Dunraven Street is a street in London's

Mayfair Mayfair is an affluent area in the West End of London towards the eastern edge of Hyde Park, in the City of Westminster, between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane. It is one of the most expensive districts in the world. ...

district. It was laid out in the 1750s as Norfolk Street, and in the 19th century was sometimes known as New Norfolk Street. In 1939, it was renamed Dunraven Street by

London County Council London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today kno ...

, after the fourth Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl, a former resident of the street, who had been a member of the LCC. Dunraven Street runs north to south from North Row to Wood's Mews, crossing Green Street.

Residents

Notable occupants of houses on the east side include: * Captain (later First Sea Lord and Admiral of the Fleet)

John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher John Arbuthnot Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher, (25 January 1841 – 10 July 1920), commonly known as Jacky or Jackie Fisher, was a British Admiral of the Fleet. With more than sixty years in the Royal Navy, his efforts to reform the service helped t ...

, at No. 16 (site of the present No. 18) from 1887 to 1891.

Lillie Langtry Emilie Charlotte, Lady de Bathe (née Le Breton, formerly Langtry; 13 October 1853 – 12 February 1929), known as Lillie (or Lily) Langtry and nicknamed "The Jersey Lily", was a British socialite, stage actress and producer. Born on the isl ...

lived at No. 17 (site of the present No. 19) from 1877 to 1880.

James McNeill Whistler James Abbott McNeill Whistler (; July 10, 1834July 17, 1903) was an American painter active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom. He eschewed sentimentality and moral allusion in painting and was a leading pr ...

assisted in the decoration of the house for her and provided the drawing-room with a painted ceiling. * The Dowager Duchess of Beaufort, widow of 4th Duke, 1760–3. * Colonel Oliver De Lancey, later general and MP, 1787–90. * Col. James Moncrieff, military engineer, 1791–3. * Sir Lucas Pepys, physician to George III, 1816–21. * Sir John Carr, barrister and writer on travel, 1812–32. *

Sir Howard Elphinstone, 1st Baronet Major General Sir Howard Elphinstone, 1st Baronet (4 March 1773 – 28 April 1846) was a commander of the Royal Engineers in the Peninsular War. Elphinstone was the youngest son of John Elphinstone, a captain in the Royal Navy and for a period ...

, commander royal engineers in the

Peninsular War The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In Spain ...

, 1821–46. * Sir Murray Maxwell, naval capt., 1827–31. *

George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex FSA (13 November 1757 – 23 April 1839) was an English aristocrat and politician, and styled Viscount Malden until 1799. His surname was Capell until 1781. Early life George Capell was the eldest so ...

, 1825–8. *

Lord William Russell Lord William Russell (20 August 1767 – 5 May 1840) was a member of the British aristocratic Russell family and longtime Member of Parliament. He did little to attract public attention after the end of his political career until, in 1840, he was ...

, brother of 6th Duke of Bedford, murdered there by his valet, 1839–40. * 4th Baron de Blaquiere, 1859–64. * Sir Edward Watkin, 1st Baronet, MP, railway promoter, 1864–6. Adm. * Sir Cyprian Bridge, 1893–6. * George Thomas Kenyon, MP, 1894–8. * James St Clair-Erskine, 5th Earl of Rosslyn, a professional actor under the name of James Erskine, 1906–7. *

P. G. Wodehouse Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, ( ; 15 October 188114 February 1975) was an English author and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. His creations include the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Jeeve ...

lived at the Grade II listed 17 Dunraven Street between 1927 and 1934. In 1988, a

blue plaque A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving as a historical marker. The term i ...

was unveiled here by the Queen Mother. *

Alexander McQueen Lee Alexander McQueen CBE (17 March 1969 – 11 February 2010) was a British fashion designer and couturier. He founded his own Alexander McQueen label in 1992, and was chief designer at Givenchy from 1996 to 2001. His achievements in fashion ...

, the fashion designer, 1969-2010 purchased a flat at 17 Dunraven Street and applied for planning permission for a rooftop terrace. The work was completed by a new owner.

References

{{coords, 51.5120, -0.1570, display=title 1750s establishments in England Mayfair Streets in the City of Westminster