The First Lord of the Admiralty

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4 Heavy London England Antique 1840s Crested Sterling Silver Dinner Plates NR
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Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of St James' Street with a mention of the house of the home of Grenville, First Lord of the Admiralty in 1806:

Cleveland Square is an open space before the Duke of Bridgewater's House.

The house was restored, as an inscription over the doorway tells us, or in other words rebuilt, in 1849.

This house has a history.

It was originally Berkshire House, and belonged to the Howards, Earls of Berkshire.

Charles II. bought it in 1670, and gave it to that "beautiful fury," Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland.

She pulled down the house and sold part of the site before rebuilding.

In 1730 the first Duke of Bridgewater bought it, and it was alternately known by the names of Cleveland and Bridgewater.

The third Duke died unmarried in 1803, when the title became extinct. He left the house and the magnificent collection of pictures to his nephew, the Marquis of Stafford, afterwards Duke of Sutherland, with reversion to the Marquis's second son.

This son was created Earl of Ellesmere in 1846.

He rebuilt the house, still retaining the old name.

The famous collection of pictures within, includes works of Raphael, Titian, Vandervelde, Turner, Rembrandt, Cuyp, and others, and is one of the finest private collections in England.

The house opposite was the home of Grenville, First Lord of the Admiralty in 1806, and here he collected the magnificent library which is now at the British Museum.

Admiral Rodney lived in Cleveland Row in 1772.

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