Pall Mall, London
In 1630, St James's Field opened as London's first pall-mall court to the north of the Haymarket. The game arrived in England during the early 17th century under King James I. It was already popular in France and Scotland before reaching English shores. James' sons Henry and Charles enjoyed playing this sport similar to croquet. Samuel Pepys recorded seeing the Duke of York play at Pelemele on the 2nd of April 1661. This new court suffered from dust blown over the wall by coaches travelling along the highway. In July 1661 posts and rails were erected to stop up the old road. A grant allocated land to Dan O'Neale and John Denham for building a new street. The new road opened in September 1661 and was initially named Catherine Street after Charles II's wife. By July 1665 Pepys used Pell Mell to refer to both the street and the game.
The Earl of St Albans received a lease from the Crown in 1662 on land previously part of St James's Fields. He laid out sites for St James's Square, Jermyn Street, and other streets now known as St James's. Houses were constructed separately as was usual for the time. The Earl petitioned the King in late 1663 about attracting occupants who would acquire houses outright. On the 1st of April 1665 the King granted freehold of the St James's Square site to the Earl. The freehold of the north side of Pall Mall subsequently passed to other private owners. The Crown kept the freehold of land south of the street except for No. 79. This property was granted to Nell Gwyn's trustees in 1676 or 1677 by Charles II. Buildings on the south side were grander than those on the north due to stricter design standards. In 1664 residents successfully petitioned to turn the old road into gardens. Trustees received a sixty-year lease on most of this from April 1665.
By the 18th century Pall Mall was well known for its shops and grand houses. The Vulliamy family made clocks at No. 68 between 1765 and 1854. Robert Dodsley ran a bookshop at No. 52 where he suggested a dictionary idea to Samuel Johnson. Writers and artists began moving to Pall Mall during this century. Richard Cosway and Thomas Gainsborough lived at Schomberg House at Nos. 80, 82. The Travellers Club moved to No. 49 Pall Mall in 1822 after being founded in 1819. Its current premises at No. 106 were built in 1823 by Charles Barry. The Athenaeum Club took its name from Rome's university founded by Emperor Hadrian. It moved to No. 107 Pall Mall in 1830 from tenements in Somerset House. Decimus Burton designed its entrance hall. The Reform Club at Nos. 104, 105 was founded for British Radicals in 1836. The Army and Navy Club at Nos. 36, 39 was founded in 1837 with the Duke of Wellington suggesting the name.
Pall Mall served as the location of the War Office from 1855 to 1906. This office became synonymous with the street just as Whitehall refers to UK government administration. The War Office occupied a complex based on Cumberland House ducal mansion. By 1902, 7 Pall Mall housed the Electric Lighting Board. A first-floor room allowed viewing of Edward VII's coronation procession which was cancelled after the king fell ill. This resulted in the legal case Chandler v Webster concerning frustrated contracts. No 77, 78 Pall Mall was home to the Marquess of Ailesbury from 1840. In 1892 it was inherited by Viscount de Vesci who leased it to the Office of Works. In 1902 it was granted to Princess Helena and Prince Christian as a grace and favour residence. They retained it until 1947. In 1951 property divided between Oxford and Cambridge University Club and Eagle Star Insurance Company. The Institute of Directors received a royal charter in 1906 after being founded in 1903.
In 1662 Pall Mall underwent repairs under the London and Westminster Streets Act 1662. Paving commissioners included the Earl of St Albans. Terms allowed removal of encroaching buildings with compensation for those at least 30 years old. The real tennis court and adjoining house were demolished by 1679. The street developed extensively during 1662, 1667. Buckingham House was rebuilt in the 1790s by Sir John Soane and sold in 1847. It was demolished in 1908 to make way for the Royal Automobile Club. Schomberg House at Nos. 80, 82 was built in 1698 for Meinhardt Schomberg. Its eastern section was demolished in 1850 but reconstructed mid-1950s for office use. George Dance the Younger's Shakespeare Gallery at 52 Pall Mall was built in 1788 and demolished 1868, 1869. The former Midland Bank branch at Nos. 69, 70 was designed by Edwin Lutyens between 1922 and 1927. Rothmans cigarette manufacturer has its head office at No. 65 in a building by Norman Shaw.
Giacomo Casanova lived in Pall Mall during 1761 as Chevalier de Seingalt. He documented his stay in memoirs. William Makepeace Thackeray visited Dublin in 1845 comparing Pall Mall to O'Connell Street. Henry Benjamin Wheatley wrote Round about Piccadilly and Pall Mall in 1870 documenting changes over the century. A compilation of Oscar Wilde's works titled A Critic in Pall Mall appeared in 1919. Princess Elizabeth mentioned Pall Mall in her diary on VE Day celebrations. She walked miles through Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, and Pall Mall seeing parents on a balcony at 12:30am. Charles Lamb referenced the place in his essay The Superannuated Man. The narrator confessed he used to indent gayer flags of Pall Mall. Pall Mall appears on the British Monopoly board game alongside Whitehall and Northumberland Avenue. Rising house prices mean small flats now sell for over £1 million despite being in the lowest-priced third of properties.
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Common questions
When did Pall Mall open as a street in London?
Pall Mall opened in September 1661 and was initially named Catherine Street after Charles II's wife. The road was established on land granted to Dan O'Neale and John Denham for building purposes.
Who owned the freehold of the south side of Pall Mall in 1676 or 1677?
Charles II granted the property at No. 79 to Nell Gwyn's trustees in 1676 or 1677. The Crown retained the freehold of land south of the street except for this specific property.
Which clubs are located at specific addresses along Pall Mall?
The Travellers Club moved to No. 49 Pall Mall in 1822 while its current premises at No. 106 were built in 1823 by Charles Barry. The Athenaeum Club occupies No. 107 Pall Mall since 1830, and the Reform Club is found at Nos. 104 and 105.
What happened to the War Office building between 1855 and 1906?
Pall Mall served as the location of the War Office from 1855 to 1906. This office became synonymous with the street just as Whitehall refers to UK government administration.
Who lived at Schomberg House at Nos. 80 and 82 during the 18th century?
Richard Cosway and Thomas Gainsborough lived at Schomberg House at Nos. 80 and 82. Giacomo Casanova also resided in Pall Mall during 1761 under the name Chevalier de Seingalt.