Dorset Square Explained

Dorset Square is a garden square in Marylebone, London. All buildings fronting it are terraced houses and listed, in the mainstream (initial) category. It takes up the site of Lord's (MCC's) Old Cricket Ground, which lasted 23 years until the 1811 season. Internally it spans 100000ft2.

Location

Approach ways

It is one 84-metre block north of Marylebone Road and lends its name to the roads on all four sides, in typical fashion - the east side forms a pause in the numbering and scope of Gloucester Place; the west does so as to Balcombe Street. The south side links:

• to the west Melcombe Place which behind the square's largest house/building (№s 26 to 28, known as 28) to the west fronts the ticket hall (with food, drink and supermarket outlets) of Marylebone station (formerly Harewood Square) and the Landmark Hotel.
• to the east Melcombe Street (formerly New Street) which ends two main blocks away at Baker Street.

Site history

Dorset Square takes up (1787-founded) Lord's Old Ground the closure of which at the end of 1810's season was brought about by a sought rent increase.^[1]

Buildings

The buildings are or apart (north-to-south, east-to-west).

Dorset Square Hotel, created in 1985, can be found on the south side of the square, at 39-40 Dorset Square ^[2]

All sides (east, No.s1-8; north No.s9-20; west No.s21-28; south No.s29-40) are Grade II listed buildings.^[3] The Embassy of El Salvador is at No. 8. No. 1 currently houses the London branch of Alliance Française but during WWII functioned as its international headquarters when the original in Paris was closed.^[4] A plaque by the front door commemorates the building's history as the site from which agents of the French Resistance were equipped for, and dispatched to, undercover missions in Occupied France.

Notable residents

In birth order:

• George Saxby Penfold (1770–1846), a popular preacher, lived at № 15^[5]
• Robert Fellowes (1771–1847), cleric, journalist and philanthropist
• Thomas Duer Broughton (1778–1835), army officer and writer on India
• Jeanette Pickersgill (c1814-1885), the first person to be legally cremated in the UK
• George Grossmith (1847–1912), comedian, writer, composer, actor, and singer (№ 28)^[6]
• Bithia Mary Croker (c. 1848–1920), Irish-born novelist, died at № 30.
• Sir Laurence Gomme (1853–1916), folklorist (№ 24)
• Dodie Smith (1896–1990), novelist and playwright (№ 18)
• Jane Ridley (born 1953), historian, biographer and broadcaster (№ 31)^[7]

References

51.5228°N -0.161°W

Notes and References

1. The Independent: site unseen The first Lord's Cricket Ground, Dorset Square, London - Entertainment - Extras - The Independent, accessdate: 02/09/2014
2. Web site: Room Service: Dorset Square, London . 13 October 2021 . The Independent . 19 January 2013 . Kate Simon .
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4. Web site: 130 years of Franco-British friendship in London.... Alliance Française de Londres. Alliance Française. 28 June 2017.
5. Burials in the Parish of St Mary-le-Bone in the County of Middlesex, No. 1835, the Reverend George Saxby Penfold, D.D., ancestry.co.uk, accessed 5 December 2020
6. Web site: Grossmith, George . . 9 November 2017.
7. http://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-3417100133/ridley-jane-1953.html Ridley, Jane 1953–