Dorset Square is a

garden square A garden square is a type of communal garden in an urban area wholly or substantially surrounded by buildings; commonly, it continues to be applied to public and private parks formed after such a garden becomes accessible to the public at large. ...

Marylebone Marylebone (usually , also ) is an area in London, England, and is located in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. Oxford Street forms its southern boundary. An ancient parish and latterly a metropo ...

, London. All buildings fronting it are

terraced house A terrace, terraced house ( UK), or townhouse ( US) is a type of medium-density housing which first started in 16th century Europe with a row of joined houses sharing side walls. In the United States and Canada these are sometimes known as row ...

s and listed, in the mainstream (initial) category. It takes up the site of Lord's (MCC's) Old Cricket Ground, which lasted 23 years until the 1811 season. Internally it spans .

Location

Approach ways

It is one 84-metre block north of

Marylebone Road Marylebone Road ( ) is an important thoroughfare in central London, within the City of Westminster. It runs east–west from the Euston Road at Regent's Park to the A40 Westway at Paddington. The road which runs in three lanes in both directi ...

and lends its name to the roads on all four sides, in typical fashion — the east side forms a pause in the numbering and scope of Gloucester Place; the west does so as to Balcombe Street. The south side links: *to the west Melcombe Place which behind the square's largest house/building (№s 26 to 28, known as 28) to the west fronts the ticket hall (with food, drink and supermarket outlets) of

Marylebone station Marylebone station ( ) is a London station group, Central London railway terminus and connected London Underground station in the Marylebone area of the City of Westminster. On the National Rail network, it is also known as London Marylebone a ...

(formerly Harewood Square) and the Landmark Hotel. *to the east Melcombe Street (formerly New Street) which ends two main blocks away at

Baker Street Baker Street is a street in the Marylebone district of the City of Westminster in London. It is named after builder James Baker. The area was originally high class residential, but now is mainly occupied by commercial premises. The street is ...

Site history

Dorset Square takes up (1787-founded) Lord's Old Ground the closure of which at the end of 1810's season was brought about by a sought rent increase.The Independent
site unseen The first Lord's Cricket Ground, Dorset Square, London - Entertainment - Extras - The Independent
accessdate: 02/09/2014

Buildings

The buildings are or apart (north-to-south, east-to-west). Dorset Square Hotel, created in 1985, can be found on the south side of the square, at 39-40 Dorset Square All sides (east, No.s1-8; north No.s9-20; west No.s21-28; south No.s29-40) are Grade II

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

s. The Embassy of El Salvador is at No. 8. No. 1 currently houses the London branch of

Alliance Française (; "French Alliance", stylised as ''af'') is an international organization that aims to promote the French language and francophone culture around the world. Created in Paris on 21 July 1883 under the name ''Alliance française pour la propa ...

but during

WWII World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

functioned as its international headquarters when the original in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

was closed. A plaque by the front door commemorates the building's history as the site from which agents of the

French Resistance The French Resistance ( ) was a collection of groups that fought the German military administration in occupied France during World War II, Nazi occupation and the Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy#France, collaborationist Vic ...

were equipped for, and dispatched to, undercover missions in

Occupied France The Military Administration in France (; ) was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II to administer the occupied zone in areas of northern and western France. This so-called ' was established in June 19 ...

Notable residents

In birth order: * George Saxby Penfold (1770–1846), a popular preacher, lived at № 15 * Robert Fellowes (1771–1847), cleric, journalist and philanthropist * Thomas Duer Broughton (1778–1835), army officer and writer on India * Jeanette Pickersgill (c1814-1885), the first person to be legally cremated in the UK *

George Grossmith George Grossmith (9 December 1847 – 1 March 1912) was an English comedian, writer, composer, actor, and singer. His performing career spanned more than four decades. As a writer and composer, he created 18 comic operas, nearly 100 musical ...

(1847–1912), comedian, writer, composer, actor, and singer (№ 28) * Bithia Mary Croker (c. 1848–1920), Irish-born novelist, died at № 30. * Sir Laurence Gomme (1853–1916), folklorist (№ 24) *

Dodie Smith Dorothy Gladys "Dodie" Smith (3 May 1896 – 24 November 1990) was an English novelist and playwright. She is best known for writing '' I Capture the Castle'' (1948) and the children's novel '' The Hundred and One Dalmatians'' (1956). Other work ...

(1896–1990), novelist and playwright (№ 18) * Jane Ridley (born 1953), historian, biographer and broadcaster (№ 31)Ridley, Jane 1953–
at encyclopedia.com, accessed 6 March 2014

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorset Square Marylebone Squares in the City of Westminster Streets in the City of Westminster Communal gardens Garden squares in London