The west side of Spencer House, which overlooks Green Park
View of the house, circa 1800

Spencer House is a historic town house at 27 St James's Place in the St James's area of Westminster, Greater London, England. The house is Grade I listed on the National Heritage List for England.[1]

Early history

The house was commissioned in 1756 by John Spencer (who later became the first Earl Spencer), as he required a large townhouse in London to augment his position and status. The architect he chose was John Vardy, who had studied under William Kent. Vardy is responsible for the facades of the mansion that we see today.

In 1758, James "Athenian" Stuart, who had studied the arcadian values of Ancient Greek architecture, replaced Vardy as the architect of the project. As a direct result of this, Spencer House was to have authentic Greek details in the internal decoration, and thus it became one of the first examples in London of the neoclassical style, which was to sweep the country.

As the home of successive Earls and Countesses Spencer, the staterooms of the house became a theatre for the pageant that was London high society. Members of the Spencer family occupied the mansion continuously until 1895, when the house was let out. The Spencers returned for a brief time during the first quarter of the 20th century, after which the house was let at various times as either a club or offices. During the Blitz of the Second World War, it was stripped of its few remaining authentic treasures, specially made furniture, and fireplaces.

Recent history

The north side of Spencer House, with the front door on St James's Place

Spencer House remains in the ownership of the Earls Spencer,[2] the current freeholder being Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, brother of Diana, Princess of Wales. However, since the Second World War, the house has been continuously let out. In 1948 it was leased to Christie's auctioneers, in 1956 to the British Oxygen Company, and in 1963 to the Economist Intelligence Unit.[3]

On 25 December 1986, RIT Capital Partners, the family company of Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild, secured a 96-year lease (with an additional 24-year option) with an annual rent of £85,000.[4]

In a restoration, the state rooms and garden were returned to their original appearance. The lease of Spencer House was valued at £35 million in the 2017 annual report of RIT Capital Partners.

Together with Lancaster House, Bridgewater House, Dudley House and Apsley House, Spencer House is one of the last of the many aristocratic townhouses which once adorned central London.

References

  1. ↑ Historic England, "Spencer House (1264952)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 2 July 2017
  2. ↑ "Camilla to visit Spencer House". 26 November 1998.
  3. ↑ "Welcome to Spencer House".
  4. ↑ "RIT Capital Partners PLC Annual accounts 2009". Companies House. 29 July 2009. p. PDF page no. 19 (document page 17). Retrieved 26 February 2022.

Bibliography

  • Stourton, James (2012). Great Houses of London. London: Frances Lincoln. ISBN 978-0-7112-3366-9.

Further reading

  • Christie Manson and Woods (2010) The Spencer House Sale: Thursday 8 July 2010: property of the Spencer collections, sold by order of the trustees.
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