Our History

Grosvenor Street

Since August 2000 our Head Office has been 46 Grosvenor Street, London W1.

What is now one building was at one time four. The first three houses to occupy part of the site were rebuilt as one by William Dundas – a Privy Councillor, and former Secretary at War and Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty – in 1820-21.

In 1899, the house was bought by Sir Edgar Speyer – an extremely wealthy financier. Sir Edgar financed the construction of the London Underground, and was Chairman of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London, from 1906-15.

Born in New York, Sir Edgar was typical of the American moguls of his day who enjoyed ostentatious displays of their wealth. In 1909, he bought number 44 Grosvenor Street to add to number 46. The Grosvenor Board, however, stipulated that the two properties – numbers 44 and 46 – had to be capable of being separated again at any time if required. This is why there are staircases on both sides of the entrance hall. Sir Edgar added new front and rear elevations – the front being made from Portland stone – designed by his architects in the American Beaux-Arts tradition, rather than following English styles.

During the First World War Sir Edgar – suspected of being a German sympathiser – was forced to leave the country and Number 46 was commandeered by the Government. After the war it became the American Women’s Club, and then the Japanese Embassy until acquired by Killik & Co in 2000.