Dunraven Street is a street in London's

Mayfair Mayfair is an area of Westminster, London, England, in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. It is between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane and one of the most expensive districts ...

district. It was laid out in the 1750s as Norfolk Street, and in the 19th century was sometimes known as New Norfolk Street. In 1939, it was renamed Dunraven Street by

London County Council The London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today ...

, after the fourth Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl, a former resident of the street, who had been a member of the LCC. Dunraven Street runs north to south from

North Row North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north'' is ...

to Wood's Mews, crossing Green Street.

Residents

Notable occupants of houses on the east side include: * Captain (later First Sea Lord and Admiral of the Fleet)

John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy), Admiral of the Fleet John Arbuthnot Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher, (25 January 1841 – 10 July 1920), commonly known as Jacky or Jackie Fisher, was a British Admiral of the Fleet. His efforts to reform the Royal ...

, at No. 16 (site of the present No. 18) from 1887 to 1891.

Lillie Langtry Emilie Charlotte, Lady de Bathe (née Le Breton, formerly Langtry; 13 October 1853 – 12 February 1929), known as Lillie (or Lily) Langtry and nicknamed "The Jersey Lily", was a British socialite, stage actress and producer. Born on the isla ...

lived at No. 17 (site of the present No. 19) from 1877 to 1880.

James McNeill Whistler James Abbott McNeill Whistler (; July 10, 1834July 17, 1903) was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom. He eschewed sentimentality and moral a ...

assisted in the decoration of the house for her and provided the drawing-room with a painted ceiling. * The Dowager Duchess of Beaufort, widow of 4th Duke, 1760–3. * Colonel Oliver De Lancey, later general and MP, 1787–90. * Col.

James Moncrieff James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince James ...

, military engineer, 1791–3. * Sir Lucas Pepys, physician to George III, 1816–21. * Sir John Carr, barrister and writer on travel, 1812–32. * Sir Howard Elphinstone, 1st Baronet, commander royal engineers in the

Peninsular War The Peninsular War (1808–1814) was fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Kingdom of Portugal, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French ...

, 1821–46. * Sir Murray Maxwell, naval capt., 1827–31. *

George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex Society of Antiquaries of London, FSA (13 November 1757 – 23 April 1839) was an English aristocrat and politician, and styled Viscount Malden until 1799. His surname was Capell until 1781. Early life ...

, 1825–8. *

Lord William Russell Lord William Russell (20 August 1767 – 5 May 1840) was a member of the British aristocratic Russell family and longtime Member of Parliament. He did little to attract public attention after the end of his political career until, in 1840, he wa ...

, brother of 6th Duke of Bedford, murdered there by his valet, 1839–40. * 4th Baron de Blaquiere, 1859–64. *

Sir Edward Watkin, 1st Baronet Sir Edward William Watkin, 1st Baronet (26 September 1819 – 13 April 1901) was a British people, British Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of Parliament and railway entrepreneur. He was an ambitious visionary, and presided over large ...

, MP, railway promoter, 1864–6. Adm. * Sir

Cyprian Bridge Admiral Sir Cyprian Arthur George Bridge (13 March 1839 – 16 August 1924) was a British Royal Navy officer towards the end of the era of ''Pax Britannica.'' He was Commander-in-chief of both the Australian Squadron and the China Squadron. ...

, 1893–6. *

George Thomas Kenyon George Thomas Kenyon (28 December 1840 – 26 January 1908) was a British Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons in two periods between 1885 and 1906. Kenyon ...

, MP, 1894–8. * James St Clair-Erskine, 5th Earl of Rosslyn, a professional actor under the name of James Erskine, 1906–7. *

P. G. Wodehouse Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse ( ; 15 October 1881 – 14 February 1975) was an English writer and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. His creations include the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Je ...

lived at the Grade II listed 17 Dunraven Street between 1927 and 1934. In 1988, a

blue plaque A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom, and certain other countries and territories, to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving a ...

was unveiled here by the Queen Mother. *

Alexander McQueen Lee Alexander McQueen (17 March 1969 – 11 February 2010) was a British fashion designer and couturier. He founded his own Alexander McQueen (brand), Alexander McQueen label in 1992 and was chief designer at Givenchy from 1996 to 2001. His ac ...

(1969–2010), the fashion designer, purchased a flat at 17 Dunraven Street and applied for planning permission for a rooftop terrace. The work was completed by a new owner.

References

{{coords, 51.5120, -0.1570, display=title 1750s establishments in England Mayfair Streets in the City of Westminster