176-470: The Dorchester is a five-star hotel located on Park Lane and Deanery Street in London , to the east of Hyde Park . It is one of the world's most prestigious hotels. The Dorchester opened on 18 April 1931, and it still retains its 1930s furnishings and ambiance despite being modernised. Throughout its history, the hotel has been closely associated with the rich and famous. During the 1930s, it became known as
352-400: A Flemish tapestry. The ceilings are ornate, featuring gold leaves and brass chandeliers, and the room also features deep red riveted leather chairs and deep red curtains, with a Middle Eastern-looking exotic carpet. According to restaurant critic Jay Rayner , "when you drill down on the menu it's what the faded gentry used to call high tea. It's nursery food at stupid prices." The Promenade
528-550: A car bomb was successfully defused in an underground car park on Park Lane. The road was closed for most of the day for police investigation. The road still attracts notable residents. In 2002, Robert B. Sherman , composer of the musicals Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins , moved to an apartment on Park Lane following the death of his wife. He enjoyed the views of Hyde Park and in 2003 painted an eponymous portrait, Park Lane . The business mogul Mohamed Al-Fayed has offices in 55 and 60 Park Lane. Trevor Rees-Jones ,
704-667: A locked-room murder which took place at No. 427 Park Lane (the old numbering), and which is referred to as the "Park Lane Mystery". The story is set in 1894. The writer Jasper Fforde refers to the street and its Monopoly square in his novel The Eyre Affair (2001), via the character Landen Parke-Laine . The street has several mentions in John Galsworthy 's 1922 trilogy, The Forsyte Saga . The 1967 BBC television adaptation used Croxteth Hall in Liverpool for footage of James and Emily's house on Park Lane. The road
880-448: A British aristocrat could dispose of his ancestral seat, was the aristocratic habit of only marrying within the aristocracy and whenever possible to a sole heiress. This meant that by the 20th century, many owners of country houses often owned several country mansions. Thus it became a favoured option to select the most conveniently sited (whether for privacy or sporting reasons), easily managed, or of greatest sentimental value; fill it with
1056-719: A Grade II Listed Building in January 1981, and was subsequently purchased by the Sultan of Brunei in 1985. It belongs to the Dorchester Collection , which in turn is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA), an arm of the Ministry of Finance of Brunei . In the 1950s, the stage set designer Oliver Messel made a number of changes to the interior of the hotel. Between 1988 and 1990, the hotel
1232-430: A Grade II Listed Building in January 1981. The interior displays a "subtle amalgam of styles", testament to the number of different designers involved over the years, including William Curtis Green , Oliver Frederick Ford , Alberto Pinto and Oliver Messel . Green designed the original interior which is still retained in part. Kim Einhorn believes that this fusion of style was achieved tastefully and has remarked that
1408-567: A building has to be of architectural or historical importance to be protected. The unprecedented demolitions of the 20th century did not result in the complete demise of the country house, but rather in a consolidation of those that were most favoured by their owners. Many were the subject of comprehensive alteration and rearrangement of the interior, to facilitate a new way of life less dependent on vast numbers of servants. Large service wings , often 19th-century additions, were frequently demolished, as at Sandringham House , or allowed to crumble, as
1584-406: A building, rather than merely notify the local authority. It also gave the local authority powers to immediately protect the building by issuing a "Building Preservation Notice", which in effect gave the structure listed building status. Thus it was that 1968 became the last year that demolition ran into double figures. The final and perhaps most important factor which secured Britain's heritage
1760-435: A changing and fading world, a world in which the country house as a symbol of power, privilege and a natural order, was not to exist. As early as June 1940, while Britain was embroiled in the early days of World War II, The Times , confident of future victory, advised its readers that "a new order cannot be based on the preservation of privilege, whether the privilege be that of a county, a class, or an individual." Thus it
1936-567: A contention he later denounced. In the post-war period, the Dorchester became one of the most popular hotels in London for actors and entertainers, and the banqueting rooms and suites became known for their press conferences and parties. Diners at the Dorchester included Cyril Connolly , T. S. Eliot , Harold Nicolson , Edith Sitwell , Ralph Richardson , Elizabeth Taylor , Alfred Hitchcock , and Barbra Streisand . Queen Elizabeth II attended
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#17327729516192112-436: A decrease in people available or willing to work as servants, left the owners of country houses facing major problems of how to manage their estates. The most obvious solution was to off-load the cash-eating family mansion. Many were offered for sale as suitable for institutional use; those not readily purchased were speedily demolished. In the years immediately after the war, the law was powerless — even had it wished to — to stop
2288-474: A first course consisting of finger sandwiches with sliced cucumber , cream cheese , and smoked salmon , all served in silver trays, a second course consisting of scones with clotted cream and jam, followed by a pastry tray with a selection of freshly made patisseries . China Tang is owned by the businessman David Tang and was opened in 2005. The restaurant is luxuriously designed, with an art deco lounge bar reminiscent of 1930s Shanghai. The Spatisserie
2464-511: A haunt of numerous writers and artists such as poet Cecil Day-Lewis , novelist Somerset Maugham , and the painter Sir Alfred Munnings . It has held prestigious literary gatherings, such as the "Foyles Literary Luncheons", an event the hotel still hosts today. During the Second World War , the strength of its construction gave the hotel the reputation of being one of London's safest buildings, and notable members of political parties and
2640-508: A hotel. Considerable efforts to make the rooms soundproof at the Dorchester were made from the outset; the exterior walls were faced with cork, and the floors and ceilings of the bedrooms and suites were lined with compressed seaweed. Following renovation, the hotel was fitted with double glazing, and triple glazing on the Park Lane side to further improve soundproofing. In the 1950s, stage set designer Oliver Messel made significant changes to
2816-474: A life of servitude for better wages elsewhere. Thus the owners of large country houses dependent on staff and a large income began by necessity to dispose of their costly non-self sustaining material assets. Large houses had become redundant white elephants to be abandoned or demolished. It seemed that in particular regard to the country houses no one was prepared to save them. There are several reasons which had brought about this situation – most significantly in
2992-441: A list of all buildings of architectural importance in their area, and, most significantly, for the first time the catalogue was to include inhabited private residences. This legislation created the foundations for what are today known as listed buildings . Under the scheme, an interesting or historic building was graded according to its value to the national heritage: The Act criminalised unauthorised alterations, or demolitions, to
3168-556: A listed building, so in theory at least, all historic buildings were now safe from unauthorised demolition. The truth was that the Act was rarely enforced, only a few buildings were listed, over half of them by just one council, Winchelsea . Elsewhere, the fines levied on those failing to comply with the Act were far less than the profit from redeveloping a site. Little changed. In 1946, in what has been described as "an act of sheer class-war vindictiveness", Britain's Labour government insisted on
3344-432: A major reconstruction programme in the early 1960s that transformed the road into a three-lane dual carriageway by removing a 20-acre (8.1 ha) section of Hyde Park. Improved crossings for cyclists appeared in the early 21st century. Despite the changes, property prices along the road are still among the highest in London. Its prestigious status has been commemorated by being the second-most expensive property square on
3520-417: A major traffic thoroughfare. The road was originally a simple country lane on the boundary of Hyde Park, separated by a brick wall. Aristocratic properties appeared during the late 18th century, including Breadalbane House, Somerset House , and Londonderry House . The road grew in popularity during the 19th century after improvements to Hyde Park Corner and more affordable views of the park, which attracted
3696-550: A military hospital. After the war, Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh , and his wife, Edith Helen Chaplin , continued to use the house and entertained there extensively. After World War II, the house remained in the possession of the Londonderry family, until it was sold to make way for the 29-storey London Hilton , which opened on Park Lane in 1963. The street was not particularly significant until 1820, when Decimus Burton constructed Hyde Park Corner at
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#17327729516193872-461: A necessary alteration to Haddon without first obtaining the leave of some inspector ". There was an irony in the Duke of Rutland's words, as this same duke was responsible for resurrecting one of his own country houses, Haddon Hall , from ruin. Thus, despite money being no problem for its owner, Trentham Hall was obliterated from its park, which the duke retained and then opened to the public. Thus it
4048-634: A penthouse flat at No. 41 in 1923, and stayed there during their theatrical appearances at London's West End . The couple were courted by the social scene in London and enjoyed dancing at Grosvenor House. American film star Douglas Fairbanks Jr. resided at No. 99 when working in England in the 1930s. The black market fraudster Sidney Stanley lived on Park Lane in the 1940s, and became known as "the Pole of Park Lane". The Marriott London Park Lane , at No. 140 Park Lane, opened in 1919. The site
4224-440: A poor or ruinous state of repair. During the next two decades, restrictions were applied to building works as Britain was rebuilt, priority being given to replacing what had been lost during the war rather than the oversized home of an elite family. In addition, death duties were raised to all-time highs by the new Labour Government that swept into power in 1945 ; this hit Britain's aristocracy hard. These factors, coupled with
4400-403: A quick profit. This was especially true in the years immediately following World War II, when Britain was desperate to replace the thousands of homes destroyed. Thus, in many cases, the demolition of the ancestral seat, strongly entwined with the family's history and identity, followed the earlier loss of the family's London house. A significant factor, which explained the seeming ease with which
4576-409: A report showed the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment on the road was £5,200. Rough sleepers also made use of the road's surroundings from at least 2012, with large begging gangs or other homeless groups sleeping in subways or covered shopping parades despite occasionally being cleared or moved on by police. Many of the hotels and establishments on Park Lane are today owned by some of
4752-443: A similar way for generations of the upper classes. As land prices and incomes continued to fall, the great London palaces were the first casualties; the peer no longer needed to use his London house to maintain a high prestige presence in the capital. Its site was often more valuable empty than with the anachronistic palace in situ ; selling them for redevelopment was the obvious first choice to raise some fast cash. The second choice
4928-412: A social class able to live comfortably off inherited wealth far below that sum. Death duties, however, slowly increased and became a serious problem for the country estate throughout the first half of the 20th century, reaching a zenith when assisting in the funding of World War II. This proved to be the deciding factor for many families when in 1940 death duties were raised from 50% to 65%, and following
5104-521: A suite on the first floor (now the Eisenhower Suite ) in 1942 after having previously stayed at Claridge's , and in 1944 he made it his headquarters; Kay Summersby , his chauffeur and purported mistress, and Roosevelt's representative Averell Harriman also stayed there thanks to its reputation as a safe haven. During a dinner party which Harriman attended in the Dorchester, the bombing was so intense that guests came down to join him there as it
5280-457: A three-course meal. Alain Ducasse 's restaurant, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester , holds three Michelin stars. When refurbished along with other parts of the hotel in 2007, the redesign purposefully retained its 1940s influence. The restaurant serves contemporary French cuisine using seasonal French and British ingredients. The restaurant features a special table for up to six diners called
5456-483: A vision of creating the 'perfect hotel': ultramodern and ultra-efficient, with all the conveniences modern technology could supply. The two companies purchased Hertford House in 1929 and quickly demolished it. The BBC had also shown an interest in purchasing it and had almost done so prior to the McAlpine acquisition, but instead they turned their attention to Foley House. The purchase and destruction of Hertford House
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5632-595: Is a dual carriageway road in the City of Westminster in Central London . It is part of the London Inner Ring Road and runs from Hyde Park Corner in the south to Marble Arch in the north. It separates Hyde Park to the west from Mayfair to the east. The road has a number of historically important properties and hotels and has been one of the most sought after streets in London, despite being
5808-529: Is an abominably bad clause, these buildings have been preserved to us not by Acts of Parliament, but by the loving care of generations of free Englishmen who...did not know what a District Council was". The marquess, so against enforced preservation, was in fact a member of the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments , in the House of Lords , the very body which oversaw the implementation of
5984-400: Is an informal restaurant, which specialises in light snacks and afternoon tea, serving cakes, biscuits and pastries. The Dorchester Bar was initially rebuilt in 1938 and was run by Harry Craddock , one of the world's most famous barmen of the period, known for his Martini , Manhattan and White Lady cocktails. Craddock invented the "Dorchester of London" cocktail here in the 1930s. The bar
6160-602: Is currently owned by the Dorchester Collection , which in turn is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA), an arm of the Ministry of Finance of Brunei . The Dorchester Collection owns luxury hotels in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Switzerland and Italy. In 1988, the hotel closed for two years for a major refurbishment. In June 1998 the brother of the Sultan of Brunei, Prince Jefri Bolkiah ,
6336-461: Is mentioned in the second stanza of Noël Coward 's patriotic song " London Pride ". In George Orwell 's Coming Up for Air (1939) several conservative and imperialist politicians are derogatively referred to as "the Park Lane riff-raff". The Mini Countryman Park Lane is a high-end four wheel drive sport utility vehicle named after the road, where the company has a showroom. In Walter Lord 's book A Night to Remember , which documents
6512-492: Is not guaranteed by any legislation. When Evelyn Waugh 's novel Brideshead Revisited , portraying life in the English country house , was published in 1945, its first few chapters offered a glimpse of an exclusive and enviable world, a world of beautiful country houses with magnificent contents, privileged occupants, a profusion of servants and great wealth. Yet, in its final chapters, Brideshead's author accurately documented
6688-735: Is served every day of the week at five in the afternoon in The Promenade and the Spatisserie . Harry Craddock , a well-known barman in the 1930s, invented the "Dorchester of London" cocktail here at the Dorchester Bar. A well-lit plane tree stands at the edge of the hotel in the front garden, and was named one of the Great Trees of London by the London Tree Forum and Countryside Commission in 1997. The site
6864-650: Is the second most valuable property in the London edition of the board game Monopoly . The street had a prestigious social status when the British version of the Monopoly board was first produced, in 1936. On the board, Park Lane forms a pair with Mayfair , the most expensive property in the game. The squares were designed to be equivalents of Park Place and Boardwalk, respectively, on the original board, which used streets in Atlantic City, New Jersey . In 1988,
7040-457: The Duke of Bedford had reduced Woburn Abbey to half its original size, destroying façades and interiors by both Henry Flitcroft and Henry Holland . The Duke of Devonshire saved Hardwick Hall by surrendering it to H.M. Treasury in lieu of death duties, which were charged at up to 80% of the total value of an estate, but this solution was rarely acceptable to the government. As late as 1975,
7216-607: The F.A. Cup Finals over the years, and in 1961 Leicester City players checked in before playing Tottenham Hotspur . Taylor and Burton were staying there at the time. In 1972, Raquel Welch visited Stamford Bridge and invited the Chelsea Football Club team back to a cocktail party at the Dorchester, which was also attended by the Rolling Stones . In 2003, Ken Bates agreed to sell Chelsea Football Club to Roman Abramovich after they met for 20 minutes at
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7392-563: The Grand Tour and return home with art treasures, supposedly brought from classical civilizations . During the 19th century, many houses were enlarged to accommodate the increasing numbers of servants needed to create the famed country house lifestyle. Less than a century later, this often meant they were of an unmanageable size. In the early 20th century, the demolition accelerated, while rebuilding largely ceased. The demolitions were not confined to England, but spread throughout Britain. By
7568-595: The Hôtel Meurice of Paris. In 1978, a new branch of the Allied Arab Bank opened at 131–2 Park Lane, facilitating the interests of both Arab world and western clients. Mamasino restaurant at 102 Park Lane serves African cuisine and is African-owned. Wolfgang Puck 's restaurant at No. 45 has been described by GQ Magazine as serving one of the best breakfasts in London, with a mixture of American, European and Asian food. Owing to property on
7744-578: The London Hilton on Park Lane , and several sports car garages. A number of properties on the road today are owned by some of the wealthiest businessmen from the Middle East and Asia. Current residents include business mogul Mohamed Al-Fayed and former council leader and Lord Mayor Shirley Porter . The road has suffered from traffic congestion since the mid-19th century. Various road enlargement schemes have taken place since then, including
7920-729: The Marquess of Londonderry 's Londonderry House. The philanthropist Moses Montefiore lived at No. 90 for over 60 years, and a blue plaque marks its location. Brook House , at No. 113 Park Lane, was built in 1870 by T. H. Wyatt. It later became the residence of Lord Louis Mountbatten and his wife Edwina . Aldford House was constructed in 1897 for the South African diamond millionaire Sir Alfred Beit . Another diamond mining magnate, Sir Joseph Robinson owned and lived at Dudley House at No. 100. The character of Park Lane evolved from its prestigious reputation in
8096-597: The Piccadilly line near the street's southern end and Marble Arch on the Central line near its northern end. At Brook Gate, partway along the road, there is a traffic signal controlled pedestrian and cycle crossing connecting Hyde Park to London Cycle Route 39, the recommended cycling route from the park to the West End . What is now Park Lane was originally a track running along farm boundaries. When Hyde Park
8272-461: The gentry rather than the aristocracy; in these cases the owners, little more than gentlemen farmers, often razed the ancestral home to save costs and thankfully moved into a smaller but more comfortable farmhouse or purpose-built new house on the estate. Occasionally an aristocrat of the first rank did find himself in dire financial troubles. The severely impoverished Duke of Marlborough saved Blenheim Palace by marrying an heiress , tempted from
8448-567: The nouveau riche to the street and led to it becoming one of the most fashionable roads to live on in London. Notable residents included the 1st Duke of Westminster 's residence at Grosvenor House , the Dukes of Somerset at Somerset House, and the British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli at No. 93. Other historic properties include Dorchester House , Brook House and Dudley House . In
8624-402: The trustees of Castle Howard , convinced there was no future for Britain's great houses, had begun selling the house's contents. Increasing taxation and a shortage of staff meant that the old way of life had ended. The wealth and status of the owner provided no protection to the building: even the wealthier owners became keen to free themselves of not only the expense of a large house, but also
8800-455: The village school , parish church , and a cottage hospital . The "big house" was the bedrock of rural society. Since 1900, 1,200 country houses have been demolished in England. In Scotland, the figure is proportionally higher. There, 378 architecturally important country houses have been demolished, 200 of these since the end of World War II in 1945. Included in the destruction were works by Robert Adam , including Balbardie House and
8976-465: The "Table Lumière", lit by 4500 fibre optic lights. It is surrounded by a thin white curtain which allows diners at the table to view out into the restaurant but prevents other diners from viewing in. The Grill restaurant, which serves British cuisine, is decorated in a Moorish theme, attributed to King Alfonso 's influence during his time in London in exile in the 1930s. The cream-painted walls feature gilded gratings and mirrored arches and display
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#17327729516199152-464: The 14th century. At the end of what is now Park Lane was the Tyburn gallows (also known as Tyburn Tree), London's primary public place of execution until 1783. Author Charles Knight wrote in 1843, that by 1738 "nearly the whole space between Piccadilly and Oxford Street was covered with buildings as far as Tyburn Lane, except in the south-western corner about Berkeley Square and Mayfair". In 1741,
9328-461: The 1760s, Londonderry House , on the corner of Park Lane and Hertford Street , was bought by the Sixth Earl of Holdernesse . He purchased the adjacent property and converted the buildings into one mansion known for a period as Holdernesse House. In 1819, Londonderry House was bought by The Rt. Hon. The 1st Baron Stewart, a British aristocrat, and later, during World War I, the house was used as
9504-512: The 1882 catalogue) to enter into agreement with civil authorities whereby the property was placed under public guardianship. While these agreements did not divest the owner of the title to the property, they imposed on the civil authority an obligation to maintain and preserve for the nation. So while the Acts may have been in favour of the owner, they set a precedent for the later preservation of structures of national importance. The main problem with
9680-546: The 1913 Act had been the threat to Tattershall Castle , Lincolnshire. An American millionaire wished to purchase the uninhabited castle, and ship it to the USA in its entirety. To frustrate the proposal, the castle had been purchased and restored by Lord Curzon and thus the export of Lord Cromwell 's castle was prevented. The 1913 Act was an important step in highlighting the risk to the nation's many historic buildings. The Act also went further than its predecessors by decreeing that
9856-492: The 1950s, motor traffic levels along Park Lane had reached saturation point. A 1956 survey by the Metropolitan Police reported "at peak hours it is overloaded", with traffic surveys showing 91,000 and 65,000 vehicles travelling around Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch respectively in a twelve-hour period, making Park Lane the link between the busiest and third busiest road junctions in London. Between 1960 and 1963,
10032-416: The 19th century, the British upper classes enjoyed a life relatively free from taxation. Staff were plentiful and cheap, and estates not only provided a generous income from tenanted land but also political power. During the 19th century this began to change, by the mid-20th century their political power had weakened and they faced heavy tax burdens. The staff had either been killed in two world wars or forsaken
10208-476: The 20th century are politics and social conditions. During the Second World War many large houses were requisitioned, and subsequently for the duration of the war were used for the billeting of military personnel, government operations, hospitals, schools and a myriad of other uses far removed from the purpose for which they were designed. At the end of the war when handed back to the owners, many were in
10384-486: The 20th century, Park Lane became well known for its luxury hotels, particularly The Dorchester , completed in 1931, which became closely associated with eminent writers and international film stars. Flats and shops began appearing on the road, including penthouse flats . Several buildings suffered damage during World War II , yet the road still attracted significant development, including the Park Lane Hotel and
10560-400: The 20th century, as they had first been introduced in 1796. "Legacy duty" was a tax payable on money bequeathed from a personal estate. Next of kin inheriting were exempt from payment, but anyone other than wives and children of the deceased had to pay on an increasing scale depending on the distance of the relationship from the deceased. These taxes gradually increased not only the percentage of
10736-647: The 3rd Marquess of Hertford , and alterations were made to it, inspired by the Villa Farnese of Rome. Following the death of Hertford, it was converted into a mansion by Captain Robert Stayner Holford . The background to the development of the Dorchester Hotel is complicated. Sir Malcolm McAlpine , a partner in the building company Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons, and Sir Frances Towle, the managing director of Gordon Hotels, shared
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#173277295161910912-626: The Acts was that, out of all Britain's great buildings, they only found 26 monuments in England, 22 in Scotland, eighteen in Ireland and three in Wales worthy of preservation; all of which were prehistoric. While neolithic monuments were included, the Acts specifically excluded inhabited residences. The aristocratic ruling class of Britain inhabiting their homes and castles were certainly not going to be regulated by some lowly civil servants. This view
11088-668: The Air Staff), Duff Cooper (with his wife Lady Diana Cooper ), Oliver Lyttleton (President of the Board of Trade) and Duncan Sandys (Financial Secretary to the War Office). Halifax and his wife took eight rooms as well as a chapel in the hotel, and when possible he enjoyed trysts with his mistress, Alexandra "Baba" Metcalfe , who was also staying in the hotel and concurrently having an affair with Dino Grandi , Mussolini's representative in London. General Dwight D. Eisenhower took
11264-736: The Atlantic, and then reassembled in Richmond, Virginia . The Carolean staircase from Cassiobury Park has come to rest in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, as have elements to reassemble period rooms , including the rococo stuccoed plasterwork from the dining room of the Dashwood seat, Kirtlington Park ; the tapestry room from Croome Court ; and the dining room by Robert Adam from Lansdowne House , London, where
11440-554: The Atlantic. In 1929 Virginia House was also bought, disassembled and shipped across the Atlantic. In 1931, the Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act 1913 was amended to restrict development in an area surrounding an ancient monument. The scope of buildings included was also widened to include "any building, structure or other work, above or below the surface". However, the Act still excluded inhabited buildings. Had it included them, much that
11616-511: The British Labour government refused to save Mentmore , thus causing the dispersal, and emigration, of one of the country's finest art collections. In the 1960s, historians and public bodies had begun to realise the loss to the nation of this destruction. However, the process of change was long, and it was not until 1984 with the preservation of Calke Abbey that it became obvious that opinion had changed. A large public appeal assured
11792-442: The Dorchester Hotel is "a good example of somewhere it may be better to add decor rather than completely re-invent". DK Eyewitness describes the Dorchester as "the epitome of the glamorous luxury hotel, with an outrageously lavish lobby and a star-studded history". Gold leaf and marble remain distinct features of the public rooms of the hotel, including the restaurants, with features more reminiscent of an English country house than
11968-546: The Dorchester and other hotels owned by the sultanate to be boycotted, after the sultanate adopted a policy of death by stoning as punishment for gay sex. In April 2019, Clooney's call was echoed by Ellen DeGeneres and Elton John . The same month, Deutsche Bank banned its staff from staying at Brunei-owned hotels; the Financial Times and the TV Choice awards said they would cancel events that had been planned at
12144-513: The Dorchester over the years, and it is strongly associated with cinema, particularly American film. From the 1940s onwards the Dorchester was a common rendezvous for film producers, actors and casting agents. In 1940, Gabriel Pascal and David Lean used Pascal's hotel suite as the casting location for the movie Major Barbara ; Deborah Kerr , who auditioned for the film, said of it: "How bizarre it was. This room full of chaps smoking enormous cigars and drinking martinis and this young girl reciting
12320-594: The Dorchester when she was a princess on the day prior to the announcement of her engagement to Philip Mountbatten on 10 July 1947. Philip also held his stag night party at the hotel, which has been documented in a plaque. When Said bin Taimur of Oman was ousted in a coup in July 1970 and replaced with his son Qaboos bin Said , he was sent in exile and lived at the Dorchester until his death in 1972. The McAlpine family owned
12496-709: The Dorchester, where they were entertained by Emerald, Lady Cunard , who had a three-room suite on the seventh floor. In 1949, the 150th anniversary of Alexander Pushkin 's birth was organised at the hotel by the Society of Cultural Relations with the USSR , attended by the Soviet chargé d'affaires, the Polish ambassador, the Romanian minister, and Cecil Day-Lewis , raising MI5 's suspicions that he still had communist sympathies,
12672-647: The Dorchester; and the English National Ballet , the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Tempus Magazine said they would review their associations with the Dorchester. Protesters demonstrated outside the Dorchester against the sultanate's policies. The Police Federation of England and Wales cancelled plans to host its awards ceremony at the venue. 51°30′26″N 0°9′9″W / 51.50722°N 0.15250°W / 51.50722; -0.15250 Park Lane, London Park Lane
12848-438: The Duke of Bedford kept Woburn Abbey , considerably reduced in size, after World War II, while selling other family estates and houses. Whatever the personal choices and reasons for the sales and demolitions, the underlying and unifying factor was almost always financial. This began long before the 20th century with the gradual introduction and increase of taxes on income and further tax on inherited wealth, death duties . Before
13024-602: The Grosvenor Estate, whose policy was to construct large family homes attracting the nouveau riche to the area. The road became lined with some of the largest privately owned mansions in London, including the Duke of Westminster 's Grosvenor House (replaced by the Grosvenor House Hotel ) and the Holford family's Dorchester House (demolished in 1929 and replaced in 1931 with The Dorchester ) and
13200-587: The Kensington Turnpike Trust took over its maintenance, as coach traffic caused wear on the road surface. Breadalbane House was built on the street in 1776. On the corner with Oxford Street , Somerset House (No. 40), built in 1769–70, was successively the town house of Warren Hastings , a former Governor-General of India , the third Earl of Rosebery , and the Dukes of Somerset . The politician and entrepreneur Richard Sharp , also known as "Conversation Sharp", lived at No. 28. In
13376-653: The London Monopoly board. Park Lane is about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) long, and runs north from Hyde Park Corner to Marble Arch , along the eastern flank of Hyde Park . To its east is Mayfair . The road is a primary route, classified A4202. The street is one of the key bus corridors in Central London. It is used by London bus routes 2 , 6 , 13 , 16 , 23 , 36 , 74 , 137 , 148 , 390 , 414 and night bus routes N2 , N16 , N74 and N137 . The nearest tube stations are Hyde Park Corner on
13552-646: The Lords' Prayer." In the 1940s, producer Earl St. John was found drunk at the hotel; writer and co-producer Eric Ambler promptly sent him back to John Davis in a taxi with a board around his neck with the words "Return to John Davis with compliments". Ray Bradbury stayed at the hotel during the filming of Moby Dick (1956). In 1964, John Lennon was invited to attend one of the Foyle Literary Luncheons after he received acclaim for his book In His Own Write . John and Cynthia were unaware of
13728-406: The Lords' power of veto. In 1932, the threat through taxation to the nation's heritage was recognized, and appeals were made for repairs to National Trust and historic properties by their tenants to be tax-deductible; however the pleas fell on deaf ears. Death duties are the taxes most commonly associated with the decline of the British country house. They are not, in fact, a phenomenon peculiar to
13904-505: The USA by the lure of an old title in return for vast riches. Not all were so fortunate or seemingly eligible. When 2nd Duke of Buckingham found himself bankrupt in 1848, he sold the contents of Stowe House , one of Britain's grandest houses. It proved to be a temporary solution; his heirs, the 3rd and final Duke of Buckingham and his heirs, the Earls Temple , inherited huge financial problems until finally in 1922 anything left that
14080-623: The World Monopoly Championships were held at the Park Lane Hotel, sponsored by Waddingtons , manufacturers of the British version. Since the game's original production, prices on the real Park Lane have held their value, though average rent costs have been overtaken by Bond Street . In Arthur Conan Doyle 's short story " The Adventure of the Empty House " (1903), Sherlock Holmes investigates and solves
14256-554: The acts intended to enforce preservation. Thus, when the Act was finally passed after approval from the House of Lords, the final paragraph excluded from the act "any building included in a list of monuments published by the Commissioners of Works" and more tellingly did not "affect any powers of the Commissioners of Works." Ironically, eighteen years later, on the untimely death of the marquess, by then Duke of Devonshire, his son
14432-468: The aristocracy and gentry. Two years later, Lloyd George in his People's Budget of 1909 announced plans for a supertax for the rich, but the bill introducing the tax was defeated in the House of Lords. This respite for owners of large country houses, many of them members of the House of Lords, was brief and ultimately self-defeating: the bill's defeat led to the Parliament Act 1911 which removed
14608-547: The automation of modern steelmaking, was originally established at No. 11 Park Lane in June 1944. It has since moved to No. 24 Buckingham Gate. The contact lens pioneer Keith Clifford Hall held a practice at No. 139, later expanding to No 140, from 1945 to 1964. The site of his practice is now commemorated by a green heritage plaque. The film and stage actress Anna Neagle lived at Alford House on Park Lane between 1950 and 1964 with her husband Herbert Wilcox ;
14784-493: The background. Tea is served by waiters dressed in English-style long coats. Hollywood actor Charlton Heston , a frequent guest at the hotel, once commented on the aspect of service at the hotel: “The cooks and bakers, the clerks and porters, the maids and the flower ladies, the bell men are the hotel”. The choice of tea offered to the guests is diverse, and includes the hotel's own Dorchester Blend. The service includes
14960-449: The ballroom and gallery, though the building was partially restored. However, the strength of construction of the Dorchester Hotel gave it the reputation of being one of London's safest buildings, and it was a safe haven for numerous luminaries. General Dwight D. Eisenhower took a suite on the first floor in 1942, and later made it his headquarters. The British Iron and Steel Research Association , an institution responsible for much of
15136-519: The better off. The tax was repealed for a brief period in 1802 during a cessation in hostilities with the French, but its reintroduction in 1803 set the pattern for all future taxation in Britain. While the tax was again repealed following the victory at Waterloo , the advantages of such taxation were now obvious. In 1841, after the election victory of Sir Robert Peel , the exchequer was so depleted that
15312-414: The cessation of hostilities they were twice raised further between 1946 and 1949. Attempts by some families to avoid paying death duties were both helped and hindered by war. Some estate owners gave their properties to their heirs thereby escaping duties; when subsequently that heir was killed fighting, death duties were not payable because a soldier's or sailor's (and later airman's) estate was not subject to
15488-548: The cessation of hostilities, the trickle of demolitions which had begun in the earlier part of the century became a torrent of destruction. Destroying buildings of national or potential national importance was not an act peculiar to the 20th century in Britain. The demolition in 1874 of Northumberland House , London, a prime example of English Renaissance architecture, passed without significant comment. Town houses such as Northumberland House were highly visible displays of wealth and political power, so consequently more likely to be
15664-509: The charge. The western extension was removed in January 2011. In November 2008, the mayor of London , Boris Johnson announced plans to build a tunnel beneath the street, allowing land to be released for development and green spaces. The traffic improvements and remodelling have diminished the appeal of Park Lane as a residential address since it became one of the busiest and noisiest roads in central London. In 2011, Johnson introduced spot fines for coaches idling on Park Lane. The widening of
15840-426: The choicest art works from the other properties; and then demolish the less favoured. Thus, one solution not only solved any financial problems, but also removed an unwanted burden. The vast majority of the houses demolished were of less architectural importance than the great Baroque , Palladian and Neoclassical mansions by the notable architects. These smaller, but often aesthetically pleasing houses belonged to
16016-407: The concrete was to be left unpainted and that the insulation would be minimal. Some 40,000 tonnes of earth were excavated to make room for the hotel's extensive basement which is one-third of the size of the hotel above the surface. The upper eight floors were erected in just 10 weeks, supported on a massive 3 feet (0.91 m) thick reinforced concrete deck that forms the roof of the first floor. With
16192-402: The demolition of a private house no matter how architecturally important. Before the 1870s, these estates often encompassed several thousand acres, generally consisting of several farms let to tenants ; the great house was supplied with food from its own home farm (for meat and dairy) and a kitchen garden (for fruit and vegetables). While such estates were sufficiently profitable to maintain
16368-407: The destruction of these now often-forgotten houses has been described as a cultural tragedy. The British nobility had been demolishing some of their country houses since the 15th century, when comfort replaced fortification as an essential need. For many, demolishing and rebuilding their country homes became a lifelong hobby, in particular during the 18th century when it became fashionable to take
16544-558: The destruction, by open cast mining, of the park and formal gardens of Wentworth Woodhouse , Britain's largest country house. The Minister of Fuel and Power, Manny Shinwell , insisted, as 300-year-old oaks were uprooted, that "the park be mined right up to the mansion's door." Meanwhile, plans by the socialist government to wrest the house from its owner, the Earl Fitzwilliam, and convert the architecturally important house for "homeless industrial families" were only abandoned at
16720-444: The development of the Dorchester, concerns were raised that Park Lane would soon become New York City 's Fifth Avenue . The new Dorchester Hotel was feted with a grand opening on 18 April (21 April also cited) 1931 by Lady Violet Astor . The Dorchester quickly gained reputation as a luxury hotel. During the 1930s it became known as a haunt of numerous writers and artists such as poet Cecil Day-Lewis , novelist Somerset Maugham , and
16896-519: The development of the hotel, concerns were raised that Park Lane would soon become New York City 's Fifth Avenue . The Dorchester quickly gained a reputation as a luxury hotel and one of the most prestigious buildings on the road. During the 1930s it became known as a haunt of numerous writers and artists, such as poet Cecil Day-Lewis , novelist Somerset Maugham , and painter Sir Alfred Munnings , and it became known for its distinguished literary gatherings, including "Foyles Literary Luncheons", an event
17072-417: The early 20th century there was no firmly upheld legislation to protect what is now considered to be the nation's heritage. Additionally, public opinion did not have the sentiment and interest in national heritage that is evident in Britain today. When the loss of Britain's architectural heritage reached its height at the rate of one house every five days in 1955, few were particularly interested or bothered. In
17248-517: The early 20th century, as residents began to complain about motor traffic and the noise from buses. The first flats were built at Nos. 139–140 in 1915 despite local opposition, with shops following soon afterwards. However, buildings were redeveloped to allow penthouse flats , which became popular. The politician and art collector Philip Sassoon lived at No. 25 in the 1920s and 1930s and held an extensive collection of objects at his house. Dancing partners Fred and Adele Astaire moved into
17424-831: The eleventh hour when Earl Fitzwilliam, through the auspices of his socialist sister , agreed to its conversion to a college—a lesser fate. This was the political climate in which many families abandoned the houses their families had owned for generations. The apathy towards the nation's heritage continued after the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 , even though this was the most comprehensive law pertaining to planning legislation in England. The 1947 Act went further than its predecessors in dealing with historic buildings, as it required owners of property to notify their local authority of intended alterations, and more significantly, demolitions. This caught any property which may have escaped official notice previously. Theoretically, it gave
17600-489: The end of the century, even some of the "new" country houses by the architect Edwin Lutyens had been demolished. There were a number of reasons: social, political and, most importantly, financial. In rural areas, the destruction of the country houses and their estates was tantamount to a social revolution. Well into the 20th century, it was common for the local squire to provide large-scale employment, housing, and patronage to
17776-486: The estate that had to be paid, but also to include closer heirs liable to payment. By 1815, the tax was payable by all except the spouse of the deceased. In 1853, a new tax was introduced, " succession duty ". This not only resulted in tax being payable on all forms of inheritance, but also removed several loopholes to avoid paying inheritance taxes. In 1881 "probate duty" became payable on all personal property bequeathed at death. The wording personal property meant that for
17952-459: The event, the charity ' Trees for Cities ' planted eighty 'future great trees' around the capital. From about 1985 to 2018, the hotel hosted the annual Presidents Club charity dinner, a "mainstay of London's social calendar". The charity disbanded in 2018 after reports that hired hostesses had been sexually harassed and assaulted by the all-male guests. The architectural style adopted by William Curtis Green, largely based on Owen William's design,
18128-562: The exception of James Lees-Milne , the noted biographer and historian of the English country house) and the demolition went ahead unchallenged. The mid-1950s, which should have been regulated by the above Acts, was the era in which most houses were legitimately destroyed, at an estimated rate of one every five days. The demolition finally began to noticeably slow following the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act 1968 . This Act compelled owners to seek and wait for permission to demolish
18304-653: The fate of the RMS Titanic , a broad, lower-deck working corridor on E Deck, which ran the length of the ship, was referred to by officers as "Park Lane" (and by crew as " Scotland Road "). Notes Citations Sources Destruction of country houses in 20th-century Britain The destruction of country houses in 20th-century Britain was the result of a change in social conditions: many country houses of varying architectural merit were demolished by their owners. Collectively termed by several authors "the lost houses",
18480-468: The first time not only the house and its estate were taxed but also the contents of the house including jewellery – these were often of greater value than the estate itself. By 1884 estate duty taxed property of any manner bequeathed at death, but even when the Liberal government in 1894 reformed and tidied the complicated system at 8% on properties valued at over one million pounds, they were not punitive to
18656-495: The flowers on display in the hotel and providing their services for weddings and special occasions. In 2023 the Dorchester revealed extensive refurbishments, including guestrooms and suites designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon and the renamed Vesper Bar by Martin Brudnizki . The Dorchester has five restaurants: The Grill , Alain Ducasse , The Spatisserie , The Promenade , and China Tang , and three bars, two of which are in
18832-496: The four poster beds, with cherry wood furnishings. The bath tubs, cited as "probably the deepest in London", are made of Italian marble in the Art Deco style. All rooms in the hotel either provide views of Hyde Park or of its landscaped terraces. During the major renovation of 2002, all rooms and suites were fitted with modern telecommunication systems. The hotel has its own floristry team who are responsible for regularly updating
19008-522: The ground floor, with the central bay containing three windows on each floor. Christopher Matthew has stated that he thinks of the Dorchester as a "rather American hotel", not only because of the strong association with American actors such as Elizabeth Taylor, but because the sweeping 1930s facade reminded him of many of those which appeared in American film musicals. However, he notes that the hotel still remains "very much an English hotel". The hotel became
19184-559: The high profile of the event and attended with a hangover, with Lennon disappointing the crowd which had gathered at the Dorchester who were expecting a speech, simply muttering "Thank you very much, it's been a pleasure". Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor were regulars at the hotel throughout the 1960s and 1970s and spent their honeymoon in the Oliver Messel suite in March 1964. The hotel has also hosted many footballers attending
19360-473: The hotel in the 1930s, initially earning £50 a week. Many blues and jazz artists appeared at the hotel, including Alberta Hunter and the Jack Jackson Orchestra . In 1934, Hunter was the vocalist on Jackson's recordings of Noël Coward 's "I Travel Alone" and Cole Porter 's "Miss Otis Regrets" at the hotel; both Coward and Porter were fans. It also became a rendezvous for many businessmen; it
19536-399: The hotel since its opening in 1931, is served every day of the week at five in the afternoon in the large Promenade and the Spatisserie , with guests seated in decorative upholstered sofas with low tables placed in front of them. The tables are set with elegant silver cutlery and crockery, with Corinthian columns made of marble, glittering chandeliers , French tapestries and potted plants in
19712-415: The hotel still hosts. From World War II onwards, the hotel and Park Lane became renowned for accommodating numerous international film stars, and it was closely associated with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in the 1960s and 1970s. During World War II, several properties on Park Lane were hit by bombs. Dudley House , at No. 100, suffered major structural damage, including the destruction of
19888-475: The hotel until 1977 when they sold it to a consortium of businessmen from the Middle East headed by the Sultan of Brunei . On 3 June 1982, Shlomo Argov , the Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom was shot and seriously injured in an assassination attempt as he left the Dorchester. The attack was the immediate cause for the 1982 Lebanon War . In 1985, the hotel was purchased by the Sultan of Brunei. The hotel
20064-529: The hotel. It was also at a Dorchester suite that actor Christian Bale was alleged to have assaulted his mother and sister shortly before The Dark Knight premiere in July 2008 and was subsequently arrested. In 2014, numerous celebrities started boycotting the hotel due to its links, via the sultanate, to the introduction of Sharia law in Brunei , which includes the death penalty for various forms of immorality. In March 2019, George Clooney renewed calls for
20240-443: The immediate aftermath of World War II , to the British public still suffering from the deprivations of food rationing and restriction on building work the destruction of these great redundant houses was of little interest. From 1914 onwards there had been a huge exodus away from a life in domestic service; having experienced the less restricted and better-paid life away from the great estates, few were anxious to return – this in itself
20416-440: The interior of the hotel. He incorporated aspects of stage design into the hotel interior, and designed the lavish apartments on the 7th and 8th floors. As Country Life documented, Messel's rooms at the hotel "represents a rare glimpse into the world of mid-20th-century interior design", in which he drew upon his skills as a theatre designer to fill his rooms with "tricks of space and light, colour and period reference". Today one of
20592-465: The lane's southern end, coinciding with Benjamin Dean Wyatt 's reconstruction of Londonderry House and Apsley House . At the same time, the entrances to Hyde Park at Stanhope, Grosvenor, and Cumberland Gates were refurbished, and the park's boundary wall was replaced with iron railings. Park Lane subsequently became an in-demand residential address, offering views across Hyde Park and a position at
20768-513: The last two restaurants. Employing 90 full-time chefs, the hotel has long had a reputation for its cuisine, and chefs such as Jean Baptiste Virlogeux , Eugene Kaufeler, Willi Elsener and Anton Mosimann have all run restaurants there. Mosimann ran the Maitre Chef des Cuisines at the Dorchester for 13 years. Virlogeux, head chef during the Second World War, had to succumb to rationing and a national maximum-price restriction of five shillings for
20944-430: The list to notify the newly formed Ancient Monuments Board of any proposed alterations, including demolition. The board then had the authority, if minded, to recommend that Parliament place a preservation order on a building, regardless of the owner's wishes, and thus protect it. Like its predecessors, the 1913 Act deliberately omitted inclusion of inhabited buildings, whether they were castles or palaces. The catalyst for
21120-411: The local authority the opportunity to impose a preservation order on the property and prevent demolition. Under this law the Duke of Bedford was fined for demolishing half of Woburn Abbey without notification, although it is inconceivable that the duke would have been able to demolish half of the huge house (much of it visible from a public highway) without attracting public attention until the demolition
21296-417: The location of which is now marked with a green heritage plaque. The hotel trade continued to prosper; construction of the London Hilton on Park Lane at 22 Park Lane began in 1960 and opened in 1963 at a construction cost of £8m (now £212,000,000). On 5 September 1975, a Provisional IRA bomb exploded at the hotel, killing two people and injuring over 60. The blast also damaged neighbouring properties. At
21472-438: The mansion and provide a partial—if not complete—income, the agricultural depression from the 1870s onwards changed the viability of estates in general. Previously, such holdings yielded at least enough to fund loans on the large debts and mortgages usually undertaken to fund a lavish lifestyle, often spent in entertaining both on the country estate and "in town", in the family's large house of equal status in London . By 1880,
21648-426: The military chose it as their London residence. Queen Elizabeth II attended the Dorchester when she was a princess on the day prior to the announcement of her engagement to Philip Mountbatten on 10 July 1947. The hotel has since become particularly popular with film actors, models and rock stars, and Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton frequently stayed at the hotel throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The hotel became
21824-426: The monumental Hamilton Palace . One firm, Charles Brand of Dundee, demolished at least 56 country houses in Scotland in the 20 years between 1945 and 1965. In England, it has been estimated that one in six of all country houses were demolished during the 20th century. Two years before the beginning of World War I , on 4 May 1912, the British magazine Country Life carried a seemingly unremarkable advertisement:
22000-401: The most fashionable western edge of London. No. 93, at the junction of Park Lane and Upper Grosvenor Street , was built between 1823 and 1825 by Samuel Baxter . The British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli lived at the house from 1839 to 1872. In 1845, a house on Park Lane was advertised as "one of the most recherché in London". Much of the land to the east of Park Lane was owned by
22176-402: The nation's heritage was a large contributory factor to the indifference that met the destruction. There were, however, reasons other than public indifference. Successive legislation involving national heritage, often formulated by the aristocracy themselves, had omitted any reference to private houses. The main reasons that so many British country houses were destroyed during the second half of
22352-498: The only survivor of the car crash that killed al-Fayed's son Dodi Fayed and Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, briefly recuperated in a flat on Park Lane following the accident. Property prices on Park Lane remain some of the highest in London. In 2006, former Conservative leader of Westminster City Council , Dame Shirley Porter moved into a new £1.5m development on Curzon Square after twelve years of exile in Israel. In 2015,
22528-467: The painter Sir Alfred Munnings . There were prestigious literary gatherings, including "Foyles Literary Luncheons", an event the hotel still hosts. Shortly after the opening, Sir Percival David , a leading admirer of Chinese porcelain , moved his growing collection from the Mayfair Hotel to the Dorchester, where he kept it in his suites for many years. Danny Kaye began appearing in cabaret at
22704-466: The preservation of Tyntesfield in 2002, and in 2007, Dumfries House and its collection were saved, after protracted appeals and debates. Today, demolition has ceased to be a realistic, or legal, option for listed buildings, and an historic house (particularly one with its contents intact) has become recognized as worthy of retention and preservation. However, many country houses are still at risk, and their security, even as an entirety with their contents,
22880-430: The public should have access to the monuments preserved at its expense. While the catalogue of buildings worthy of preservation was to expand, it remained restrictive, and failed to prevent many of the early demolitions, including, in 1925, the export to the USA of the near ruinous Agecroft Hall . This fine half-timbered example of Tudor domestic architecture, was shipped, complete with its timbers, wattle and daub, across
23056-531: The road becoming more desirable, traffic began to increase on Park Lane during the 19th century. A short section of the lane was widened in 1851 as part of the redevelopment work on Marble Arch. In July 1866, following the destruction of the boundary railings after a demonstration supporting the Second Reform Bill , the road was widened as far as Stanhope Gate. In 1871, Hamilton Place was widened to allow an alternative traffic flow to Piccadilly. By
23232-586: The road distanced the houses on the east side of Park Lane from Hyde Park itself, access to which is now by underpass. Despite the traffic noise the road is still upmarket, featuring five-star hotels (such as The Dorchester, the Grosvenor House Hotel and the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel ) and showrooms for several sports car models, including BMW , Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz . Park Lane
23408-409: The road was widened to three lanes each way either side of a central reservation. This required the demolition of Nos. 145–148 Piccadilly, near Hyde Park Corner, which had previously formed a line east of Apsley House. The work also re-appropriated East Carriage Drive inside Hyde Park as the northbound carriageway, moving the park's boundary westwards. Additionally, a car park was installed under
23584-409: The road, which became the largest underground parking area in London. Despite the claims to preserve as much of the park as possible during the widening works; around 20 acres (8.1 ha) of park was removed and around 95 trees were felled. At the time of opening, the project was the largest road widening scheme in Central London since the construction of Kingsway in 1905. The total estimated cost
23760-491: The roofing balustrade and urns from the roof of Trentham Hall could be purchased for £200. One of Britain's great ducal country houses, Trentham Hall was demolished with little public comment or interest. It was its owner's property, to do with as he wished. There was no reason for public interest or concern; the same magazine had frequently published in-depth articles on new country houses being built, designed by fashionable architects such as Lutyens . As far as general opinion
23936-431: The so-called Long Depression had led some holders into financial shortfalls as they tried to balance maintenance of their estate with the income it provided. Some relied on funds from secondary sources such as banking and trade while others, like the severely impoverished Duke of Marlborough , sought American heiresses. The country houses have been described as "power houses", from which their owners controlled not only
24112-521: The south end of Park Lane, on the west side, gates in honour of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (widow of George VI ) were erected in 1993. The gates were designed by Giuseppe Lund and David Wynne and bear motifs in an interpretation of her coat of arms. The Animals in War Memorial was opened at the northeast edge of Park Lane in 2004 by Anne, Princess Royal . It commemorates animals that served in wars, and alongside servicemen. In June 2007,
24288-711: The suites is named after him, the Oliver Messel Suite, designed in the Georgian country house style. Messel made the changes on the Deanery Side of the building in 1952–3. Oliver Frederick Ford served as consultant designer from 1962, decorating both the Stanhope Suite and the Orchid Room, a corner of which was completely re-built and decorated in the English rococo style. He also remodelled
24464-425: The tax made a surprise return on incomes above £150, while still known as a "temporary tax". It was never again repealed. Throughout the 19th century, tax thresholds remained high, permitting the wealthy to live comfortably while paying minimal tax; until in 1907, H. H. Asquith introduced 'differentiation', a tax designed to be more punitive to those with investments rather than an earned income, which directly hit
24640-640: The tax. However, if the heir had died single and intestate, the former owner would become the owner again, and when that owner died, the death taxes would have to be paid. The Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1882 was the first serious attempt in Britain to catalogue and preserve ancient British monuments. While the Acts failed to protect any country houses, the Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1900 provided one important factor which saved many monuments of national importance by making provision for owners of ancient monuments (on list of
24816-410: The trappings of wealth and privilege which the house represented. Thus, it was not just the smaller country houses of the gentry which were wiped from their – often purposely built – landscapes, but also the huge ducal palaces. Alfred Waterhouse 's Gothic Eaton Hall , owned by Britain's wealthiest peer, was razed to the ground in 1963, and replaced by a smaller modern building. Sixteen years earlier
24992-407: The vast surrounding estates, but also, through political influence, the people living in the locality. Political elections held in public before 1872 gave suffrage to only a limited section of the community, many of whom were the landowner's friends, tradesmen with whom he dealt, senior employees or tenants. The local landowner often not only owned an elector's house, but was also his employer, and it
25168-403: The victims of changing fashions. The difference in the 20th century was that the acts of demolition were often acts of desperation and last resort; a demolished house could not be valued for probate duty. A vacant site was attractive to property developers, who would pay a premium for an empty site that could be rebuilt upon and filled with numerous small houses and bungalows, which would return
25344-405: The war was several broken windows. Some felt the communal air-raid shelter in the basement to be insufficiently exclusive and retreated to the hotel's underground gymnasium and Turkish baths, which had been converted into a shelter by Victor Cazalet . Its wartime clientele included Lord Halifax (Foreign Minister), Oliver Stanley (Minister for War), Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal (Chief of
25520-470: The wealthiest Middle Eastern and Asian businessmen, sheikhs and sultans. The Dorchester was purchased by the Sultan of Brunei in 1985, and since 1996 has been part of the Dorchester Collection , owned by the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA), an arm of the Ministry of Finance of Brunei. The Dorchester Collection connects The Dorchester on Park Lane to other luxury hotels internationally, including The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air of Los Angeles, and
25696-505: The white, gold, and green entrance hall. The current dark green staff uniform of The Dorchester was designed in 1980 and is also attributed to Ford. Between 1988 and 1990, the hotel was completely renovated by Bob Lush of the Richmond Design Group at a cost of $ 100 million. Liberace 's piano sits in the lobby. As of 2012, the Dorchester has 250 rooms and 49 suites. In the rooms, specially made Irish linen sheets cover
25872-682: Was a change in public opinion. This was in part brought about by the Destruction of the Country House exhibition held at London's Victoria and Albert Museum in 1974. The response to this highly publicised exhibition was very positive; for the first time the public, rather than a few intellectual bodies, became aware that country houses were an important part of the national heritage and worthy of preservation. Today, over 370,000 buildings are listed, which includes all buildings erected before 1700 and most constructed before 1840. After that date
26048-529: Was a departure from the Neoclassical with its reinforced concrete covered over with terrazzo slabs. British Modernists were disappointed with the result, describing Green's adaptation as, "a genteel period piece which looks the compromise it is". In comparison to some of the other hotels in London such as the Lanesborough, the building's exterior is unremarkable. It is eight storeys high aside from
26224-450: Was a further reason that life in the English country house was becoming near impossible to all but the very rich. Another consideration was education. Before the late 1950s and the advent of the stately home business, very few working-class people had seen the upstairs of these great houses; those who had were there only to clean and serve, with an obligation to keep their eyes down, rather than uplift them and be educated. Thus ignorance of
26400-437: Was after the end of the war, as the government handed back the requisitioned, war-torn and frequently dilapidated mansions to their often demoralised and impoverished owners; it was during a period of not just mounting taxation, to pay for a costly war, but also a time when it seemed all too clear that the old order had passed. In this political climate, many felt it the only option to abandon their ancestral piles. Thus, following
26576-548: Was at once the base for the Zionist movement's leaders, including Chaim Weizmann , as well as a group of upper-class British anti-Semites, including Margaret Greville . According to Cecil Beaton the clientele was a "mixed brew"; to its wartime chronicler, it was "a building in which the respectable and the dubious mixed by the thousand, knocking back cocktails and indulging in careless talk". In March 1945, Ernest Hemingway and Time correspondent and lover Mary Welsh stayed at
26752-458: Was at the Dorchester that BP formed a joint Collaborate Committee with ICI in 1943. During the Second World War , the strength of its construction gave the hotel the reputation of being one of London's safest buildings. On its opening, Sir Malcolm McAlpine declared it to be "bomb-proof, earthquake-proof and fireproof," and the only damage inflicted on the building by the Luftwaffe during
26928-416: Was complete. Indifference on the part of local authorities and the public resulted in poor enforcement of the Act, and revealed the true root of the problem. When in 1956 Lord Lansdowne notified the "Ministry of Housing and Government" of his intention to demolish the greater part and corps de logis of Bowood designed by Robert Adam , no preservation society or historical group raised an objection (with
27104-456: Was completely renovated at a cost of US$ 100 million by Bob Lush of the Richmond Design Group. Today The Dorchester has five restaurants: The Grill , Alain Ducasse , The Spatisserie , The Promenade , and China Tang . Alain Ducasse 's restaurant is one of the UK's five 3- Michelin -starred restaurants. Afternoon tea, a tradition which has taken place at the hotel since its opening in 1931,
27280-409: Was concerned, England's great houses came and they went; as long as their numbers remained, continuing to provide local employment, the public were not largely concerned. The Country Life advertisement, however, was to prove a hint of things to come. Before World War I only a few houses were demolished, but the pace increased: by 1955, one house was being demolished every five days. As early as 1944,
27456-517: Was destroyed before World War II could have been saved. The Town and Country Planning Act 1932 was chiefly concerned with development and new planning regulations. However, amongst the small print was Clause 17, which permitted a town council to prevent the demolition of any property within its jurisdiction. This unpopular clause clearly intruded on the "Englishman's home is his castle" philosophy, and provoked similar aristocratic fury to that seen in 1911. The Marquess of Hartington thundered: "Clause 17
27632-545: Was exemplified in 1911 when the immensely wealthy Duke of Sutherland acting on a whim wished to dispose of Trentham Hall , a vast Italianate palace in Staffordshire . After failing to offload the house onto a local authority, he decided to demolish it. The small, but vocal, public resistance to this plan caused the Duke of Rutland to write an irate letter to The Times accusing the objectors of "impudence" and going on to say "....fancy my not being allowed to make
27808-582: Was forced to surrender to the state, in lieu of death duties, one of England's most historic country houses, Hardwick Hall , now owned by the National Trust . The Devonshires' London house, Devonshire House had been demolished in 1920, and its site redeveloped. The Town and Country Planning Act 1944 , with the end of World War II in sight, was chiefly concerned with the redevelopment of bomb sites, but contained one crucial clause which concerned historic buildings: it charged local authorities to draw up
27984-433: Was from an area outside of his influence. Thus the national power of the landed aristocrats and gentry was slowly diminished. The ruling class was slowly ceasing to rule. In 1888 the creation of local elected authorities in the form of county councils eroded their immediate local power too. The final blow, the Parliament Act 1911 , proved to be the beginning of the end for the country house lifestyle which had been enjoyed in
28160-526: Was moveable, both internal and external, was auctioned off and the house sold, narrowly escaping demolition. It was saved by being transformed into a school. Less fortunate was Clumber Park , the principal home of the Dukes of Newcastle. Selling the Hope Diamond and other properties failed to solve the family problems, leaving no alternative but demolition of the huge, expensive-to-maintain house, which
28336-457: Was not prudent for the voter to be seen publicly voting against his local candidate. The Third Reform Act of 1885 widened the number of males eligible to vote to 60% of the population. Males paying an annual rental of £10, or holding land valued at £10 or over, were now eligible to vote. The other factor was the reorganization of constituency boundaries, and a candidate who for years had been returned unopposed suddenly found part of his electorate
28512-500: Was once occupied by Somerset House and Camelford House. The site also includes No. 138 Park Lane, which was featured as a Home Guard headquarters in the film The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp . The Park Lane Hotel was built in 1927, designed by the architects Adie, Button and Partners . Despite its name, its postal address is on Piccadilly and it overlooks Green Park rather than Hyde Park. The Dorchester , designed by Sir Owen Williams , opened on Park Lane in 1931. With
28688-415: Was opened in the 16th century, the lane ran north–south along its eastern boundary from Piccadilly to Marble Arch . In the 18th century, it was known as Tyburn Lane and was separated from the park by a high wall with few properties along it, aside from a short terrace of houses approximately where Nos. 93–99 are now. Tyburn Lane took its name from the former Tyburn , a village which had declined in
28864-563: Was originally part of the Manor of Hyde, which was given to William the Conqueror by Geoffrey de Mandeville . Joseph Damer acquired it in the 18th century and a large building was constructed in 1751. It was named Dorchester House in 1792 after Damer became the Earl of Dorchester . In the early 19th century it became known as Hertford House after it was purchased by Francis Seymour-Conway,
29040-480: Was part of significant redevelopment which took place on Park Lane during this period; it followed the gutting of Grosvenor House and the building of the Grosvenor House Hotel , which was completed in 1929. Sir Owen Williams was commissioned to design the new hotel, using reinforced concrete to allow the creation of large internal spaces without support pillars, but he abandoned the project in February 1930 and
29216-480: Was razed to the ground in 1938, leaving the Duke without a ducal seat. Plans to rebuild a smaller house on the site were never executed. Other high-ranking members of the peerage were also forced to off-load minor estates and seats; the Duke of Northumberland retained Alnwick Castle , but sold Stanwick Park in North Yorkshire to be demolished, leaving him with four other country seats remaining. Likewise
29392-607: Was refurbished in 1979. A plane tree , with its monumental root system, stands at the edge of the hotel in the well-tended front garden. The branches of the tree are fitted with numerous bulbs which makes the night scene of the hotel evocative. Named one of the " Great Trees of London " by the London Tree Forum and Countryside Commission in 1997, it featured in a BBC programme Meetings with Remarkable Trees in 2000. The hotel has continued to be associated with actors, rock stars and people in entertainment. Numerous film actors and people have auditioned, been interviewed or have stayed at
29568-407: Was refurbished in 1990 by Leslie Wright with a gilded ceiling and reliefs and brass lanterns, and was altered again in 2005 by Thierry Despont , who fitted it with an oval leather bar; it forms the grand entrance and has a length which is equal to that of Nelson's Column . Piano music is played throughout much of the day, with live jazz from 19:30. Afternoon tea, a tradition which has taken place at
29744-416: Was replaced with William Curtis Green . James Maude Richards , hired by Williams, served as an architectural assistant within the all-engineer staff. Percy Richard Morley Horder , consulting architect to Gordon's Hotels, had not been consulted during the design process and, after seeing the plan, resigned from the project, remarking to The Observer that the design was ill-suited for the location, assuming
29920-494: Was safer than in the upper-floor rooms. Bostonian Sherry Mangan of Time was one of several American correspondents who stayed at the hotel during the war, meeting the Trotskyist Sam Gordon in 1944, who asked if the Dorchester was safe from air raids, to which Mangan assured him that "every fifth columnist in London is staying here". Other hotel guests reflected the directors' wide-ranging political beliefs: it
30096-601: Was sued by his former business partners in a case that was settled out of court. During the case the Manoukians claimed that Prince Jefri kept 40 prostitutes at a time at the Dorchester. In 1999, the hotel hosted the first ever Pride of Britain Awards . In March 2002, a robbery took place in the lobby of the hotel when thieves wearing ski masks smashed the jewellery cabinets with a sledgehammer and took off with jewels. The Dorchester celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2011. To mark
30272-416: Was that country houses were left unprotected by any compulsory legislation. The Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act 1913 was the first Act which had the aim of deliberately preserving ancient monuments built since prehistoric times. The act clearly defined a monument as "Any structure or erection other than one in ecclesiastical use." Furthermore, the Act compelled the owner of any monument on
30448-462: Was the case at West Wycombe Park . From around 1900, interior woodwork, including complete panelled rooms and staircases and fittings such as chimneypieces , secured an avid market among rich Americans. In rare cases, complete houses were disassembled, stone by stone, and reassembled in the US; an example is Agecroft Hall , a Lancashire house sold at auction in 1925, dismantled, crated and shipped across
30624-610: Was the only requirement, its house would then be let or neglected, often both. This was certainly the case at Tong Castle (see below) and many other houses. A large unwanted country house unsupported by land quickly became a liability. Income tax was first introduced in Great Britain in 1799 as a means of subsidising the Napoleonic Wars . While not imposed in Ireland, the rate of 10% on the total income, with reductions only possible in incomes below £200, immediately hit
30800-426: Was to sell part of the landed estate, especially if had been purchased in order to expand political territory. In fact, the buying of land in earlier times, before the reforms of 1885, to expand political territory had had a detrimental effect on country houses too. Often when a second estate was purchased to expand another, the purchased estate also had a country house. If the land (and its subsequent local influence)
30976-452: Was £1,152,000 (now £30,470,000). Further traffic signals were installed at the junction of Park Lane and Hyde Park corner in 1983. The road forms part of the London Inner Ring Road and is part of the London congestion charge zone's boundary. When the zone was extended westward in February 2007, Park Lane was designated as one of the "free through routes", on which vehicles could cross the zone during its hours of operation without paying
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