Burlington Gardens, leading to Old Burlington Street, and, by Vigo
Street, to Regent Street, is the first thoroughfare we come to on
the right after leaving Piccadilly. Old Burlington Street has passed
through no less than three changes of name. In 1729 it was known as
Nowell Street; four years later it blossomed into Great Burlington
Street; to-day this adjective is, appropriately, discarded. It, of
course, takes its name from Lord Burlington, whose palace stood between
Burlington Gardens and Piccadilly, and whose grounds once occupied
the land where the street now runs. The West End branch of the Bank
of England is housed in Burlington Gardens in the residence formerly
known as Uxbridge House, from the lesser title of that Marquis of
Anglesea who once owned it, and who died here, in 1854. Famous for his
share in the victory of Waterloo, one of his legs lies buried in the
little church adjoining the battle field, and the old soldier was once
surprised, on paying it a subsequent visit, to find the resting place
of his limb converted into a sort of shrine. Uxbridge House was erected
in 1790-2 by Vardy and Bonami, and stood on the site of Queensbury
House, where Gay’s patron and patroness, who set up that great monument
to the poet, in Westminster Abbey, once lived.
Another titled lady, whose connection with a poet has alone caused
her name to survive, resided in Burlington Street, in the person of
Lady Warwick, the widow of the great Addison; and among other past
inhabitants mention may be made of Lord Hervey (Pope’s “Sporus” and
“Lord Fanny”); Mark Akenside, the poet-physician, who died here in
1770; and Sir Joseph Banks, who took a house here in the following
year; Colonel Ligonier (whose portrait by Reynolds is one of that
Master’s memorable achievements), and the Marquis Cornwallis, who
resided at No. 29, where he died in 1805.
Another great soldier is indirectly connected with the street, for
we find Wolfe writing to his mother and brother who were at one time
living here, although there is no evidence to show that the hero of
“The Heights of Abraham” himself ever resided in Burlington Street.
The “great” Lady Cork--for I think she deserves the adjective--is,
however, closely associated with this street. That noble patroness of
literature, and last of the “blue stockings”--to use the words in
their best sense--died here, in 1840, and Hayward has recorded the
charm of her personality, her good nature, and unusual gifts.
It is an interesting fact that in Burlington Street brass door-plates
bearing the names of private persons (of which Lord Powis’s in Berkeley
Square is the sole survivor) were first used in London.
[Sidenote: VIGO STREET.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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