The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-26
yuE LANDLORDS or LONDON
49,, 4. Dozen Owners for the Larger Part OF
this Great city.

s,ainsi the extension OF London. which up TO |
Che time Of the Commonwealth had been so |
frequently promulgated were becoming dead |
Iet,or and hc no doubt marked so cxtraordi- |
nary nicndcncy on the part of thousands to
aock to the metropolis as led him thus greatly
10 oycrc. innate the progress it would make.
A great extension Of London took place after
the fire OF 1860. the people having been COM
uolled 10 seek n refuge in the suburbs. While !
ihe city WIS rebuilding number Of artisans
werc drawn to the metropolis who remained
there.
Will, tho city," rs that portion Of London
under the jurisdiction Of tho Lord Mayor is
called has very divided proprictorship. and
knows no. Marquis Of Carnhns. the outlying
parls ~ the metropolis are mainly the property
of n small number of persons. whose ancestors
stuck 10 their lands M closely rs our Astors.
The bulk u London. without the city limits, is
owned by some dozen proprietors and 1t was
,ertincn,ly observed by writer in the London
Spectator in 1872 in an article on millionaircs.
,hat no truth about English property ia so GER
tain a. this: That no man in England can be-
come wealthy without part OF his wealth going
TO the owners Of the soil. and especially TO
three indiyiduals-the Dukes of Wcstmin-
e,er and Portland. and Lord Portman. II
is doubtful whether there are twenty noblemen
and gentlemen In the West End Of London
who reside on their own frceholds. for even
such nhodes as Stafford. Bridgewnter. and
Montague Ilouscs-houses the erection OF
which has cost their occupants from first to
last at least half n million Of dollars. arc held
on ground Lease from tho crown. while moro
than one of the great metropolitan proprietors
lives in another mans house. Thus the Duke
Of Bedford lives on the property Of the Duke of
Westminster tho Duke Of Portland on that Of
Mr.. Harcourt and the Marquis Of Northampton
on that " the crown. To buy freehold house
In tho west end Of London is almost an impos-
eibi,y. unless you go north Of Hyde Park, and
oven there, by no means easy; and this is why
there are comparatively. So few really grand
houses in London. inasmuch as men naturally
do not like building magnificent mansions on
enother mans land.
Prior 10 the rise OF tho Grosvcnors as London
bropric,ors the greatest metropolitan landlord
was the Duke Of Bedford. The Russell family
began TO bee real estate owners in London in
March 1852. when Edward vi. granted TO John.
Earl Of Bedford Lord Privy Seal gift Of the
Convent or Covent Garden. lying In the parish
Of ST. Martin Tin the Fields. near Charing
Cross. with seven acres tcacd Long Acre. OF
the yearly value Of &c Gs. 81. which had been
part VI the possessions Of the Duke Of Somerset
the land having reverted TO the crown by reason
OF that nobleman's attaindcr. In 1870 the then
Lord Bedford leased the property to Lord
Treasurer Burlegh. and in 1881 it was let out
by the Earl Of Bedford on building lease. In
1867. william. fifth Earl Of Bedford and j. 4
j.. Russell were abated $1,000 from the amour
OF fines they had incurred under the act to pre-
vent the increase Of buildings in and near Lon
don. in consideration of the great oxpens,
which the family had incurred in erecting
chapel and improving the neichborhood. Tn,
famous market originated in "A few sheds unde
the wall OF old Bedford House These wer,
leased in 1858 for 81 400. and now yield IN in
come of about $4,000 a year.
But the property which made the Duke o
Bedford for so many years the wealthicst rea
estate owner in London. did not come to TIT
Russells until long after. The great Blooms
bury property. to which we are now referring
came to the family by the marriage Of thu
patriot Lord Russell with the heiress Of Lor,
Southampton. She brought him also gran,
mansion subsequently known as Belfor'
House. on the north side Of Bloomsbury square
Here he was arrested. and toward this it wa
that he turned his last looks AS he passed TO III
scafIold on Lincolns Inn Fields. 1t was q state
~ pile covering much ground. and occupyinl
with It's gardens. the whole Of the north side c
Bloomsbury square This famous mansio
was pulled down In 1900.
North and northwest Of the Bedford estate
the property Of Fitzroy. Lord Southampton
This estate came to the Fitzroys hy the MAJ
riage OF Charles the Seconds illegitimate soI
Henry Fitzroy, with the only daughter an
heiress Of Bennett. Earl Of Arlington the Is
~ the notorious "cabaln ministry. The es
.Rte includes Euston square. so familiar I
American travellers from Liverpool and Fit
roy square. the head centre Of the artistic worl'
and the only square in London which is built Z
stone. Much Of the building on this estate wa
done about 1924 by the famous Cubitt. TIL
district has never been fashionable. and goo
houses may be procured AT very moderate COS
To the northwest II tho city proper lies III
parish OF Clerkenwoll. one Of whose most cor
spicuous buildings Is familiar TO all readers
the charming old series Of the Gelitlenen's Ma.
nz6,e. The lord Of the manor ot Clerkenwel
and the principal proprietor Of that and the aC
jonine parish OF Islington. is Spencer Conn
ION Marquis Of Northampton. whose famil
have held this property for more than two hui
dred years. This estate came 10 the Comptons
the marriage Of the second lord Of that ilk wit
Tho daughter Of SirJohn Spencer. a very wealth
Lord Mayor who was reputed the richest con
moner Of his time. Compton clipped with Il
young lady, who was lowered from window
Ahuker's basket A painting ut Lord Northaml
tom represents this escapade. Queen Eliz
beth adr1tly contrived 10 reconcile Sir John
The eulpr.ts by asking him to stand eodiath'
10 n child II n young lady who had not bee
long married. aud who had been abandoned
her parents. Sir John did So, and found that
was his own grnndchild. The Comptons wei
devoted adherents Of Charles !, and the the
lord and three OF his sons are said to ha'
fought on the kings side in one battle; hut OF
Of these also lived to assist In driving TINT king
second son from tho throne. and. althoug
Bishop Of London was conspicuous for h
military nrlor at the revolution. Comptc
NIngat's, Lord Northamptons place in Wa
WILTSHIRE is one OF the finest specimens r
naming Of an ancient English home. and We
fepays q visit Bishop Compton, who was
famous botanist, took special pains to impo
trees from this country, and planted them
70 garden Of the palace attached 10 the See
london at Fuham. on the Thames, whore son
Specimens Of this stock may yet be seem
largo and valuable estate in the nOrhwe
OF the town belongs % the Duke OF Portlan
william Bentinek. the founder Of the Engli'
branch Of this family, was n cadet Of mob
Dutch houses which still holds lands near Il