St James’s Place, SW1A

St James’s Place was first developed around 1694. The historian John Strype described it in 1720 as a “good Street … which receiveth a fresh Air out of the Park; the Houses are well-built, and inhabited by Gentry”. Henry Benjamin Wheatley wrote in 1870 that it was one of the oddest built streets in London.”

Spencer House, commissioned by the 1st Earl Spencer in 1756, is at number 27 and is listed as Grade I. A further thirteen properties are Grade II listed.

From number 4,  in 1848, Frederic Chopin went to the Guildhall to give his last public performance.





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