Onslow Square

The northwest side of the square

St Paul's Church

Onslow Squareis agarden squareinSouth Kensington,London, England.

It isset backbetween theOld Brompton Roadto the northwest and theFulham Roadto the southeast. To the north isSouth Kensington Underground station.To the south is theRoyal Marsden Hospital.As well as the main square, the address covers the street to the southwest that turns into Onslow Gardens, and the street to the northwest that meets Pelham Street by South Kensington tube station.

History

The houses were built byCharles James Freake,on land belonging to Smith's Charity. His building agreement with the trustees of the charity stipulated that they should be stuccoed, and constructed to elevational designs and specifications provided by the trustees' architect and surveyor,George Basevi.The first four houses in the square, numbers 1,3,5, and 7, were begun in September 1845, and were occupied by 1847. The whole square was completed by 1865.

After the building of the first four houses, and Basevi’s sudden death in 1845, the style of the houses diverged from agreed design, using exposed grey stock brick, nonetheless of similar elevations and with substantial stucco dressings.

St Paul's Church

St Paul's Churchin Onslow Square was created as a part of SirCharles James Freake's development of the square.The church was built during 1859–60, designed byJames Edmestontogether with Charles Freake's office. In 1876, achurch hallwas constructed south of the church. This was extended in 1893. The church is now administered byHoly Trinity Brompton Church.

Notable people

SirAlbert Hastings Markham,who lived at 4 Onslow Square as a child

The novelistWilliam Makepeace Thackeray,who lived at 36 Onslow Square from 1853 to 1860

Vice-AdmiralRobert FitzRoy,who resided at 38 Onslow Square from 1854 until his death in 1865

SirAlbert Hastings Markham,KCB(1841–1918),explorer,author, and officer in theRoyal Navy,lived at 4 Onslow Square as a child.

The architectEdwin Lutyensand his sisterMary Wemysslived at number 16 as children.

The novelistWilliam Makepeace Thackeraylived at 36 Onslow Square from 1853 to 1860.Here he wrote the last part ofThe Newcomes,theLectures on the Four Georges,The Virginians,and some ofThe Adventures of PhilipandThe Roundabout Papers.

Vice-AdmiralRobert FitzRoy(1805–1865), commander ofHMS Beagle,on board which the naturalistCharles Darwin(1809–1882) also sailed, lived at 38 Onslow Square.Fitzroy lived at No 38 from 1854 to 1865, when he committed suicide (but in another residence in Norwood), through guilt for his part in casting doubt about the truth of the Bible.

Herbert Edward RyleDDKCVO(1856–1925), later anOld Testamentscholar and theDean of Westminster,was born in the square on 25 May 1856.

Edmund Fisher(1872–1918), British architect, was born in Onslow Square.

John Parker(1799–1881), a barrister and Whig politician, died at 57 Onslow Square.

The architectWilliam Railton,designer ofNelson’s Column,lived at 65 Onslow Square. His daughter married the Rev.Barclay Fowell Buxton(1860–1946), who wascurateat Onslow Square from 1884 to 1887. The sculptor BaronCarlo Marochetti– who cast the lions for the column – lived at number 34, and had a workshop and foundry nearby in Sydney Mews.

Frederic John Sidney Parry(1810–1885), anentomologist,lived in Onslow Square.

John William Crombie(1858–1908), a Scottish woollen manufacturer,folkloristandLiberal Partypolitician, died in the square.

Robert BuhlerRA(1916–1989), a Swiss landscape and portrait artist, lived at No. 38.

British billionaireRichard Caringlives in a "£40m mansion" with a two-storey basement, Park House, which replaced a 19th-century cottage that had been owned by Gert-Rudolf Flick, heir to German industrial wealth.

See also

• Earl of Onslow