FAMOUS BUILDING'S FATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21876, 11 August 1934, Page 14

FAMOUS BUILDING'S FATE

CHESTERFIELD HOUSE TO GO REPLACEMENT BY FLATS [from our own correspondent] LONDON, July 6 Chesterfield Bouse, Mayfair, became particularly well-known of recent years as the town .house of the Princess Royal and the Earl of Harewood. They lived there for some years after their marriage, and the young' Viscount Lascelles was born there. Previous to 1915 it belonged to the' Dowager Lady Button. •

The building was erected toward the end of the first half- of the 18th century, from the designs of Isaac Ware, for the fourth Earl.. of Chesterfield, author of the "Letters." - The- great staircase in white -and veined marble —so well known a feature of Chesterfield House—came from Canons, _ Edgware, when that seat of "the Princely Duke of Chandos" was demolished in 1774. It is again to suffer removal. , Negotiations by which Lord Harewood disposes of his interest in this interesting house have been concluded, and it will soon have been demolished to make room for yet another block of rental flats. A building lease for 99 years has . been granted. Every time one goes through Park Lane after short intervals the rapidly-changing character of the thoroughfare is apparent. Brools House, Grosvenor House, Ali'ord House, Dorchester House —all have gone to make' room for hotels and flats. Lansdowne House has been altered beyond recognition, for flats, shops, and showrooms are rising on its forecourt. Chesterfield House has, of late, been used very much for exhibitions of various kinds, enabling the public to become acquainted with what was one of the stately homes of London, so suitable for entertaining large numbers of guests. Many more important structural changes are in progress all over the residential area of London.