Norfolk Street was built on an area originally occupied by Arundel House and its gardens. This was the property of the Howard family, Dukes of Norfolk. Norfolk Street and its neighbouring streets – Arundel Street, Howard Street and Surrey Street – were all built after Arundel House was demolished by the earl in 1678.
10 Norfolk Street was Hastings House, home to the Women Writers’ Club from 1894. The early literary agent A. P. Watt practised there. The Middle Classes Defence Organisation was also based in this building.
Oswaldestre House was at 33 Norfolk Street. The name refers to the another title of the Duke of Norfolk, Baron Oswaldestre. of the Dukes of Norfolk. Oswaldestre House was associated with radio technology. The Western Electric Company had an early radio station (2WP) in the building in 1922.
Former inhabitants of Norfolk Street included writers Percy Bysshe Shelley, Alfred Tennyson, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Washington Irving. Peter the Great of Russia lived there in 1698.
Norfolk Street tube station was planned for the street in 1902, but never built.
Norfolk Street was demolished in order to build Arundel Great Court which was itself redeveloped after 2012.
