Great College Street is a grand, Grade II* Listed Georgian House which dates back to c.1722. It is approached by a number of steps leading up to an imposing entrance with a solid oak door encased by brick detailing. The façade of the house protrudes at the centre in an elegant manner that symbolises the integral nature of architectural design during this period. There are a number of double hung sash windows complete with secondary glazing throughout. This feature ensures an abundance of natural light is present in the property. The house has a mansard roof complete with dormer windows, a parapet and two impressive chimney stacks finely finishing the façade of this beautifully presented building. Upon entering, a number of key features can be seen, most notably an imposing drawing room that spans the width of the first floor with 3 windows, a formal dining room laid out on the ground floor, a spacious master bedroom suite arranged on the second and a generously-sized private garden to the rear. It is enriched with character and exudes elegance.

The house enjoys historic views at the front over the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the gardens of Westminster School.

Historical Background

Great College Street was laid out from c.1720, along the old south boundary of Thorney Island, still defined on the north side by the stone wall of c.1374-6 to the Abbey Garden. The south side mixes early 18th century houses and early 20th century houses and offices.

Previous Occupants and Owners

The earliest occupants were members of a family named Dwyer. Thomas Dwyer, a City merchant who traded with Russia, and owned Great College Street in 1744. In the course of time it passed from the Dwyers, possibly by marriage to William Peace in 1813.

Before 1824, Great College Street was then known simply as 'College Street' and was acquired by Lewis Hertslet, the librarian and editor of state papers, whose home it was to remain for the 46 years to his death. Hertslet was the eldest son of Jean Louis Pierre Hertslet (formerly Hiertzelet) a Swiss national who settled in England and in May 1797 became a King's Messenger. Lewis Hertslet died at Great College Street on the 15th March 1870. He was survived by his wife, Mary Spencer Hertslet.

By 1876 the house was acquired by another civil servant, George Frere, whose widow, Margaret, lived there until her death in the mid-1890s.

The London Post Office directories for 1896 list the occupant of Great College Street as the sportsman and politician, the Rt. Hon. Alfred Lyttelton. Alfred and Edith Lyttelton had two children. One of these, Oliver Lyttelton afterwards 1st Viscount Chandos, was living at Great College Street in 1922. He was then a captain in the Grenadier Guards, a regiment with which he had served during the First World War, where he met Winston Churchill. He entered Churchill's war coalition cabinet as President of the Board of Trade in 1940 where he was responsible for clothes' rationing. In 1942 he succeeded Lord Beaverbrook as Minister of Production. He served in various other political capacities, latterly as Secretary of State for the Colonies, a position he resigned in 1954 on being created Viscount Chandos. His later life was spent in business. He was the first Chairman of the National Theatre, for the establishment of which both his parents had been active campaigners.

In 1928 Dame Edith Lyttelton was sharing some part of Great College Street with Captain Arthur Oswald James Hope (1897-1958), a Conservative Member of Parliament for Nuneaton from 1924-1929 and for Birmingham Aston from 1931-1939.

From about 1932 until at least the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Great College Street was the London town-house of the Rt. Hon. Sir John Colin Campbell Davidson (1889-1970), afterwards 1st Viscount Davidson, then a member of parliament for Hemel Hempstead. The street was popular with politicians because of its closeness to the division bells of parliament. Nos.15, 17 & 19 were also occupied by MP's during this period.

Davidson shared Great College Street with his wife, Frances, who succeeded him as Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead, canvassing at the by-election on horseback. She retained the seat until 1959. For a short time after the 1945 election she was the only female Conservative MP in the House of Commons. In 1963 she was created a life peer as Baroness Northchurch She and her husband were the first husband and wife to be made peers and to be able to sit together in the House of Lords.

Post-war, Great College Street passed into use as offices with the firm of Thicknesse & Hull, who during the 1960's shared some portion of it with the architects, Caroe & Partners. They still occupied the property as late as 1984.

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