In 1805, Gloucester House, home of several lesser Royals, was purchased by the Grosvenor family. The house had a long frontage along Park Lane and extensive gardens beside Mount Street. The noted architect William Pordon was hired to remodel it. Upon initial inspection, he found it to be “dirty..and not so cheerful as the situation would lead one to expect.” 
In 1808, Grosvenor House, as it was renamed, was thrown open for the ton’s inspection. Lord Lonsdale, Lord Grosvenor’s fellow Tory, pronounced it “expensively furnished, but in bad taste.”
Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster
red looks good on him
No matter–Grosvenor House was principally known for its collection of paintings. Stubbs, Gainsborough, Benjamin West were just a few of the artists represented in a collection that required extensive additions to the House. An entire wing some fifty feet long, double story, was added. An entire room was devoted to the religious paintings by Rubens, looted by the French from a Carmelite convent during the Spanish Peninsular War. These were purchased for 10,000 pounds. Presumably the nuns saw none of that money.
The development of the Grosvenor Estate, of which the house was only a small part, made the family one of the wealthiest in England during the Regency. Successive generations became wealthier, eventually becoming the Marquesses and later Dukes of Westminster. The present duke is almost (if he isn’t) the wealthiest person in the U.K.
Grosvenor House is now demolished.
The Viscount Belgrave, Richard Grosvenor, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, as she was known before her marriage, lived in Grosvenor House during the London Season with his parents, the first Marquess and Marchioness of Westminster.
I’ve pictured them here because they are both rather good-looking.
Lady Elizabeth published two very interesting travel diaries. During her trip to Russia in 1827 her knee suddenly swelled. An English doctor was found, along with eight leeches:
“…more voracious animals never were seen. I could hardly prevent them from biting my fingers in taking them out of their glass; and they fixed the moment they were applied; biting like pen-knives, we put on seven, and never saw anything like their size, and the quantity of blood they took away..”
Elizabeth Grosvenor, Marchioness of Westminster
no leeches in this 1816 portrait
Angelyn's Blog 
I’m so sad. Aren’t there any houses that weren’t destroyed? *sigh* It’s difficult to think of leeches in a positive light, especially if you’ve ever found one attached to you after taking a dip in a lake. So glad there weren’t any in the portrait! I’m looking forward to your upcoming Beau Monde class on country houses.
LikeLike
I’ve never had the experience of being attached to a leech. We’ll have to chat about that some more! I’ll see you in class…
LikeLike
Very interesting. Certainly a handsome couple. The house looks lovely. Like Ally, i think it’s sad so few of the stately mansions remain. The class on country houses sounds great.
LikeLike
I hope you join us for the class, Barbara! thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
Some of my books are set In Grosvenor Square so I was very excited to visit there, but very sad to see that so much of the square had changed. Although, the remaining houses are truly beautiful.
Suzi Love
LikeLike
I’ve had to really dig deep to reconstruct how the square looked then compared to today. British history online has been invaluable–particularly the survey conducted to reconstruct much of London that vanished in the early part of the twentieth century.
LikeLike
Lovely house and lovely couple. Thanks for your lovely post.
LikeLike
They are good-looking, aren’t they? I love how the marchioness referred to her husband by his viscountcy–darling Belgrave.
LikeLike
I love your blogs. I want to see some houses that weren’t torn down or ruined as well.
LikeLike
Thank you so much! The next two houses should satisfy your desires.
LikeLike
Pingback: Westminster Theme Week: the Laurel Wreath Tiara (Wednesday) « tiaras and trianon
After my “theme week” about the Westminster tiara collection, some back story on their former digs is just beyond appropriate! Thank you so much! This post hit the spot like a glass of champagne on a warm summer evening!
LikeLike
Great blog, Angelyn. Love British History on line too.
LikeLike
Thank you so much! I would love to be one of the heroines in your books and time-travel back to London during the Regency so I can see Grosvenor House for myself.
LikeLike
Pingback: Grosvenor House — Regency Treasure House By Angelyn Schmid | The Beau Monde