The Great Estates Exhibition

Posted: 18/03/2006

HE GREAT ESTATES, an exhibition opened on 24 March at New London Architecture (NLA), explores the impact made by London’s historic great estates on the capital’s architectural landscape, up to their continued influence on the face of the capital today.

Opening the exhibition Jeremy Newsum, Group Chief Executive, Grosvenor said every town and city in the UK could learn from the experience of the Great Estates: “That large scale ownership and management works very well. It does seem that more and more local authorities are aware of this and are looking for long term solutions to help their own cities evolve.”

“The London Estates are extraordinary,” he said. “In no other city in the world can you find such a collection of large-scale urban Estates. 200 -300 years ago and with competitive zeal, the owners of farmland shaped the built environment of Central London outside the City; since then they have helped London to adapt to multitudinous changes. It is an advantage to operate on a large scale; this scale, combined with the importance of location, put the Estates in a position of more general responsibility to society. “

The exhibition, by the Cambridge University Land Society (CULS) and New London Architecture investigates their changing role – from aristocratic land-owners to today’s leading property developers – and reveals how principles established in the 17th Century continue to inform successful development in 21st Century London.

Peter Murray, NLA exhibition director and curator of The Great Estates, commented: “London is often described as an agglomeration of villages – a more accurate picture would be a series of estates.” 32% of the West End is owned by the aristocratic estates today; the descendents of the original heads of Grosvenor, Portman, Howard de Walden, Cadogan, the Crown and the Corporation of London still retaining responsibility for large swathes of the capital.

With the 17th Century Square Mile close to overflowing, the estates of the landed gentry around Westminster and the City were developed to house the overspill and newcomers to the growing metropolis. Development in these areas was with an eye for the future; investment was made in high quality architecture, public spaces, and affordable housing to ensure the long term value of property over large areas. Out of this, the cohesive neighbourhoods of Belgravia, Mayfair, Marylebone and Bloomsbury were born; areas that remain notable today for their distinctive architectural characters.

Contrasting maps of London explain four hundred years of The Great Estates – showing how ownership of land has changed over time comparative studies will showcase the contribution each has made to the capital and highlight recent initiatives, such as the regeneration of Marylebone High Street by Howard de Walden, Regent Street by the Crown and the creation of the Duke of York development by Cadogan, showing the continued impact the estates exert on the built environment. In their current incarnations as leading property companies, the estates maintain their inherited role, investing in their historic developments to support sustainable and viable modern communities.

The exhibition follows a successful CULS conference last year organised by then President Douglas Blausten of property consultants Cyril Leonard. Mr Newsum praised Mr Blausten’s vision saying he had not wavered in his desire to tell the story of the estates .

The Great Estates exhibition will be accompanied by a series of free morning talks. For further details see www.newlondonarchitecture.org.