Cavendish Square

Holles Street, Oxford Street (W1) Derived its name from Henrietta Cavendish, daughter and heiress of John Holles, Duke of Newcastle. Was built about 1718. No. 32 was successively the residence of two eminent painters, George Romney and Sir Martin Archer Shee. (Reference: Jesse's London, vol. I, The square was laid out about 1717, the whole of the north side being taken by the "Grand Duke" of Chandos, who proposed to build here a palatial residence, and to purchase all the property between Cavendish Square and his palace of Canons at Edgeware, so that he might ride from town to country through his own estate. In the British Museum is a view of the mansion, designed by John Price; the wings of the palace only were built, one being a large mansion at the corner of Harley Street, the other a corresponding mansion at the corner of Chandos Street. (Reference: Timbs's Curiosities of London, p. 748)