The Clubhouse History
The Clubhouse at No 4 St James's Square is a magnificent
18th century, Grade II listed town house built
in a classical Palladian style. It has a superb
façade onto St James’s Square with
its 13 original sash windows showing off the building
to great effect.
Throughout its history this house has adopted
various guises, from prestigious family home to
military headquarters and even a High Court.
Below is a brief chronology of the fascinating
history attached to this building.
1679
Built in 1679, the 11th Earl of Kent acquired
it for the princely sum of £6,600.
1725
12th December 1725, a powerful fire overtook the
building causing severe damage. Notes uncovered
about this dramatic event state that the Prince
of Wales hurried to the scene, took charge of
the London firemen and prevented looters from
taking what remained from the chars.
1728
Three years later, the house was sympathetically
re-built, many aspects of which you can still
see today. The renowned architects Hawksmoor,
Giacomo Leoni, Edward Shepherd and even Lord Burlington
have been linked to the reconstruction.
1834 – 1859
The First President of the Royal Institute of
British Architects, Earl de Grey, occupied the
house for 25 years.
1912
– 1942