Metropolitan Borough of Westminster

The Metropolitan Borough of Westminster was a metropolitan borough in the County of London from 1900 to 1965.

By royal charter dated 29 October 1900 the borough was granted the title City of Westminster. Westminster had originally been created a city and seat of the short-lived Diocese of Westminster in 1541. The diocese was suppressed in 1550, but the area was still known as a "city", although without official sanction.

Previous to the borough’s formation it had been administered by five separate local bodies: the Vestry of St George Hanover Square, the Vestry of St Martin in the Fields, Strand District Board of Works, Westminster District Board of Works and the Vestry of Westminster St James. The Close of the Collegiate Church of St Peter had not been under the control of any local authority prior to 1900.

The borough was formed from eleven civil parishes and extra-parochial places: Close of the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Liberty of the Rolls, Precinct of the Savoy, St Anne Soho, St Clement Danes, St George Hanover Square, St James Piccadilly, St Martin in the Fields, St Mary-le-Strand, St Paul Covent Garden and Westminster St Margaret and St John. In 1922 these eleven were combined into a single civil parish called City of Westminster, which was conterminous with the metropolitan borough.

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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

Emma Seif Hill Street, London Added: 25 Jan 2022 19:06 GMT	Birth of the Bluestocking Society In about 1750, Elizabeth Montagu began hosting literary breakfasts in her home at 23 (now 31) Hill Street. These are considered the first meetings of the Bluestocking society. Reply
TUM The Underground Map Added: 27 Aug 2022 10:22 GMT	The Underground Map Michael Faraday successfully demonstrated the first electrical transformer at the Royal Institute, London. Reply
Admin Baker Street Added: 26 Aug 2022 12:41 GMT	Baker Street Baker Street station opened on the Metropolitan Railway - the world’s first underground line. Reply
Admin Paddington Added: 26 Aug 2022 12:44 GMT	The world’s first underground train The very first underground train left Paddington on the new Metropolitan Railway bound for Farringdon Street. Reply
www.violettrefusis.com Wilton Crescent, SW1X Added: 17 Feb 2021 15:05 GMT	Birth place Violet Trefusis, writer, cosmopolitan intellectual and patron of the Arts was born at 2 Wilton Crescent SW1X. Source: www.violettrefusis.com Reply
Ray Ashby Enford Street, W1H Added: 14 Aug 2023 17:22 GMT	Greengrocers in Enford street Greengrocer under new ownership by Mr Stanley Ashby, married to Mrs Lily Ashby Reply
Julian Collingwood House, W1W Added: 23 Mar 2021 10:11 GMT	Dennis Potter Author Dennis Potter lived in Collingwood House in the 1970’s Reply
Justin Russ Binney Street, W1K Added: 15 Feb 2021 20:25 GMT	Binney Street, W1K Binney St was previously named Thomas Street before the 1950’s. Before the 1840’s (approx.) it was named Bird St both above and below Oxford St. Reply
Lynette beardwood Ebury Street, SW1W Added: 29 Nov 2022 20:53 GMT	Spy’s Club Topham’s Hotel at 24-28 Ebury Street was called the Ebury Court Hotel. Its first proprietor was a Mrs Topham. In WW2 it was a favourite watering hole for the various intelligence organisations based in the Pimlico area. The first woman infiltrated into France in 1942, FANY Yvonne Rudellat, was recruited by the Special Operations Executive while working there. She died in Bergen Belsen in April 1945. Reply

LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Sue Meyrick Road, SW11 Added: 24 Sep 2023 19:09 GMT	Meyrick Rd My family - Roe - lived in poverty at 158 Meyrick Rd in the 1920s, moving to 18 Lavender Terrace in 1935. They also lived in York Rd at one point. Alf, Nell (Ellen), plus children John, Ellen (Did), Gladys, Joyce & various lodgers. Alf worked for the railway (LMS). Reply
Michael Tyrrell Avenue, DA16 Added: 20 Sep 2023 21:10 GMT	Momentous Birth! I was born in the upstairs front room of 28 Tyrrell Avenue in August 1938. I was a breach birth and quite heavy ( poor Mum!). My parents moved to that end of terrace house from another rental in St Mary Cray where my three year older brother had been born in 1935. The estate was quite new in 1938 and all the properties were rented. My Father was a Postman. I grew up at no 28 all through WWII and later went to Little Dansington School Reply
Mike Levy Arbour Square, E1 Added: 19 Sep 2023 18:10 GMT	Bombing of Arbour Square in the Blitz On the night of September 7, 1940. Hyman Lubosky (age 35), his wife Fay (or Fanny)(age 32) and their son Martin (age 17 months) died at 11 Arbour Square. They are buried together in Rainham Jewish Cemetery. Their grave stones read: "Killed by enemy action" Reply
Lady Townshend Bridge House Added: 8 Sep 2023 16:02 GMT	Tenant at Westbourne (1807 - 1811) I think that the 3rd Marquess Townshend - at that time Lord Chartley - was a tenant living either at Westbourne Manor or at Bridge House. He undertook considerable building work there as well as creating gardens. I am trying to trace which house it was. Any ideas gratefully received Reply
Alex Britton Roding Valley Added: 30 Aug 2023 10:43 GMT	Late opening The tracks through Roding Valley were opened on 1 May 1903 by the Great Eastern Railway (GER) on its Woodford to Ilford line (the Fairlop Loop). But the station was not opened until 3 February 1936 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER, successor to the GER). Source: Roding Valley tube station - Wikipedia Reply
Kevin Pont Roding Valley Added: 30 Aug 2023 09:52 GMT	Shhh.... Roding Valley is the quietest tube station, each year transporting the same number of passengers as Waterloo does in one day. Reply
Kevin Pont Dollis Hill Added: 30 Aug 2023 09:47 GMT	The connection with Bletchley Park The code-breaking computer used at Bletchley Park was built in Dollis Hill. Reply
Kevin Pont Hampstead Added: 29 Aug 2023 15:25 GMT	The deepest station At 58m below ground, Hampstead is as deep as Nelson’s Column is tall. Source: Hampstead tube station - Wikipedia Reply

NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

St George’s Fields are a former burial ground of St George’s, Hanover Square, lying between Connaught Street and Bayswater Road.

Marble Arch Marble Arch station was opened on 30 July 1900 by the Central London Railway.

Marble Arch

Marble Arch Marble Arch is a 19th-century white marble faced triumphal arch.

Marble Arch

Metropolitan Borough of Westminster The Metropolitan Borough of Westminster was a metropolitan borough in the County of London from 1900 to 1965.

Metropolitan Borough of Westminster

Odeon Marble Arch The Odeon Marble Arch (known as the Regal 1928-1945) was a cinema located opposite Marble Arch monument at the top of Park Lane, with its main entrance on Edgware Road.

Odeon Marble Arch

Somerset House, Park Lane Somerset House was an 18th-century town house on the east side of Park Lane, where it meets Oxford Street, in the Mayfair area of London. It was also known as 40 Park Lane, although a renumbering means that the site is now called 140 Park Lane.

Somerset House, Park Lane

Speakers’ Corner Speakers’ Corner is in the northeast corner of Hyde Park.

Speakers’ Corner

Tyburn Tyburn was a village of Middlesex close to the current location of Marble Arch and the southern end of Edgware Road.

Tyburn

NEARBY STREETS

Albion Close, W2 Albion Close dates from around 1830.

Albion Close, W2

Albion Mews, W2 Albion Mews is a cobbled cul-de-sac that is approached through an entrance under a building on Albion Street.

Albion Mews, W2

Albion Street, W2 Albion Street was laid out over the Pightle field in the late 1820s.

Albion Street, W2

Avenfield House, W1K Avenfield House is a block on Park Lane.

Avenfield House, W1K

Brook House, W1K Brook House is a block on Park Lane.

Brook House, W1K

Clarendon Place, W2 Clarendon Place is a street in Paddington.

Clarendon Place, W2

Connaught Close, W2 Connaught Close is a cul-de-sac off Connaught Street.

Connaught Close, W2

Connaught Place, W2 Connaught Place is a street near to Marble Arch.

Connaught Place, W2

Culross Street, W1K Culross Street is a road in the W1K postcode area

Culross Street, W1K

Cumberland Court, W1H Cumberland Court is a block on Great Cumberland Place.

Cumberland Court, W1H

Dudley House, W1K Dudley House is a block on Park Lane.

Dudley House, W1K

Dunraven Street, W1K Dunraven Street is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Dunraven Street, W1K

Eaton House, W1K Eaton House is a block on Upper Grosvenor Street.

Eaton House, W1K

Falmouth House, W2 Falmouth House is a block on Clarendon Place.

Falmouth House, W2

Fountain House, W1K Fountain House is a block on Aldford Street.

Fountain House, W1K

Frederick Close, W2 Frederick Close is a street in Paddington.

Frederick Close, W2

Green Street, E7 Green Street is a location in London.

Green Street, E7

Green Street, W1K Green Street is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Green Street, W1K

Grosvenor Square, W1K Grosvenor Square was developed by Sir Richard Grosvenor from 1721 onwards.

Grosvenor Square, W1K

Hampden House, W1K Hampden House is a building on Green Street.

Hampden House, W1K

Hampshire House, W2 Hampshire House is a block on Hyde Park Place Bayswater Road.

Hampshire House, W2

Hyde Park Place, W2 Hyde Park Place is a street in Paddington.

Hyde Park Place, W2

Hyde Park Street, W2 Hyde Park Street is a street in Paddington.

Hyde Park Street, W2

Hyde Park, W2 Hyde Park, as well as being a park, is an address for some park-located buildings

Hyde Park, W2

Jones Street, W1K Jones Street is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Jones Street, W1K

Lees Court, W1K Lees Court is a block on Lees Place.

Lees Court, W1K

Lees Place, W1K Lees Place is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Lees Place, W1K

Lovers’ Walk, W1K Lovers’ Walk is a road in the W1K postcode area

Lovers’ Walk, W1K

Marble Arch, W1H Marble Arch is a major road junction in the West End, surrounding the monument of the same name.

Marble Arch, W1H

North Audley House, W1K North Audley House is a building on North Audley Street.

North Audley House, W1K

North Audley Street, W1K North Audley Street is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

North Audley Street, W1K

North Carriage Drive, W2 North Carriage Drive is a road in the W2 postcode area

North Carriage Drive, W2

North Row, W1K North Row is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

North Row, W1K

Park House, W1K Park House is a block on Park Street.

Park House, W1K

Park Lane, W1C A very small section of Park Lane next to Marble Arch, lies within the W1 postcode.

Park Lane, W1C

Park Lane, W1K Park Lane is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Park Lane, W1K

Park Lane, W1K Park Lane is a road in the W1J postcode area

Park Lane, W1K

Park Street, W1K Park Street is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Park Street, W1K

Parliament House, W1C Parliament House is a block on North Row.

Parliament House, W1C

Policeman’s Walk, W2 Policeman’s Walk is a road in the W2 postcode area

Policeman’s Walk, W2

Portman Street, W1K Portman Street is a road in the W1C postcode area

Portman Street, W1K

Red Place, W1K Red Place is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Red Place, W1K

Reeves Mews, W1K Reeves Mews is a road in the W1K postcode area

Reeves Mews, W1K

Shepherds Place, W1K Shepherds Place is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Shepherds Place, W1K

Stanhope House, W2 Stanhope House is a block on Stanhope Place.

Stanhope House, W2

Stanhope Place, W2 Stanhope Place is a street in Paddington.

Stanhope Place, W2

Upper Brook Street, W1K Upper Brook Street is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Upper Brook Street, W1K

Upper Grosvenor Street, W1K Upper Grosvenor Street is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Upper Grosvenor Street, W1K

Woods Mews, W1K Woods Mews is one of the streets of London in the W1K postal area.

Woods Mews, W1K

NEARBY PUBS

Finos Wine Bar & Restaurant

Marlborough Head

North Audley Canteen

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Mayfair

Mayfair (originally called The May Fair) is an area of central London, by the east edge of Hyde Park. Mayfair boasts some of the capital’s most exclusive property of all types.

Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today. In 1764, the May Fair was banned at Shepherd Market because the well-to-do residents of the area disliked the fair’s disorderliness, and it moved to Fair Field in Bow in the East End of London.

The district is now mainly commercial, with many former homes converted into offices for major corporations headquarters, embassies and also hedge funds and real estate businesses. There remains a substantial quantity of residential property as well as some exclusive shopping and London’s largest concentration of luxury hotels and many restaurants. Rents are among the highest in London and the world.

The freehold of a large section of Mayfair also belongs to the Crown Estate.

The renown and prestige of Mayfair could have grown in the popular mind because it is the most expensive property on the British Monopoly set. Victor Watson, the head of Waddingtons at the time, and his secretary Marjory Phillips, chose the London place names for the British version — Ms Phillips apparently went for a walk around London to choose suitable sites.

LOCAL PHOTOS

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Marble Arch, 2016 Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=352348 TUM image id: 1510054281 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Somerset House, Park Lane: house (right) and stables (centre) in 1912, from junction of Park Lane and Oxford Street. Credit: British History Online TUM image id: 1510057932 Licence:	Speaker’s Corner, April 1987 Speakers here at this corner of Hyde Park nearest of Marble Arch may talk on any subject, as long as the police consider their speeches lawful. Contrary to popular belief, there is no immunity from the law, nor are any subjects proscribed, but in practice the police intervene only when they receive a complaint. Credit: Wiki Commons/Michael E. Cumpston TUM image id: 1607876169 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Montagu House, Portman Square TUM image id: 1510140427 Licence: CC BY 2.0	A view of Tyburn (1750) Credit: Old and New London: Volume 5. Edward Walford (1878) TUM image id: 1510156812 Licence:
64 Baker Street, photographed in 2021. Credit: Wiki Commons/Kyle Glover TUM image id: 1674550415 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Connaught Square, 2004 Credit: Andrew Dunn, TUM image id: 1510185099 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Edgware Road TUM image id: 1683195989 Licence:	Hyde Park Corner in 1842, looking east towards Piccadilly. The entrance to Hyde Park through Decimus Burton’s Ionic Screen is on the left, and behind it, in darker stone, is Apsley House. TUM image id: 1515431312 Licence:	Oxford Street, 1935 TUM image id: 1660583995 Licence:
Picton Place, W1 was formerly Gray Street as can be seen on a ’ghost sign’ on the corner Credit: Simon Gunzinger TUM image id: 1653863025 Licence:	Portman Square, W1H TUM image id: 1510141130 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Shillibeer Place sign Credit: London Transport Museum TUM image id: 1491316677 Licence: CC BY 2.0	North side (Nos 2-11) of Raphael Street SW1 in the early 1900s. Raphael Street was laid out over the western portion of Knightsbridge Green in 1843. Credit: British History Online TUM image id: 1616532117 Licence:	Part of Schmollinger’s 1833 map of Hyde Park. Rotten Row is marked as ’The King’s Private Road’. The map is the Hyde Park section of "Improved map of London for 1833, from Actual Survey. Engraved by W. Schmollinger, 27 Goswell Terrace". TUM image id: 1680177099 Licence:

In the neighbourhood...

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Marble Arch, 2016
Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=352348
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Somerset House, Park Lane: house (right) and stables (centre) in 1912, from junction of Park Lane and Oxford Street.
Credit: British History Online
Licence:

Speaker’s Corner, April 1987 Speakers here at this corner of Hyde Park nearest of Marble Arch may talk on any subject, as long as the police consider their speeches lawful. Contrary to popular belief, there is no immunity from the law, nor are any subjects proscribed, but in practice the police intervene only when they receive a complaint.
Credit: Wiki Commons/Michael E. Cumpston
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Montagu House, Portman Square
Licence: CC BY 2.0

A view of Tyburn (1750)
Credit: Old and New London: Volume 5. Edward Walford (1878)
Licence:

Connaught Square, 2004
Credit: Andrew Dunn,
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Portman Square, W1H
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Part of Schmollinger’s 1833 map of Hyde Park. Rotten Row is marked as ’The King’s Private Road’. The map is the Hyde Park section of "Improved map of London for 1833, from Actual Survey. Engraved by W. Schmollinger, 27 Goswell Terrace".
Licence:

Marble Arch
Old London postcard
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Conspiracy theorists at Speakers’ Corner (1950s) https://jamesrmacdonald.wordpress.com
Credit: Alisdair Macdonald
Licence:

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