Chester Terrace

Chester Terrace
Length 0.2 mi[1] (0.3 km)
Location Regent's Park, London
Postal code NW1 4ND
Coordinates 51°31′44″N 0°08′43″W / 51.5290°N 0.1454°W / 51.5290; -0.1454
south end Chester Gate
north end Cumberland Place
Construction
Inauguration 1825 (1825)
North end
South end
Chester Terrace

Chester Terrace is one of the neo-classical terraces in Regent's Park, London. The terrace has the longest unbroken facade in Regents Park (about 280 metres).[2] It takes its name from one of the titles of George IV before he became king, Earl of Chester.[3] It now lies within the London Borough of Camden.

As with Cornwall Terrace and York Terrace, the architectural plans were made by John Nash but subsequently altered almost beyond recognition by Decimus Burton, who was responsible for the existing design, which was built by his father James Burton in 1825. Nash was so dissatisfied with Decimus's design that he sought the demolition and complete rebuilding of the Terrace, but in vain.[4][5]

Architecture

All 42 houses are Grade I listed buildings.[2][6] At each end there is a Corinthian arch bearing at the top the terrace name in large lettering on a blue background, probably the largest street signs in London. Five houses are semi-detached. One of these, Nash House (3 Chester Terrace, although the main entrance is on Chester Gate), has a bust of John Nash on its west side,[2] looking identical to the bust on All Souls Church, Langham Place.

Former residents

There are two blue plaques on the street, for the architect Charles Robert Cockerell[7] and Air Marshal John Salmond.

The politician John Profumo lived at the above-mentioned Nash House, 3 Chester Terrace, from 1948 until 1965.[8] His former mistress Christine Keeler later lived in Chester Close North nearby.

Composer Sir Arnold Bax lived at No.19 from 1911 to 1918. Actor Sir Ralph Richardson and his wife Meriel Forbes lived at 1 Chester Terrace until 1983.

Literary and other media appearances

The Avengers used this location in the episode "You'll Catch your Death" (1968).[9] It featured in the 1997 film version of George Orwell's Keep The Aspidistra Flying. The street is mentioned in the book All Roads Lead to Calvary by Jerome K. Jerome, who also used the location in the story "Malvina of Brittany". It was a major location in the film The End of the Affair (1955). It also featured in the film The Nanny (1965).

Nigel Bathgate, the journalist sidekick to DI Roderick Alleyn in Ngaio Marsh's mystery novels, is described as living at Chester Terrace in Death in Ecstasy. It is briefly shown in the 1968 Robert Wise musical film Star!, based on the life of Gertrude Lawrence with Julie Andrews in the title role. Chester Terrace is shown in a brief scene during which Gertrude Lawrence receives a writ for unpaid bills. The location is also featured as the home of Laura Henderson, the title character in the film Mrs Henderson Presents starring Judi Dench.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Walking directions to Chester Terrace". Google. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Images of England: National Monuments Record
  3. ↑ Weinreb, B. and Hibbert, C. (ed)(1983) The London Encyclopaedia Macmillan ISBN 0-333-57688-8
  4. ↑ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Decimus Burton
  5. ↑ "James Burton [Haliburton]", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography".
  6. ↑ Historic England. "Numbers 1–42 and attached railings and linking arches, 1–42, Chester Terrace  (Grade I) (1271885)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Rennison, N. (1999) The London Blue Plaque Guide Sutton Publishing ISBN 0-7509-2091-2
  8. ↑ Stott, Richard (16 September 2006). "Book Review: Bringing The House Down". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  9. ↑ The Avengers locations

External links

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