St James' Square: Halifax House

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LORD BYRON, THE WORKS, MURRAY LONDON 1832-33 17 VOLUMES
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English Walnut Bracket/Mantel Clock James Powell London
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Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of St James' Square with this look at numbers 12 - 18, including the former Halifax House:

No. 12 has also its string of names, but, for fear of degenerating into a mere catalogue, we will only mention a few of the most important, Sir Cyril Wyche was the first owner in 1676, and he was succeeded in 1678 by Aubrey de Vere, twentieth Earl of Oxford.

The Dukes of Roxburgh were in possession from 1796 to 1812, and at the latter date the famous Roxburgh Library was sold.

The last private occupier was J. W. Spencer Churchill, seventh Duke of Marlborough.

After this the house was used successively by the Salisbury Club, the Nimrod Club, and the Pall Mall Club, the last of which remains here at present (1903).

No. 13, the corner house, has passed through many hands, and is now in the occupation of the Windham Club.

The London Library is well known to all book-lovers.

Wheatley states that Philip Francis lived at No. 14 until his death in 1818, but the houses have been renumbered since then, and his 14 is now 16.

No. 15 is known as Lichfield House from its former owner.

It was built by Stuart (known as "Athenian Stuart") in 1763-65.

In 1855 it was the home of the Junior United Service Club.

In 1856 it was bought by the Clerical, Medical, and General Life Assurance Society.

The chief event in its history took place on June 28, 1815, when the Prince Regent displayed the trophies and banners just brought from Waterloo to the crowd below.

No. 16, which is now amalgamated with 17, is occupied by the East India United Service Club.

Nos. 17 and 18 formed old Halifax House.

Many political intrigues and meetings must have taken place here, for Lord Halifax gained the name of always being on the winning side.

In 1725 Halifax House was demolished and the present buildings erected.

In 1820 Queen Caroline stayed in No. 17 during her trial. The house was afterwards used by the Colonial Club.

No. 18 boasts such names among its tenants as the fourth Earl of Chesterfield, the first Lord Thurlow, and Viscount Castlereagh, afterwards second Marquis of Londonderry.

It was used by the Oxford and Cambridge Club and the Army and Navy Club.

Next: St James' Square: Nell Gwynne