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London Streets and Squares: Harley

Oxford Street, formerly styled Oxford Road, Oxford Market, Mortimer Street, Harley Street, Edward Street, and Wigmore Street, derived their names from Edward Harley, Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, created Baron Harley of Wigmore Castle in Herefordshire in 1717, the owner of the estate. Cavendish Square, Old Cavendish Street, New Cavendish Street, Holles Street, and Henrietta Street, preserve the memory of Henrietta Cavendish, wife of the second Lord Harley, and only daughter and heiress of John Holles, the last Duke of Newcastle, who by her marriage carried all this property into the family of the Harleys. Her daughter, Lady Margaret Cavendish, became in her turn the wife of William Bentinck, second Duke of Portland; in honour of which connection there have been designated the various thoroughfares known as Bentinck Street, Margaret Street, Duke Street, Duchess Street, Portland Place, and Great Portland Street.

Welbeck Street was named after Welbeck Abbey, London Streets and Squares. in Northamptonshire, the seat of the Portland family; while Clipstone Street and Carburton Street were respectively designated after villages, the one in Nottinghamshire, the other in Northamptonshire, included in the ducal estate. Wimpole Street repeats the name of the seat of the Harleys situated on the borders of Herefordshire and Cambridgeshire, and purchased by Lord Chancellor Hardwicke in the last century. Stratford Place was built in 1775 by Edward Stratford, second Lord Aldborough, on ground leased from the Corporation of London for the purpose. The erection of Queen Anne Street dates from the reign indicated by its name. Mansfield Street is all that is left to remind us of the town residence of the Earl of Mansfield. Langham Place and Langham Street were named after Sir James Langham, whose mansion and grounds occupied the site of the latter. Vere Street recalls the existence of the De Veres, who for centuries held the Earldom of Oxford previous to the Harleys. Duke Street, Manchester Street, and Manchester Square, comprise the property of the Duke of Manchester. Spanish Place was originally so called from the residence of the Spanish Ambassador during the last century.

Chandos Street derived its name from the mansion built by James Bridges, Duke of Chandos. Hinde Street perpetuates the memory of James Hinde, a speculative builder and one of the lessees of Marylebone Park more than a hundred years ago.