworth House in Sussex, Secretary of State for the
Southern Department from 1761 to 1763, and was thus
first known as Egremont House.
After the duke's death in 1850, the house was purchased
by Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, who was
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for most of the
decade between 1855 and 1865. It was his London
townhouse and the site of many splendid social and
political gatherings.
The building is in the late Palladian style, to the design of
the architect Matthew Brettingham. It has three main
storeys plus basement and attics, and is seven bays wide.
As is usual in a London mansion of the period, the first floor
(piano nobile, "second floor" in American English) is the
principal floor, containing a circuit of reception rooms. This
floor has the highest ceilings and its status is emphasised
externally by a Venetian window in the centre.
Originally constructed as a residential dwelling,
Cambridge House operated as the Naval and Military
Club from 1865 to 1999. It has always been affectionately
known as the ‘In and Out Club’ due to the ‘In’ and ‘Out’
signs for vehicles passing into the courtyard in front of the
building.
The house changed hands several times. For several years
in the 1820s, it was occupied by George Cholmondeley,
1st Marquess of Cholmondeley, and was known as
Cholmondeley House. From 1829 to 1850, it was the
London residence of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (1774–1850), and became known as Cambridge
House. Due to his royal status, that name has persisted.
Cambridge House occupies a prominent position on
Piccadilly, between White Horse Street, Half Moon Street
and Piccadilly itself.
Having stood empty and unattended for 20 years, the
buildings required stabilisation works before construction
and fit-out works could commence.
Established in 1924, Walter Lilly is an award winning
principal contractor specialising in the restoration,
conservation and maintenance of historic buildings
across London and the South East.
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Building fabric and heritage surveys
Working within live and occupied buildings
walterlilly.co.uk
@walterlilly1924
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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