Coordinates: 51°30′52″N 0°9′50″W / 51.51444°N 0.16389°W / 51.51444; -0.16389

Connaught Square, Westminster — predominantly four storey town houses surround a private gated communal garden planted with mature trees.

Connaught Square, in the City of Westminster (a London Borough), was the first square of city houses to be built in the Bayswater area. It was named after the Duke of Gloucester (who was also the Earl of Connaught), who had a house nearby. The current appearance of the square dates from the 1820s. The square is just north of Hyde Park, and to the west of Edgware Road. It is also within 300m of Marble Arch, and the western end of Oxford Street.

It is suggested^[1] that the notorious gallows, Tyburn Tree, the site of public execution in London, were located within the square.

[edit] Architecture

Connaught Square's architecture is primarily Georgian. Redevelopment was initially planned in the early 18th century and the first of its 45 brick houses was built in 1828 as part of the Hyde Park estate.

[edit] Community

Residents of Connaught Square hold an exclusive summer party in the central communal garden every year. The square is maintained by the owners of the adjoining properties who contribute to its upkeep, and in return are issued keys to the garden. Such gated gardens are a particular feature of this area of London. There are often very expensive cars parked around the square, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, and more exclusive marques.

[edit] Blair's residence

In October 2004, the then Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie purchased a house on the West side of Connaught Square, for a reported £3.5million.^[2] In many ways Blair's house is similar to 10 Downing Street, having even been used as a replica for the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury during the filming of the TV series "The Alan Clark Diaries". It has been speculated that part of the house is to be converted into offices for a future Blair Foundation.^[3] The houses on the west side back onto Archery Close, a very quiet, dead end picturesque mews street. Beyond Archery Close is St George's Field, built on the site of the burial ground of St George's, Hanover Square.

There is now a considerable police presence around the Blairs' residence, with at least four officers from the Met's CO6 Diplomatic Protection unit present at the house at any one time.^[4][5] With Blair's resignation in 2007, there has been controversy over security arrangements in the square, specifically over the cost of providing high-level security 24 hours a day.^[6][7]

[edit] Other residents

Current residents of Connaught Square:

• Paul Oakenfold
• Claudia Winkleman^[5]
• Nina de Roy
• Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair

As well as houses, the square also contains other enterprises including a very small primary school and doctor’s surgery.

• Dr R. O'Hare — National Health Service medical practice
• Connaught House School
• John Outram — Architects

There is also a garage specialising in classic cars on the north side (Connaught Street). Just off the square on Connaught Street shops include Markus's Coffee, one of the first specialist coffee roasters in London founded by Hungarian refugees in 1956, which supplies many of the best London hotels with freshly roasted coffee, roasted on the premises, and the Chinese restaurant which was the location of dealings during the Grobbelaar football bungs scandal. [1]

[edit] Sounds

The Islamic call to prayer can be heard from the square regularly throughout the day, and there is a constant background of emergency service sirens from vehicles on the roads in the vicinity. Music from events such as 'Party in the Park' held in Hyde Park can be heard from the square, some houses even having views of the park and events. The horses of the Royal Artillery regularly do their early morning rides down Connaught Street.

[edit] See also

• Tyburn Tree

[edit] Nearby places

• Paddington
• Notting Hill
• St John's Wood
• Knightsbridge
• Westminster

[edit] Nearest tube stations

• Marble Arch
• Edgware Road (Bakerloo Line)
• Edgware Road (Circle, District and Hammersmith & City Lines)

[edit] References

1. ^ "London: The Biography" by Peter Ackroyd (Vintage 2001) ISBN 0099422581
2. ^ The house that Tony bought, BBC News, 1 October 2004.
3. ^ London Directory: Connaught Square
4. ^ Your £2m a year bill to guard Tony Blair Daily Mail. Published 6 October 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
5. ^ ^{a b} Claudia Winkleman: Take It From Me - Blair's moving in The Independent. Published 16 May 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
6. ^ The great Connaught Square Revolt: Residents anger over Blair's new home, Daily Mail, 23 June 2007.
7. ^ Your £2m a year bill to guard Tony Blair Daily Mail. Published 6 October 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.

[edit] External links

• Page at LondonTown.com