Powis House

Names

Powis House

Street/Area/District

Ormond Street

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Descriptions

from London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions, by Henry Benjamin Wheatley and Peter Cunningham (1891)

Powis House, at the north-west end of Great Ormond Street, stood back from the street, on the site of the present Powis Place. It was built in the latter part of the reign of William III. by William Herbert, Marquis of Powis, son of the first Marquis of Powis, who was outlawed for his adherence to James II., and was burnt down January 26, 1713, when in the occupation of the Duc d'Aumont, ambassador from Louis XIV.

After dinner at Lord Treasurer's, the French Ambassador, Duke d'Aumont, sent Lord Treasurer word that his house was burnt to the ground. It took fire in the upper rooms, while he was at dinner with Monteleon, the Spanish Ambassador, and other persons; and soon after Lord Bolingbroke came to us with the same story. We are full of speculations upon it, but I believe it was the carelessness of his rascally French servants.—Swift to Mrs. Dingley, January 26, 1713.

The house was insured, but the French King's dignity would not permit him, it is said, to suffer a Fire-office to pay for the neglect of the domestics of his representative.¹ The front of the new house which the King erected was of stone, with eight lofty Corinthian pilasters, and surmounted on the coping by urns and statues. Over the street door was a phoenix; the ornament above the capitals of the pilasters, was the Gallic cock. The architect was Colin Campbell. The staircase was painted by Giacomo Amiconi, a Venetian painter, of some reputation in this country. He chose the story of Holofernes, and painted the personages of his story in Roman dresses. On the top was a great reservoir, used as a fish-pond and a resource against fire. Philip Yorke, Earl of Hardwicke, came to reside here in 1737, when he was appointed Lord Chancellor, and continued to occupy it during the whole time that he held the seals. In 1764–1783 it was in the occupation of the Spanish Ambassador.² It was taken down a few years later, and is still preserved to us in a large engraving published by Thomas Bowles (1714).

June 8, 1764.—The house of Bedford came to town last Friday, I supped with them that night at the Spanish Ambassador's, who has made Powis House magnificent.—Walpole to Lord Hertford, vol. iv. p. 247.

Nos. 50, 51, and 52 were built 1777 on part of the site.