Lord North Street
Lord North Street in central London is a short street dating from 1722 of Georgian[1] terraced housing running between Smith Square and Great Peter Street in Westminster, the political heartland of British government. As such the properties have always commanded high fees and featured in many dramatic storylines.[2]
Past residents include the socialite Sibyl Colefax,[3] founder of the Colefax and Fowler fabrics and wallpaper company,[4] and Harold Wilson, twice Prime Minister who in November 1974 alleged that renegade MI5 operatives had broken into his home.[5]
More recent residents include Jonathan Aitken[6] and Theresa Gorman.[7]
Origin of name
The street was originally North Street (leading north from Smith Square). However in 1936 Brendan Bracken, a resident and close confidant of Winston Churchill, had it renamed Lord North Street as it sounded grander, and so it was renamed after the Prime Minister from 1770 to 1782 who lost America, Frederick North, Lord North
There is a certain irony in that Smith Square and its surrounding North, South, East and West Streets were built over the red light slums of the Tothill Fields. The smart houses of the new district immediately inherited some of the area's previous reputation, and his lordship, amongst other peers and MPs, used to keep a very close friend there. One can only imagine the noble lord's reaction if he knew that the discreet location of his recreation and relaxation had been publicly named after him!
References
- ^ Built 1722 The Buildings of England, London, 6, Westminster Pevsner,N./Bradley,S. (2003, Uxbridge, Penguin) ISBN 0-300-09595-3
- ^ Lord North Street 1725-1996: a Westminster portrait Smedley,B (1996 London Hyde Park Antiquarian) ISBN 0-9529706-0-0
- ^ Family Manuscripts
- ^ ‘Colefax , Sibyl Sophie Julia, Lady Colefax (1874–1950)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Davenport-Hines,R. (Oxford, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004) ISBN 0-19-861411-X
- ^ Details of "burglary"
- ^ Prison contemporaries visit LNS
- ^ Multiple ownership in LNS