Spencer House, Westminster facts for kids
Spencer House is a very old and important house in London, England. It's located at 27 St James's Place in an area called St James's in Westminster. This house is so special that it's listed as a "Grade I" building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England and is protected. It was built as a "townhouse," which is a large, fancy house in a city, usually for a wealthy family.
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Building a Grand Home
In 1756, a man named John Spencer decided to build Spencer House. He later became the first Earl Spencer, which is a special title in the British nobility. He wanted a big, impressive house in London to show his important position in society.
John Spencer first chose an architect named John Vardy. Vardy designed the outside walls of the house, which are called the "facades." These are the parts you see today.
A New Style of Design
In 1758, another architect, James "Athenian" Stuart, took over the project. He was known for studying ancient Greek buildings. Because of him, Spencer House became one of the first buildings in London to use the "neoclassical" style. This style brought back ideas from ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture. It became very popular across the country.
Life at Spencer House
For many years, Spencer House was home to the Earls and Countesses Spencer. The grand rooms inside were used for important parties and events for London's high society. The Spencer family lived there until 1895.
After that, the house was rented out. The Spencers did return for a short time in the early 1900s. Later, it was rented as a club or offices. During the Blitz in World War II, many of its valuable original items, like special furniture and fireplaces, were removed for safety.
Spencer House Today
Spencer House is still owned by the Earls Spencer. The current owner is Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, who is the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales.
However, since World War II, the house has been rented out. For example, in 1948, it was rented by Christie's, a famous auction company. Later, it was rented by other companies.
In 1986, a company called RIT Capital Partners, which belongs to the Rothschild family, rented Spencer House for a very long time. They signed a lease for 96 years!
Bringing Back Its Beauty
The company worked hard to restore the house. They made the main rooms and the garden look just like they did when they were first built. This restoration brought back the original beauty of Spencer House.
Spencer House is one of the few grand townhouses left in central London. Many others that once stood there are now gone. It stands alongside other famous houses like Lancaster House and Apsley House.
