View source for Dolphin Square

{{Short description|Block of private apartments and business complex in Pimlico, London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox building
| name             = Dolphin Square
| image            = Dolphin Square - geograph.org.uk - 1194507.jpg
| address          = Dolphin Square, Chichester Street, London SW1V 3NQ, United Kingdom
| start_date       = 1935
| completion_date  = 1937
| architect        = Stanley Gordon Jeeves
| owner            = The Dolphin Square Estate SARL
| floor_count      = 9
| building_type    = Mixed-use
| architectural_style = Neo-Georgian
| renovation_date  = 2022–2029
| developer        = Richard Costain Ltd.
| unit_count       = 1234
| website          = dolphinsquare.co.uk
}}'''Dolphin Square''' is a prominent estate of private flats near the [[River Thames]] in [[Pimlico]], [[Westminster]]. Built between 1935 and 1937, it was, until the development of [[Highbury Square]], the largest garden square in Greater London constructed as private housing.

Its 1,234 flats were described by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner as the "largest self-contained block of flats in Europe". The design influenced later municipal housing developments. At the time of its completion, Dolphin Square was described as "London's most distinguished address".<ref>{{Cite book |title=Buildings and Building Management |publisher=Porter-Langtry Company |year=1937 |page=13}}</ref>

The estate comprises 13 blocks named after famous navigators and admirals and features a range of amenities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, café and wine bar, gym, shopping arcade, and landscaped gardens. The Grade II listed 3.5-acre gardens were designed by Richard Sudell and reflect global horticultural styles.

Situated near the Houses of Parliament, Dolphin Square has housed a range of prominent residents, including former Prime Minister [[Harold Wilson]], as well as notable figures from the arts, culture, and even the royal family.

== Location ==
Dolphin Square is located in Pimlico, London, within the City of Westminster. It is bounded by Grosvenor Road, Chichester Street, Claverton Street, and St George's Square, near the River Thames. The estate is close to [[Pimlico Underground station]] and within walking distance of [[Tate Britain]] and the [[Palace of Westminster|Houses of Parliament]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Knox |first=Phil |title=London: A History of 300 Years in 25 Buildings |date=2024 |publisher=Yale University Press |pages=257}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Grosvenor Road entrance to Dolphin Square - geograph.org.uk - 1194508.jpg|thumb|Grosvenor Road entrance to Dolphin Square]]
Dolphin Square is on the site of the former works of the developer and builder [[Thomas Cubitt]] who created the surrounding [[Pimlico]] district in the 19th&nbsp;century.<ref name=Teleg15Jun06>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3350657/Swimming-with-the-tide.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628093340/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3350657/Swimming-with-the-tide.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 June 2013|title=Swimming with the tide|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=15 June 2006|access-date=17 July 2014}}</ref> The [[Royal Army Clothing Depot]] was built on the site after Cubitt's death and stood until 1933 when the [[leasehold]] on the site reverted to the [[Duke of Westminster]].<ref name=Teleg15Jun06/> An American firm, the [[Fred F. French|Fred F. French Companies]], bought the freehold for the site from the Duke with plans to build a large residential development, provisionally named Ormonde Court.<ref name=Teleg15Jun06/> Although the planning stage was successfully concluded with the [[London County Council|LCC]] by January 1935, French still needed financial backing for the enterprise. At the same time, he had over-extended his credit during his recent developments in New York City such as [[Tudor City]] and [[Knickerbocker Village]] and found himself unable to repay interest on earlier deals.<ref>Gourvish 2014, pp. 36–7.</ref> Needing a new backer, French sold his obligations to [[Costain Group|Richard Costain Ltd.]], run by Richard Rylands Costain. New plans were drawn up by the architect S. Gordon Jeeves, and building started in September 1935.<ref>Gourvish 2014, p. 50.</ref><ref name=Teleg15Jun06/> [[Baron Amulree|Lord Amulree]] formally opened the building on 25 November 1936.<ref>Gourvish 2014, p. 61.</ref>

[[A. P. Herbert]], writing in ''Dolphin Square'' (a promotional booklet produced for Costains in 1935, with illustrations by [[H. M. Bateman]]) described the Square as "a city of 1,250 flats, each enjoying at the same time most of the advantages of the separate house and the big communal dwelling place". The provision of a restaurant made him fear that "fortunate wives will not have ''enough'' to do. A little drudgery is good for wives, perhaps. The Dolphin lady may be spoiled."<ref name="ODNB1"/> On purchasing the site, Costain remarked to a colleague: "in two or three years we'll either drive up to this spot in a Rolls-Royce, or we'll be standing here selling matches."<ref name="ODNB1">{{ODNB|title=Costain, Sir Richard Rylandes (1902–1966) |first=Norman |last=Kipping |id=32580 |year=2004 |authorlink=Norman Kipping}}</ref>

In 1958, Costains sold Dolphin Square for £2.4 million to [[Maxwell Joseph|Sir Maxwell Joseph]], who sold it to Lintang Investments in 1959 for £3.1 million.<ref name=Teleg15Jun06/><ref>{{ODNB|title=Joseph, Sir Maxwell (1910–1982)|first=Richard |last=Davenport-Hines |author-link=Richard Davenport-Hines |id=31295 |year=2004 }}</ref> Westminster City Council bought the lease of the block for £4.5 million in the mid-1960s, and subsequently sub-let it to the Dolphin Square Trust, a housing association, which had been newly created for the purpose.<ref name=Teleg15Jun06/> In January 2006, the Trust and the Council sold Dolphin Square to the American Westbrook Holdings group for £200 million,<ref name=Teleg15Jun06/> and in 2020, Axa Investment Managers acquired the estate on behalf of its clients.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crichton |first=Merle |date=2020-11-09 |title=London's historic Dolphin Square enters next chapter |url=https://www.perenews.com/londons-historic-dolphin-square-enters-next-chapter/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=PERE |language=en-US}}</ref>

Accommodation is provided in 13 blocks (or "houses"), each named after a famous navigator or admiral. At the south (Thames) side of the Square the houses are [[Richard Grenville|Grenville]], [[Francis Drake|Drake]], [[Walter Raleigh|Raleigh]] and [[John Hawkins (naval commander)|Hawkins]]. Moving from the river up the west side, there are [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Nelson]], [[Edward Howard (admiral)|Howard]], [[David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty|Beatty]], and [[Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan of Camperdown|Duncan]]. A hotel and administration offices, on the north side of the Square, are in Dolphin House, previously known as [[George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney|Rodney]]. Heading south from the hotel there are [[Roger John Brownlow Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes|Keyes]], [[Sir Samuel Hood, 1st Baronet|Hood]], [[Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood|Collingwood]] and [[Martin Frobisher|Frobisher]].

=== Wartime intelligence and government use ===
Dolphin Square played significant roles during and after World War II. Grenville House served as the headquarters for [[Charles de Gaulle|General De Gaulle]]'s [[Free France|Free French]] Government-in-exile.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2008-10-23 |title=Conservation area audits: Dolphin Square Conservation Area Audit SPD |url=https://www.westminster.gov.uk/conservation-area-audits |access-date=2018-12-31 |website=Westminster City Council |page=14}}</ref> Meanwhile, number 308 Hood House hosted MI5's B5(b) section, which infiltrated potentially subversive groups from 1924 to 1946.<ref name="Max Knight book">{{cite book |author=Masters, A. |title=The Man Who Was M: The life of Maxwell Knight |publisher=Grafton Books |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-586-06867-0 |location=London}}</ref>

=== Cold War espionage ===
The site also became notorious during the Cold War for espionage activity. In 1962, [[John Vassall]], a civil servant turned Soviet spy, was arrested in apartment 807 of Hood House.<ref name="Teleg15Jun06" /><ref name="Indie Soviet spy">{{cite news |last=Milmo |first=Cahal |date=30 June 2006 |title=Secrets revealed of gay 'honey trap' that made spy of Vassall |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |location=London}}</ref> 

=== Controversy and false allegations ===
Dolphin Square was later at the centre of high-profile false allegations. In November 2014, the [[Metropolitan Police]] launched [[Elm Guest House hoax|Operation Fairbank]] to investigate claims that prominent MPs had used Dolphin Square as a site for child abuse.<ref name="ExaroDolphin">{{cite news |date=1 November 2014 |title=Met starts investigation into child sex abuse at Dolphin Square |url=http://www.exaronews.com/articles/5393/met-starts-investigation-into-child-sex-abuse-at-dolphin-square |access-date=19 November 2014 |publisher=[[Exaro]]}}</ref> Carl Beech, publicly known as "Nick", falsely alleged he was abused there as a child, leading to a parallel murder investigation named [[Operation Midland]]. Despite extensive media coverage and interviews with Beech by outlets such as Exaro and BBC News, the police closed the case in March 2016 with no charges filed.<ref name="guardian210316">{{cite news |author1=Laville, Sandra |author2=Syal, Rajeev |date=21 March 2016 |title=Operation Midland: inquiry into alleged VIP paedophile ring collapses |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/mar/21/last-living-suspect-harvey-proctor-vip-paedophile-ring-inquiry-will-face-no-charges |access-date=22 March 2016 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> Beech was eventually convicted in 2019 for fabricating the allegations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Martin |date=22 July 2019 |title=Carl Beech aka Nick found guilty of making up Westminster VIP paedophile ring |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/22/nick-trial-carl-beech-found-guilty-making-westminster-vip-paedophile/ |access-date=25 July 2019 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> The incident prompted public and institutional criticism regarding the credibility given to the accusations and the conduct of the investigation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mendick |first=Robert |date=18 March 2016 |title=VIP sex abuse inquiry to close in days |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/12198291/VIP-sex-abuse-inquiry-to-close-in-days.html |work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>

== Architecture ==
Costains appointed architect Gordon Jeeves to design Dolphin Square, assisted by Cecil Eve. [[Oscar Faber]] served as consultant engineer. It was Jeeves's largest project at the time; he had also contributed to buildings like the National Radiator Building and Berkeley Square House. The [[Neo-Georgian architecture|neo-Georgian]] structure was built using reinforced concrete with brick and stone facings. Floors were soundproofed with compressed cork insulation. Construction costs totalled around £2 million for the 1,234 flats.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=7 January 1938 |title=Dolphin Square, Westminster |journal=The Architect & Building News |pages=6–11}}</ref>

The project required the movement of 200,000 tonnes of earth, the use of 125,000 tons of concrete, 12 million bricks, and the installation of 6,700 [[Crittall windows]].<ref>Gourvish 2014, p. 53.</ref> Flat sizes varied from one-bedroom suites to five-bedroom residences with maids' rooms and three bathrooms. Original on-site services included shops, a children's centre, a library, a nursery, and a garage for up to 300 cars. A proposed riverside wharf with a marina, café, and terraced gardens leading to the Thames was never realised.<ref>Gourvish 2014, p. 51.</ref>

== Restoration ==
In 2021, a multi-year restoration programme began at Dolphin Square. The project is planned to span eight years and will include all 1,234 apartments across the estate. The initial phase focused on Rodney, Duncan, and Beatty Houses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lomholt |first=Isabelle |date=2025-05-30 |title=Dolphin Square, City of Westminster, London |url=https://www.e-architect.com/london/dolphin-square-city-of-westminster-london |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=e-architect |language=en-us}}</ref>

The restoration involves the replacement of over 6,000 windows, upgrading of utilities, and internal refurbishments aimed at improving energy performance including the removal of the estate's gas-fired communal heating system<ref>{{cite web |last=Flatman |first=Ben |date=2025-06-02 |title=GRID Architects unveils Dolphin Square refurbishment |url=https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/grid-architects-unveils-dolphin-square-refurbishment/5136210.article |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=Building Design }}</ref> and installation of more than 150 air-source heat pumps. The works are being carried out with the intention of preserving the estate's original architectural style.

The programme also includes updates to communal amenities such as the fitness centre, pool, spa, and shared spaces. The works are intended to balance conservation of the historic estate with the integration of modern infrastructure and energy-efficient systems.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Retrofit Dolphin Square: Sustainable Living in Pimlico |url=https://www.edie.net/case-study/dolphin-square-sustainable-retrofit-of-a-historic-residential-estate/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.edie.net |date=5 June 2025 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Facilities ==
Historically, Dolphin Square offered an extensive range of amenities, including eight squash courts, a swimming pool, gymnasium, bars, a winter garden, palm court, restaurant, luggage rooms, a beauty parlour, laundry depot, theatre booking office, nursery, library, and music room. The estate also featured an underground garage with a petrol station, car showrooms, and parking for 300 vehicles, as well as themed gardens, guest rooms for visitors, and a variety of resident services such as valeting, laundry, and room hire for events and art studies.<ref name=":1" />

Today, Dolphin Square continues to provide a variety of facilities including a fitness centre, spa, and car park. It also houses the Dolphin Square Terrace Bar & Café, maintaining its tradition of offering lifestyle and leisure amenities within the estate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Amy |date=2025-05-21 |title=Phase One of Dolphin Square BTR restoration completes |url=https://btrnews.co.uk/phase-one-of-dolphin-square-btr-restoration-completes/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=BTR News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Residents==
[[File:Dolphin Square (171233643).jpg|thumb|Dolphin Square]]
Given its location near the Palace of Westminster and the headquarters of [[MI5]] and [[MI6]], Dolphin Square has historically housed many politicians, civil servants, and intelligence personnel. Notable political residents include Harold Wilson, [[David Steel]], [[William Hague]], [[Estelle Morris]], [[Beverley Hughes]], [[Michael Mates]], [[John Langford-Holt]], and [[Iain Mills]] (who died in Duncan House).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-06-15 |title=Swimming with the tide |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/3350657/Swimming-with-the-tide.html |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

At its peak, it housed more than 70 MPs and at least 10 Lords.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2015-08-10 |title=Dolphin Square: The UK's most notorious address? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33785352 |access-date=2025-06-27 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Other well-known residents have included comedians [[Ben Lyon]] and [[Bud Flanagan]]; actors [[Peter Finch]] and [[Thorley Walters]]; writer [[Radclyffe Hall]]; former Lord Chief Justice [[Rayner Goddard, Baron Goddard|Lord Goddard]]; journalist Norman Cliff; tennis writer Bud Collins; Profumo affair figures [[Christine Keeler]] and [[Mandy Rice-Davies]]; and [[Anne, Princess Royal]] who lived in a two-bedroom apartment on the estate with her husband, [[Timothy Laurence|Sir Timothy Laurence]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-21 |title=Princess Anne's London home she complained about set for 'landmark restoration' |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/833344/princess-anne-drake-house-dolphin-square-flat-restoration/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=HELLO! |language=en}}</ref>

Australian tennis player Rod Laver also stayed at Dolphin Square during his 1969 Grand Slam season.<ref name="Teleg15Jun06" />

==In popular culture==
Scenes in the 1967 sci-fi horror ''[[The Sorcerers]]'' were filmed in and around Dolphin Square.<ref name="The Sorcerers">{{cite web|url=http://www.reelstreets.com/index.php/component/films_online/?task=view&id=937&film_ref=sorcerers,_the&limitstart=0|title=The Sorcerers|work=reelstreets.com|access-date=2 Nov 2016}}</ref>

In [[Len Deighton]]'s alternate history novel ''[[SS-GB]]'', which is set in a German-occupied Great Britain during [[World War II]], Dolphin Square is requisitioned for use as an interrogation centre.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Deighton |first1=Len |title=[[SS-GB]] |date=1978 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |isbn=9780241639238 |page=263 |edition=2023}}</ref>

The video for [[Culture Club]]'s 1982 UK number one single "[[Do You Really Want to Hurt Me]]", was set, but not filmed, at the Dolphin Pool.<ref>{{cite web|title=Do You Really Want To Hurt Me: Behind the videos|url=http://www.boygeorgefever.com/behind_the_videos.html|work=boygeorgefever.com|access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref> The pool in the video is of a different architectural style, visibly not the Dolphin Pool.<ref>{{cite web|title=Do You Really Want To Hurt Me|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nXGPZaTKik|work=youtube.com| date=28 February 2009 }}</ref>

In British novelist [[Kate Atkinson (writer)|Kate Atkinson]]'s 2018 spy novel ''[[Transcription (novel)|Transcription]],'' [[MI5]] runs a small counterespionage operation from Nelson House in Dolphin Square.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite news |title=Dolphin Square: The UK's most notorious address? |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33785352 |date=10 August 2015 |first=Hannah |last=Sander |access-date=10 August 2015}}
*{{Cite book|title=Dolphin Square: the history of a unique building |last=Gourvish |first=Terry |publisher=A&C Black |year=2014 |orig-year=2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V2oFBAAAQBAJ&pg=PR3 |isbn=9781472911094 |location=London |oclc=884550799}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Dolphin Square}}
* {{official website|www.dolphinsquare.co.uk|Dolphin Square website}}
* [http://www.dsta.co.uk Dolphin Square Tenants' Association]
*[http://transact.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/Dolphin%20Square%20CAA%20SPD.pdf Conservation area audits: Dolphin Square Conservation Area Audit SPD] (2008)

{{coord|51.4863|-0.1364|display=title|type:landmark_region:GB|name=Dolphin Square}}
{{Royal palaces in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures on the River Thames]]
[[Category:Residential buildings in London]]
[[Category:Squares in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Residential buildings completed in 1937]]
[[Category:Pimlico]]
[[Category:Art Deco architecture in London]]