ROYAL RESIDENCES, DISAPPEARED

See Also: COUNTRY HOUSES, DISAPPEARED; PALACES, DISAPPEARED & FORMER; ROYAL RESIDENCES; TOWNHOUSES, DISAPPEARED; TOWNHOUSES, DISAPPEARED Leicester House; MENU

Carlton House

The original Carlton House (1709) was built for the Whig politician Baron Carleton. His lordship was a younger son of the Boyle family. In 1732 Frederick Prince of Wales bought the property. The prince's widow, Princess Augusta, used it as her London residence until her own death. Their son King George III granted it to his own eldest son the future King George IV.

The Prince Regent (George IV) was very interested in architectural matters and experimented both at Carlton House and on his Pavilion at Brighton. In 1792 his activities in London were given greater scope when he bought the neighbouring Warwick House. Building work on the joint site did not stop until after he had ascended the throne in 1820.

In 1826 Carlton House was dismantled and many of its materials and fittings were cannibalised for contemporary building projects. Its columns now form part of the central portico of the National Gallery (1837).

Location: Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH (red, yellow)

See Also: ESTATES The Crown Estate, Regent Street; THE ROYAL PARKS The Regent's Park

David Backhouse 2024