Mary, Mary quite contrary, my how your “Five Fields” have grown!
At the grand old age of 12, Mary Davies was one of the most eligible marriage prospects in London town, drawing much attention from any well-to-do noblemen. She had inherited ‘The Five Fields’, a sizeable tract of land in Central London totalling 500 acres which was part of the Manor of Ebury.
This swamp land, north of the Thames had been sold in 1623 by King James I for a princely sum of £1,151 and 15 shillings. It was then sold on several more times until it came into the hands of local man Alexander Davies, a scrivener by profession, who decided to embark upon a programme of speculative building on his new property, reserving a large plot at one end as the site for a family mansion. Sadly in 1665 Alexander Davies was struck down by the greate sicknesse and died just aged 29.
At the time of his death, the mansion was only half built and his 6 month old infant daughter, Mary Davies became its heiress. Mary´s dowry not only included “The Five Fields” which we know as Pimlico and Belgravia today, but she also owned large swathes of Mayfair and Knightsbridge.
Understandably, she was much pursued and in 1677, Mary was married to 21 year-old baronet, Sir Thomas Grosvenor. Until this marriage the Grosvenor’s were land owners in Northern Cheshire but this seemingly normal marital partnership of north and south was the start of the establishment of the Grosvenor Estate, one of the largest land owners in the UK today.
Prior to any development this area had a reputation for being one of the worst in London. It was inhabited with highwaymen, murderers and thieves – very different to the exclusive area we know today! In fact, along the Kings Road (which at that time was solely for the use of the King) was Bloody Bridge, nicknamed due to the number of murders and attacks that took place.
During the late 17th or early 18th century the area stopped being referred to as “The Five Fields” and came to be known as Mayfair, Belgravia and Pimlico. The area was marshy and water-logged, so little construction was undertaken until the early 19th century when Thomas Cubitt drained the land allowing him to create solid foundations for new homes for the Duke of Westminster.
This landholding remained largely untouched by the Grosvenor family until the 1720s when a decision was taken to develop the northern part – now known as Mayfair – around a new Grosvenor Square. A few generations later, in the 1820s, the focus shifted to what is now Belgravia and work began to develop Eaton Square, Chester Square and many other salubrious London addresses.
This historic part of central London is well known for its grand stucco houses and tree-lined streets and often known as ‘Cubbittopolis’ for its association with the historic builder, Thomas Cubitt. Belgravia soon became the most fashionable address in London after Cubitt built his wonderful stucco terraces and squares, changing the fortune of the area dramatically in as little as 10 years.
One landowner relatively new to the area is Oakvest. Attracted by the redevelopment of Victoria Circle and keen to make their own mark on London’s streets, Oakvest Founder Mark Holyoke, comments on one special project they are undertaking:
“Investing in Grosvenor Gardens House is a privilege for Oakvest. We are genuinely excited to be bringing a formerly incredible building back to life for others to enjoy. So many properties in London have been left to fall by the wayside and breathing life back into an historical beauty will be a terrific challenge for us and our partners, Medici.
“Grosvenor Gardens House was designed by Thomas Cundy III, the eminent surveyor for the Grosvenor Estate. Set out in the 1860s this area comprises tall, grand 19th century terraces, flamboyantly detailed in Renaissance style. Between the terraces are two triangular gardens containing mature trees which help to soften views and provide an attractive setting and green foil to the buildings.”
Currently comprising 70,000 sq ft of serviced office and commercial space, Grosvenor Garden House will be transformed into approximately 40 freehold luxury apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms.
In addition to the high specification apartments, the prestigious development will offer a wellness centre and spa, concierge, business meeting areas, a cinema room and underground parking. The scheme will also provide for a large retail and restaurant space at ground level overlooking Grosvenor Garden which will be carefully redeveloped for the local community to enjoy.
For more information on the project at Grosvenor Gardens House please contact Oakvest on +44 207 811 3855 or visit www.oakvest.co.uk.