York House

York House is an historic wing of St James's Palace, London. It is within easy distance of the Palace of Westminster; it is close to Buckingham Palace; within hail of Marlborough House; and but two miles distant from St Pancras railway station (for journeys to Sandringham House).

Related Topics:
St James's Palace - London - Palace of Westminster - Buckingham Palace - Marlborough House - St Pancras railway station - Sandringham House

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York House was built for Frederick, Prince of Wales, on the occasion of his marriage in 1736, on the site of a suttling-house belonging to the Guards, and faces Ambassadors' Court and Cleveland Row.

Related Topics:
Frederick, Prince of Wales - Suttling-house

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Prince Frederick occupied it for about a year, until his quarrel with the King drove him from Court.

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In 1795, Princess Caroline resided here preparatory to her marriage with the Prince of Wales, afterwards George IV.

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The Duke of Cumberland, subsequently King of Hanover, lived here for a great many years; and H.R.H. the Duchess of Cambridge was identitfied with it from 1851 until her death in 1889.

Related Topics:
Duke of Cumberland - Hanover - Duchess of Cambridge

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The plan of the building is, broadly speaking, as follows: a suite of somewhat low-pitched rooms on the ground-floor, several drawing-rooms on the first floor, a corridor in the rear, and the servants' rooms on the top story; all facing Cleveland Row.

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On the ground-floor is the dining-room, than which nothing can be more comfortable in its way - neither too long nor too lofty, plenty of light from its four old-fashioned windows.

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Its air of cosiness is partly attributable to its high wooded dado of antique design, while its primrose-coloured wall-paper satisfies the artistic eye.

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A sort of bowed alcove, in the middle of which is a fire-place, gives character to the room, emphasized by the quaint little recesses on either side, recesses of a kind only met with in old houses, whose shelves, though charmingly adapted for flowers, were, no doubt, in the good old days of after-dinner sittings and sound port, intended to hold a reserve of wine-glasses.

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Leading out of the Duke's morning-room, is the library, a very cheery retreat, with its salmon-pink walls, white wood book-cases, and general tone of lightness.

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On the first floor, facing Cleveland Row, is the large, or Red drawing-room, a noble apartment with five windows. The walls are panelled in crimson silk brocade, varied on the southern wall by gold and crimson, the design that of the three historical feathers.

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These textures were made at Spitalfields - an illustration of the Prince of Wales's thoughtful consideration for the encouragement of industries in the East End.

Related Topics:
Spitalfields - Prince of Wales - East End

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Out of the large drawing-room through folding-doors, is the Green drawing-room, and beyond it, a smaller one of the same name.

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These salons lead to the boudoir, the sanctum of the Duchess of Cornwall and York, a pretty room, silk-panelled in pale blue.

Related Topics:
Duchess of Cornwall - York

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An early electrophone was installed communicating between York House, St. James's Palace, and the leading London theatres and concert-halls, in order that the Duke and Duchess might listen to the various entertainments, including the opera performances at Covent Garden.

Related Topics:
Electrophone - Covent Garden

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Beyond the boudoir, and occupying the extreme western end of the building, is the chief bedroom suite.

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The Duke's dressing-room was, in the Duchess of Cambridge's time, a conservatory, always supplied with beautiful flowers, amidst which a sparkling fountain constantly played. It still retains the old bow-window with miniature panes, the one large square of clear glass having been inserted by the late Duke of Clarence to enable him to see up and down the court below. This room, like that of the Duchess, is, with the exception of the mahogany fittings, entirely white.

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On the top floor is a narrow corridor - the length of the building - out of which are the servants' rooms. The ceilings are low; height having been sacrificed to that of the drawing-room floor, during the nineteenth century a common practice in great houses, and noticeable to-day in Norfolk House, Spencer House, and Devonshire House.

Related Topics:
Norfolk House - Spencer House - Devonshire House

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The basement is contracted and dark, but it must be remembered that the house is an old one, and that its peculiar position does not admit of much space "below stairs".

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