Sloane Square

2025-10-20T07:47:09Z

2A01:CB05:A91:2A00:B12E:D044:D322:37B: changed the dates for the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre

{{Short description|Public square in Kensington and Chelsea, London}}
{{For|the London Underground station|Sloane Square tube station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox street
| name = Sloane Square
| former_names = Hans Town
| namesake = [[Sir Hans Sloane]]
| image = File:Sloane Square in Winter.jpg
| image_size = 240
| caption = View of the square in 2019
| postal_code = [[SW postcode area|SW1]]
| location = [[Chelsea, London]], England
| maint = [[Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council|Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]]
| map_type = United Kingdom Central London
| map_caption = Location within Central London
| coordinates = {{coord|51.492521|-0.157188|type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| designer = Henry Holland Snr. and [[Henry Holland (architect)|Henry Holland Jnr.]]
| completion_date = {{circa|1771}}
| website = {{URL|www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/36991422-sloane-square|visitlondon.com}}
}}
[[File:Christmas lights in Sloane Square.jpg|thumb|right|Christmas lights in Sloane Square.]]
[[File:Bird Eye Pictures of Sloane Square in 1909.jpg|alt=B&W photo of Sloane Square from the air|thumb|Sloane Square from above, 1909]]
'''Sloane Square''' is a small [[Hard landscape materials|hard-landscaped]] square on the boundaries of the [[central London]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/LP2011%20Chapter%202.pdf|title=London's Places|work=[[London Plan]]|publisher=[[Greater London Authority]]|year=2011|page=46|access-date=27 May 2014}}</ref> districts of [[Belgravia]] and [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], located {{convert|1.8|mi|km|1|lk=on}} southwest of [[Charing Cross]], in the [[Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]]. The area forms a boundary between the two largest aristocratic estates in London, the [[Grosvenor Estate]] and the [[Cadogan Estates|Cadogan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/12028|title=Geograph:: Sloane Square [12 photos] in TQ2878|website=www.geograph.org.uk|access-date=2017-07-18}}</ref>{{refn|group=n|Emphasising their non-Anglo-Saxon surnames, these key longstanding freeholders of around Sloane Square have the counter-intuitive pronunciations {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|r|oʊ|v|ən|ər}} {{respell|GROH|vən|ər}} and {{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|d|ʌ|ɡ|ən}} {{respell|kə|DUG|ən}}.}} The square was formerly known as 'Hans Town', laid out in 1771 to a plan of by Henry Holland Snr. and [[Henry Holland (architect)|Henry Holland Jnr.]] Both the square and Hans Town were named after [[Sir Hans Sloane]] (1660–1753), an [[Anglo-Irish people|Anglo-Irish]] doctor who, jointly with his appointed trustees, owned the land at the time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Settlement and building: From 1680 to 1865, Hans Town: ''A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 12, Chelsea''|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol12/pp47-51|publisher=Victoria County History|access-date=15 July 2017|location=London|pages=47–51|date=2004}}</ref>

==Location==
The bulk of Chelsea, especially the east end more local to Sloane Square, is architecturally and economically similar to [[South Kensington]], [[Belgravia]], [[St James's]], and [[Mayfair]]. The largely retail at ground floor [[Kings Road]] with its design and interior furnishing focus intersects at Sloane Square the residential, neatly [[cornice]]d and dressed façades of [[Sloane Street]] leading from the [[Victoria Embankment]] promenade to the small district of [[Knightsbridge]]. On the northern side of the square is the [[Sloane Square Hotel]].

;Exclusive housing hub
Estates on all sides are made up of ornate, luxuriously furnished private apartments set behind railings — a minority of these remain combined to form large townhouses, primarily in amongst those of rows of not more than four storeys. Gothic, classical and [[Edwardian architecture]] mix; the area has grown piecemeal, including in [[infill]], under strict character and aesthetic demands of local [[urban planning]]. Elements of almost every street were reinstated, in similar style, after the [[London Blitz]].

;Social analysis
In sociology, a small [[social class]] of London has since the 1980s been cast and to some extent [[outcast (person)|outcast]] as [[Sloane Ranger]]s or Sloanies, relatively young, underemployed and ostentatiously well-off members of the upper classes who linguistically have their own evolving [[lexicon]], sloane(y) speak, spoken in [[received pronunciation]]. Some are heavily engaged investors in charities, new businesses and the arts, particularly with the influx of and integration with young, wealthy, foreign-born Chelsea residents. The endurance of this class is reflected in an occasional dramatic work or [[fly on the wall documentary]] such as ''[[Made in Chelsea]]''.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/3637343/OK-yo-Sloane-speaks-gone-street.html "OK, yo! Sloane-speak's gone street"] ''The Daily Telegraph'', Celia Walden. 17 July 2008</ref>

==History==
The square has two notable buildings. [[Peter Jones (department store)|Peter Jones]] department store designed by [[Reginald Uren]] of the firm Slater Moberly and Uren in 1936 and now a Grade II* [[listed building]] on account of its early curtain wall and [[modernist]] aesthetic, pioneering in the UK for a [[department store]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1226626 |title=PETER JONES STORE, Kensington and Chelsea - 1226626 |publisher=Historic England |date=7 November 1984 |access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref> The building was carefully restored 2003–2007 with internal upgrading in line with the original designs by [[John McAslan and Partners]]. This included making the three storey atrium full-height.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hunter |first=Will |url=http://www.building.co.uk/keeping-up-at-peter-jones/3084637.article |title=Keeping up at Peter Jones | Features |website=www.building.co.uk |publisher=Building Magazine |date=April 2007 |access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref> Peter Jones now operates as part of the employee-owned [[John Lewis (department store)|John Lewis]] chain.

The other is the [[Royal Court Theatre]] first opened in 1888 which has been important for avant-garde theatre since 1956 when it became the home of the [[English Stage Company]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1226628 |title=ROYAL COURT THEATRE, Kensington and Chelsea - 1226628 |publisher=Historic England |date=28 June 1972 |access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>

100m from the Square in Sloane Terrace, the former [[Christian Science Church]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1226700 |title=FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST, Kensington and Chelsea - 1226700 |publisher=Historic England |date=15 April 1969 |access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref> was built in 1907 and converted in 2002 for concert hall use as [[Cadogan Hall]]. It is now one of London's leading classical music venues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rpo.co.uk/cadogan_hall.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617215957/http://www.rpo.co.uk/cadogan_hall.php|url-status=dead|title=Cadogan Hall|archive-date=17 June 2012}}</ref>

In 2005 revised landscaping of the square was proposed, involving a change to the road layout to make it more pedestrian friendly. One option was to create a central crossroads and two open spaces in front of Peter Jones and the Royal Court. The pedestrian area leading to [[Pavilion Road]] now houses the flagship stores of many luxury brands including [[Brora (retailer)|Brora]] and [[Links of London]]. This option was put out to consultation, and the results in April 2007 showed that over 65% of respondents preferred a renovation of the existing square, so the crossroads plan has been shelved. Since then, independent proposals<ref>[http://www.richardbird.info/RBIRD/Sloane%20Square.htm Richardbird.info], Independent proposal for improvement</ref> have been put forward for the square.

A short walk down Kings Road from the Square is the [[National Army Museum]].

[[Holy Trinity Sloane Street]], the [[Church of England]] parish church of 1890 (50m north of the Square) is sometimes known as the "Cathedral of the [[Arts & Crafts Movement]] on account of its fine fittings. These include a complete set of windows by [[Sir Edward Burne-Jones]], the most extensive he ever created.

[[Sloane Square tube station|Sloane Square Underground station]] ([[District line|District]] and [[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle]] lines) is at the south eastern corner of the square and the lines cross under the square to the north west. The [[River Westbourne]] is carried over the [[Sloane Square tube station|tube station]] platforms in plain view, in a circular iron aqueduct.

==Fountain==
[[File:Sloane Square.jpg|thumb|Venus Fountain in Sloane Square by [[Gilbert Ledward]]]]
The ''Venus Fountain'' in the centre of the square was constructed in 1953, designed by sculptor [[Gilbert Ledward]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/sloane_square_urban_garden|title=Sloane Square|website=www.gardenvisit.com|language=en|access-date=2017-07-18}}</ref><ref name="Culturegov1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/2611.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727121653/http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/2611.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 July 2008|title=The Venus Fountain In Sloane Square Proposed For Listing|date=27 July 2008}}</ref><ref name="SecLon-Founts">[http://www.secret-london.co.uk/Fountains.html 'Fountains of London'] - '' [http://www.secret-london.co.uk/ Secret London] ''</ref> The fountain depicts [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]], and on the basin section of the fountain is a relief which depicts [[Charles II of England|King Charles II]] and [[Nell Gwynn]] by the [[Thames]],<ref name="SecLon-Founts"/> which was used in relation to a house located close by that Nell Gwynn had used.<ref name="Culturegov1"/>

In 2006, [[David Lammy]] put forward a proposal to have the fountain [[Listed building|grade II listed]],<ref name="Culturegov1"/> which was successful.<ref name="SecLon-Founts"/><ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num =1391739|desc=The Venus Fountain|access-date= 1 July 2017}}</ref>

==War memorial==

[[File:Cross of Sacrifice in Sloane Square, London.jpg|thumb|War memorial in Sloane Square.]]
Also in the square, positioned slightly off-centre, is a stone cross that is known as Chelsea [[War Memorial]]. Made of [[Portland stone]], and designed by an unknown architect, the cross has a capped head on a tapered shaft above a moulded three stage octagonal base. A large bronze sword is affixed to its west face. The cross is surmounted on a plinth which is inscribed with the following: {{Cquote|INVICTIS PAX 
IN MEMORY OF THE 
MEN AND WOMEN 
OF CHELSEA 
WHO GAVE 
THEIR LIVES IN 
THE GREAT WAR 
MDCCCCXIV 
MDCCCCVIII 
AND 
MCMXXXIX 
MCMXLV 
THEIR LIVES 
FOR THEIR COUNTRY 
THEIR SOULS TO THEIR GOD.}} The monument has also been [[Listed building|Grade II listed]], since 2005.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num =1391379|desc=Sloane Square War Memorial|access-date= 1 July 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of eponymous roads in London]]

==Notes and references==
;References
{{reflist}}
;Notes
{{reflist|group=n}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.sloanesquare.com Sloanesquare.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140809144643/http://www.sloanestreet.co.uk/en/ Sloane Street website]

{{LB Kensington and Chelsea}}
{{London landmarks}}

[[Category:Squares in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]]
[[Category:Road junctions in London]]
[[Category:Knightsbridge]]

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Sloane Square