I have often walked past this building, on the west side of Duke Street in Mayfair, and wondered what’s it all about?
It is rather magnificent and, in my experience, always closed. Could it be a temple to a religious sect, a giraffe house or a prison? The doors would do Dartmoor proud. Obviously I’m not going to reveal after only fifty words but I can give a clue; it has a connection to Centre Court at Wimbledon. Whatever, the Baroque style with a just visible dome and (plot point) steps either side is most pleasing.
Isn’t life a funny old thing? The site was a communal garden for the surrounding working class population, part of the Westminster estate, in the 19th century. In 1905 Charles Peach (1858-1934) was the architect commissioned to build an electricity substation on a playground for proletarians. A paternalistic duke wanted his tenants still to have access to this (his) open space and Peach made a flat roof that’s the gardens you see today if you climb up the steps. The duke’s vision has only been partly realised.
It may once have fulfilled his expectations – now local residents eschew the “gardens” but it’s a good spot to have your snap if you work locally on Crossrail or a building site.
Three cheers for Charles Peach for his elegant design and the Duke of Westminster. Neither of them knew how irrelevant their plans would become a hundred years on. Mayfair residents just walk on by. (Charles Peach mostly designed electricity substations and Centre Court Wimbledon.)
Very interesting! I’m surprised Norman didn’t include this in his One Man’s London. I’ll have to look for it now.