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American Mayfair Walk Another Album from heritagewalks.london
The American connection to Mayfair dates back to the 1780’s, when John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers and later the second U.S. president, resided here as the American Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s. This diplomatic connection grew over the years. The financial crisis that followed the First World War saw many Rich families sell their grand houses here and move out of London, to be replaced by embassies, banks, hotels, clubs and the offices of prestigious companies. During the Second World War, when the U.S. Chancery was on one side and General Eisenhower's headquarters on another, Grosvenor Square became popularly known as "Little America." Many American D-Day planners worshipped at the Farm Street Jesuit Church or the Grosvenor Chapel. In 1960, the U.S. Embassy was set up here and was the focus of violent anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. Several U.S. Presidents have been commemorated in the pleasant gardens and there is a memorial to the victims of the New York City 9/11 terrorist attack. Since the Second World War this area has been increasingly popular with Americans, with many upmarket shops and exclusive shopping arcades. Today, Mayfair is a slick, sophisticated and relatively sedate area of the city where, more than anywhere else in London perhaps, Americans can experience the British upper classes at work and play. The pictures in this album were created from our own unique collection of London photographs
American Mayfair Walk Album p. 3Oxford Street This has always been one of Europe’s busiest shopping streets. Behind you the road leads into the City of London. Ahead, Oxford Street leads towards Marble Arch, the site of the old Tyburn gallows, and then becomes the Bayswater Road, built over the route of a Roman road to the city of Bath.Oxford Street in 1885Selfridge’s Store On your right, across the road, stands the magnificent Art Deco building housing Selfridge’s department store. This is where, in the 1910s, the American retailer, Gordon Selfridge, changed the British shopping experience with his novel ideas. It is still one of London’s premier stores.Grosvenor Square Grosvenor Square is, after Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the second largest square in London. It was laid out between 1725 and 1731 but only the houses at No.9 and No.38 are original. Look out for statues of US Presidents FDR, Eisenhower and Reagan.
American Mayfair Walk Album p. 4St George’s Hanover Square It as built between 1721 - 1724 to the designs of John James. The reredos is from the workshop of Grinling Gibbons. It is home to the annual London Handel Festival, who had worshipped here. First U.S. Embassy The fine Georgian building at Number 9 Grosvenor Square bears a plaque marking it as the very first U.S. Embassy. It was occupied by John Adams for three years from 1785, before he became the second U.S. President. First U.S. Embassy The fine Georgian building at Number 9 Grosvenor Square bears a plaque marking it as the very first U.S. Embassy. It was occupied by John Adams for three years from 1785, before he became the second U.S. President.
Atkinson’s Store James Atkinson and his ursine sidekick founded this store in1799. He fast became society’s perfumer of choice, with clients that counted Queen Victoria, Napoleon and Beau Brummell. It is one of the UK’s oldest perfume houses. Winston and FDR Why not have your photograph taken here in New Bond Street, sitting between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill? This bronze statue is called ‘Allies’ and remembers 50 years of peace. Burlington Arcade This exclusive shopping arcade was built in 1818 to the order of George Cavendish, 1st Earl of Burlington, to prevent passers-by throwing rubbish over the wall of his home. It was designed by architect Samuel Ware.
Lord Ashfield This six storey townhouse on South Street was the home of Lord Ashfield. He was appointed as managing director of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London in 1907, became the first chairman of London Transport in 1921.American Mayfair Walk Album p. 6Immaculate Conception Church This beautiful building, also known as Farm Street Church, is run by the Jesuits. It is a fine example of Gothic Revival at its most sumptuous. You canals enter from Farm Street.Grosvenor Chapel Dating from 1730, this was the American forces' chapel during the Second World War. The former Poet Laureate John Betjeman called it ‘a little piece of New England in warm old London brick.’
Eagle Squadron This obelisk in Grosvenor Square commemorates the men of the American Eagle squadrons who flew with the RAF from the outbreak of war in September 1939 until they were integrated with the USAF in September 1942. Crewe House Built around 1730 and refaced and extended in 1813, it is the sole survivor of the grand, detached residences characteristic of Mayfair's early development and is now the well-guarded Saudi Arabian Embassy.John Winant’s House John Gilbert Winant was the United States Ambassador during the Second War World. A great humanist and friend of Britain. He replaced Joseph Kennedy and was a better friend to the United Kingdom American Mayfair Walk Album p. 7
This free walk… …is available as a download as a pdf or in a format for any smart device. Use the link on the next page…Piccadilly It is part of the A4 road that connects central London to Heathrow Airport and the M4 motorway westward. One of the widest and straightest streets in central London, its landmarks include the Ritz, Park Lane, Fortnum & Mason and the Royal Academy.Green Park Station It was opened in 1906 and was originally named Dover Street due to its location in that street. It was modernised in the 1930s when lifts were replaced with escalators and extended in the 1960s and 1970s when the Victoria and Jubilee lines were constructed.INTERIOR DESIGN quisque eget aliquam p. 8
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