Lansdowne House, London, in 1800. Lansdowne House was built in the 1760’s for Lord Bute, designed by Robert Adam (Scottish, 1728-1792). Lord Bute, first lord of the treasury, was a favorite of young king George III but later resigned in disfavor and retired to the country permanently. Bute sold the house before it was completed to William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, a leading Whig in the House of Lords. By 1782- 83, Lord Shelburne (who was named Marquis of Lansdowne in 1784), was prime minister for part of the American war of Independence.
Entrance to the Lansdowne Club, London, today. The house was partially demolished in 1936 and the remainder is the Lansdowne Club. The entrance foyer, the Adam Room, the Round Bar, and the ballroom are the originals, beautifully restored.
Lord Shelburne’s picture is on the wall of the Round Room where he conferred with Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams as they negotiated the preliminary agreements that led to the Treaty of Paris of 1783 ending the American Revolution and establishing the independent USA. Shelburne was Prime Minister and like most of the Whigs at the time, he was in favor of colonial independence and opposed to the King. After he left government, he was named Marquess of Lansdowne, and the house was renamed as well.
Another amusing American connection is the fact that H. Gordon Selfridge, who founded the great department store on Oxford Street, leased Lansdowne House in the 1930’s before it suffered its partial demise. Selfridge was born in Wisconsin and was an executive with Marshall Field & Co. in Chicago before he moved to England. During Selfridge’s tenure, the house was the scene of many famous parties, most attended by his intimate friends, the celebrated dancing Dolly Sisters.
Another amusing American connection is the fact that H. Gordon Selfridge, who founded the great department store on Oxford Street, leased Lansdowne House in the 1930’s before it suffered its partial demise. Selfridge was born in Wisconsin and was an executive with Marshall Field & Co. in Chicago before he moved to England. During Selfridge’s tenure, the house was the scene of many famous parties, most attended by his intimate friends, the celebrated dancing Dolly Sisters.
Below, another drawing of the massive Palladian style structure.
Two of the rooms removed in the partial demolition are in U.S. museums. Below, the brightly-colored saloon, a main reception room in the house, is in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Adam designs, many based on motifs from classical sites uncovered in his lifetime in Pompeii, are brilliant.
The dining room, below, is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It includes many of the sculptures the Lansdowne family collected.
Below at left, Bowood the Petty-Fitzmaurice- Shelburne-Lansdowne family country house in Wiltshire. It also was dramatically altered when the main structure was pulled down in 1956 and parts of the house relocated to the Orangery, now open to the public. In the process the handsome dining room also by Robert Adam, was removed and eventually ended up as the Adam Room, high above London in the Lloyd's of London Building.
Below, at left, Bowood from Morris's County Seats, 1880. The remaining Orangery is on the far left, and the house on the right is gone. Right, the Bowood Dining Room, used by the Council of Lloyd's of London.
Below, at left, Bowood from Morris's County Seats, 1880. The remaining Orangery is on the far left, and the house on the right is gone. Right, the Bowood Dining Room, used by the Council of Lloyd's of London.
More London Mansions ahead.
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