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Pimlico in Middlesex County England History and GeographyPIMLICO, a parochial district, formerly a chapelry in the parish of ST. GEORGE, HANOVER SQUARE, liberty of the city of WESTMINSTER, county of MIDDLESEX, 3 miles (S.W. by W.) from St. Paul's. The population is returned with the parish. The origin of this place is comparatively modern, but the name is of earlier date, though at what period, or on what occasion, it was appropriated to the suburb of the metropolis westward of St. James and the Green Park, is uncertain, Most. if not all the present buildings are of a date subsequent to the crection of Buckingham House, in the beginning of the last century. The eastern part of Pimlico contains a range of handsome houses, called Grosvenor-place, extending southward from Hyde Park corner, and fronting the Green Park and the Royal gardens; and the ground to the west, between Knights-bridge and Cheleca, is partly occupied by many well-executed and several truly magnificent buildings, both public and private, which, when completed, will form various streets and squares, that may vie with the contemporary erections in the Regent's Park. To the north is Wilton-crescent, a semicircular range of buildings, with another along the diameter, the latter ornamented in front with Corinthian pilasters. Eaton-place and Wilton-place contain some handsome and much embellished mansions, especially the former. Belgrave-square, which perhaps may be fairly termed the finest square in the metropolis, includes in its plan fourdetached lines of buildings, respectively fronting the east, west, north, and south, with four isolated structures at the angles, of which last one only is yet completed, a mansion, with low wings and a good lonie portico in the centre. The four lateral lines of houses are embellished with various architectural ornaments: the fronts of those on the eastern and western sides have corresponding decorations, and the central houses on each of the four sides are ornamented with columns and sculpture, as also in a less degree are those near the extremities; but the central edifice on the south side is the most remarkable, having in the lower story a colonnade with highly enriched capitals, and in the principal story Corinthian columns, the windows of the attic story, as well as the parapet, having sculptured ornaments: this edifice is from the design of G. Bassevi, architect. The opposite house, on the north side of the square, has a similar front, exclusively of the colonnade; and the corresponding edifices in gencral, being uniform in plan and decorations, afford a display of much architectural taste and elegance. From this square, Belgrave-street forms a noble avenue to Eaton-square, of which only the eastern part, including the new church of St. Peter, and some detached portions, is yet erected. The royal palace, now almost completed, stands on the site of Buckingham House, so called, because it was erected, in 1703, by John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, on a piece of ground which had been a place of public entertainment, called the Mulberry Gardens. Buckingham House was purchased as a residence for the Queen, in 1761, by a grant from parliament of £21,000. The entrance to the new palace is through a triumphal arch, said to be the largest work of the kind exccuted in modern times, and equalling, in its dimensions and general effect, the Arch of Constantine at Rome. It consists of three gateways, that in the centre rising to the architrave; over those on the sides are tablets, containing on one side female representatives of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and on the other the Genius of England inciting youth: between the arches are columns twenty feet high, which will support groups of trophies and figures; and behind is a representation in bold relief of the battle of Waterloo. On the opposite side, fronting the palace, is a representation of the battle of Trafalgar; and this structure, which is about sixty feet high, will be adorned above with several figures, and surmounted by a bronze equestrian statue of His Majesty. The gates will be of Mosaic gold, and a handsome palisade will connect this building with the wings of the palace, enclosing a quadrangle, surrounded by a peristyle of Grecian Doric columns. The principal order of the palace is the Roman Corinthian, raised on a Doric basement. The central portion of the front is a porte cochere, superior portico of eight coupled columns, and corresponding towers, with four columns cach at both extremities. The tympanum of the central portico is filled with sculpture, and the pediment crowned with statues. The projecting wings, or sides, of the quadrangle are less embellished, the centre compartments only (forming the entrances respectively to the Lord Steward's and Lord Chamberlain's apartments) are decorated with pilasters, and adorned, the one with a clock tower, and the other with a wind tower, both enriched with appropriate groups of sculpture: the ends of the wings towards the park display Corinthian porticos, with statues, and other sculptured ornaments. In the centre of the edifice is a cupola yet unfinished, which will be adorned with ribs and other decorations. The entrance under the portico leads into a handsome hall, beyond which is the guard-chamber; and from the hall the grand staircase, which is of white marble, and consists of a centre, with two returning flights, conducts to the state apartments, consisting of the saloon, throne chamber, picture gallery, state bed-chamber, and drawing-rooms, all which are of noble dimensions, and, when finished, will display the utmost splendour and magnificence of style and embellishment. To make room for the enlargement of this magnificent edifice, and for the arrangement of the grounds belonging to it, a considerable number of dwelling-houses will be taken down in its vicinity, and the entire neighbourhood laid out on an improved plan. The architect of the new palace is Mr. Nash, whose taste and professional skill are said to have been assisted by the suggestions of the late royal proprietor, George IV. The principal streets and squares of Pimlico are well paved and lighted with gas, under the direction of commissioners appointed by act of parliament; and water is supplied chiefly from the Chelsea water-works, which were constructed in 1724, when the proprietors were incorporated by act of parliament, and a canal was made from the Thames, near Ranelagh, to Pimlico, whence the water is conveyed by pipes to the reservoirs in Hyde Park and the Green Park. Here are saw-mills, a Roman cement manufactory, white lead works, and a distillery; and on the banks of the Grosvenor canal, extending from the Thames, and those of the basin in which it terminates, are coal, stone, and timber wharfs. In Grosvenor-place are Tattersall's well-known betting and auction rooms, and the large establishment connected with them for the sale of horses, and the arrangement of affairs belonging to the turf; and in Halkin-street is Fozard's riding-school. Pimlico was constituted a district, by order of the king in council, in July 1830. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a Grecian edifice, with a grand Ionic portico of six fluted columns, supporting a plain pediment, behind which is a square tower, surmounted by a dome and cross. The building was commenced in September, 1824, and completed in 1827, at an expense of £5555. 11. 1., granted by the parliamentary commissioners; and it contains one thousand six hundred and fifty-seven sittings, of which six hundred and forty-one are free. The incumbency is in the patronage of the Rector of St. George's, Hanover-square. The episcopal chapels are Belgrave chapel, in Halkin-street, the front of which has a noble Ionic portico of four plain columns; Charlotte chapel, in Charlotte-street, erected as a chapel of ease to St. George's, Hanover-square; Ebury chapel, near Chelsea; and the Lock chapel, Grosvenor-place. In Palacestrcet, near the border of St. George's parish, is Buckingham chapel, a place of worship for Independents. The new grammar school, in Ebury-street, erected in 1830, is a handsome structure, in front of which is a well-executed portico of two Doric columns between pilasters, supporting a pediment decorated with triglyphs and dentils: this institution is supported by a proprietary subscription, for the classical education of youth on moderate terms. St. George's hospital, for the sick and wounded poor, was originally established in 1733, when an edifice, which had been the residence of a nobleman, was enlarged and appropriated to the purposes of the charity. A new and handsome structure in Grosvenor-place, on the site of the old hospital, has been recently erected, consisting of a central compartment and projecting wings. The hospital is supported by the interest of property in the funds and by annual subscriptions; and attached to it is a charity for convalescents. The Lock hospital, in Grosvenor-place, was instituted in 1746, for the relief of persons suffering under syphilitic diseases: the name is said to be derived from an old French term -- signifying a house for lepers. It is supported by subscription, and the interest of funded property: and connected with it is the Lock asylum, for the reception of indigent females who have been discharged from the hospital. Near Buckingham gate stood a building called Tart Hall, erected in 1638, by Nicholas Stone, an eminent architect, for the Countess Alathea, wife of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, who formed the celebrated collection of Arundelian marbles, a part of which was placed in it. After the death of the countess the mansion became the property of her second son. Lord Stafford, who fell a victim to the popular rage against Roman Catholics, in the reign of Charles II., and at that period the statues and sculptured marbles were buried, to preserve them from the mob, who, says Pennant, 'would have mistaken the statues for Popish saints.' They were sold in 1720, and the house pulled down. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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