Wednesday’s post was mostly about the Grosvenors. The architect for Belgrave Square and the classical terraces surrounding it is George Basevi. He gets a mention on the plinth of Robert Grosvenor’s bronze.
After photographing it on Tuesday, I took a walk and found that annoyingly the garden is only open to key holders, or rather fob holders. Nil desperandum, I loitered until a belle jeunesse dorée of Belgravia came along. (What an inelegant mixture of languages.) She reluctantly conceded that I seemed respectable – although I’d shaved and wore a crisp, flax blue linen shirt that matched her eyes, I was let down by the old waistcoat I picked up near the bird market in Kabul – and admitted me.
It is a Garden of Eden, before the Fall. The railings are lined with a holly hedge, a good decision in view of box-munching caterpillar larvae. Within there is an outer area accessible to all and an inner sanctum where dogs are forbidden, but children are admitted. I took these pictures.
It is good that Basevi is remembered at the heart of his creation and in the heart of London. While not wanting to be a bore, I think you should know that Basevi is responsible for much of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge and more besides.
I will let Wiki tell you what misfortune befell him.
He died on 15 October 1845, aged 51, after falling through an opening in the floor of the old bell chamber of the west tower of Ely Cathedral while inspecting repairs. He was buried in the North Choir Aisle towards the east end of the cathedral under a monumental brass.
Yet another reason to hasten to Ely.
By chance I know the outside and surroundings of Belgrave Gardens a bit, and admire them. That the area’s architect Basevi was partly responsible for the Fitzwilliam (sort of, an understated Ashmolean, as befits any comparison between the two universities) is good to know. And then you tell us that Basevi had a fatal fall from Ely Cathedral’s lovely tower. Please do make the Ely trip and please, also, if you can, take the tour up into the lantern there. It is a time warp into the medieval; a fabulous perspective on the interior of a lovely building; and an exciting way to see the town and country.