Lord North Street in central London is a short street dating from 1722 of Georgian[1] terraced housing running between Smith Square and Great Peter Street in Westminster, the political heartland of British government. As such the properties have always commanded high fees and featured in many dramatic storylines.[2]

Looking from Smith Square
Looking from Great Peter Street

Past residents include the English man of letters Maurice Baring (at North Cottage, No 6, North Street),[3] socialite Sibyl Colefax,[4] founder of the Colefax and Fowler fabrics and wallpaper company,[5] and Harold Wilson, twice Prime Minister who in November 1974 alleged that renegade MI5 operatives had broken into his home.[6]

More recent residents include Jonathan Aitken[7] and Theresa Gorman.[8]

Origin of name

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The street was originally North Street (leading north from Smith Square). However in 1936 Brendan Bracken, a resident and close confidant of Winston Churchill, had it renamed Lord North Street as it sounded grander, and so it was renamed after the Prime Minister from 1770 to 1782 who lost America, Frederick North, Lord North.

References

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  1. ^ Built 1722 The Buildings of England, London, 6, Westminster Pevsner,N./Bradley,S. (2003, Uxbridge, Penguin) ISBN 0-300-09595-3
  2. ^ Lord North Street 1725-1996: a Westminster portrait Smedley,B (1996 London Hyde Park Antiquarian) ISBN 0-9529706-0-0
  3. ^ Letley, Emma. Maurice Baring: A Citizen of Europe, p.138
  4. ^ "Family Manuscripts". Archived from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
  5. ^ Colefax , Sibyl Sophie Julia, Lady Colefax (1874–1950)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Davenport-Hines,R. (Oxford, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004) ISBN 0-19-861411-X
  6. ^ "Details of "burglary"". Archived from the original on 4 November 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  7. ^ Prison contemporaries visit LNS
  8. ^ Multiple ownership in LNS

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