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Revision as of 10:25, 28 November 2012 by 193.35.248.121 (talk) (→Economy)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For other places with the same name, see Knightsbridge (disambiguation). Human settlement in EnglandKnightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district in central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Up to Brompton Road, it is a part of the A4 arterial road, while the remainder is part of the A315 road.
The eponymous district comprises the area south of Hyde Park, east of Exhibition Road and west of Sloane Street. Brompton Road, Beauchamp Place and the western section of Pont Street serve roughly as its southern border together with their adjacent gardens and squares such as Ovington Square, Lennox Gardens and Cadogan Square. South of this area, the district fades into Chelsea while Belgravia lies to the East and South Kensington to the West.
Knightsbridge is notable as an ultra-expensive residential area, and for the density of its upmarket retail outlets. It is identified in the London Plan as one of two "international centres" in London, alongside the West End.
History
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Knightsbridge was originally a small hamlet or locality outside the City of London, between the villages of Chelsea (Chelsey), Kensington (Kensing town) and Charing. In the time of Edward I, the manor of Knightsbridge appertained to the abbey of Westminster. It was named after a crossing of the River Westbourne, which is now an underground river. It is recorded that the citizens of London met Matilda of England at the Knight's Bridge in 1141.
From 1885 to 1887, as a result of the opening of trade between Britain and the Far East, Humphreys' Hall in Knightsbridge hosted an exhibition of Japanese culture in a setting built to resemble a traditional Japanese village. The exhibition was very popular, with over 250,000 visitors during its early months. Japanese artisans illustrated "the manners, customs, and art-industries of their country, attired in their national and picturesque costumes. Magnificently decorated and illuminated Buddhist temple. Five o’clock tea in the Japanese tea-house. Japanese Musical and other Entertainments. Every-day Life as in Japan". W.S. Gilbert and his wife attended the exhibition, which is said to have inspired him to write The Mikado. When the Mikado requests of Ko-Ko the address of his son (Nanki-Poo) after Ko-Ko tells the Mikado that Nanki-Poo has "gone abroad," Ko-Ko replies that Nanki-Poo has gone to Knightsbridge.
Economy
Knightsbridge is home to many expensive shops, including the department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and flagship stores of many British and international fashion houses, including those of London-based shoe designers Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik, and two Prada stores. A "little Waitrose" has added to the high end food retail offer in the area with its opening in November 2012. The district also has banks that cater for rich individuals (including Coutts, bankers to the Queen), some of London's most renowned restaurants are here, many exclusive hair and beauty salons, antiques and antiquities dealers, and chic bars and clubs.
Property
The district is leafy, especially considering its location at the heart of London. It is home to many of the world's richest people, and has some of the highest property prices in the world. In 2006, a four bedroomed apartment in Knightsbridge sold for over £25,000,000, and on street car parking spaces sell for £300,000 on a 94 year lease. In February 2007, the world's most expensive apartment at One Hyde Park, sold off plan for £100,000,000, and was bought by a Qatari Prince, and another apartment at the same place in February 2009, of almost the same the £ price was bought by an Afghani Prince. The development is valued in excess of £4,000 per square foot (£43,000 per square metre). Fourteen of Britain's two hundred most expensive streets are in the district.
Knightsbridge is mostly made up of strictly controlled Conservation Areas and development land is difficult to find. Most properties offered by developers are refurbished flats and houses. Many of these now have huge basement extensions, accommodating an eclectic range of facilities from swimming pools to private nightclubs.
The principal landowners in the area are the Duke of Westminster and Earl Cadogan. The two areas of aristocratic landholdings can be distinguished: red-brick Queen Anne Revival buildings are mostly to be found on the Cadogan Estates, whereas white stucco-fronted houses are mostly found on the Grosvenor Estate, built by Thomas Cubitt.
The district is adjacent to Inner London's largest public park, Hyde Park.
Crime and terrorism
For centuries the area was renowned as the haunt of highwaymen, robbers and cutthroats targeting travellers on the western route out of London, but its fortunes were transformed in the 19th century.
However, the area has often been a target for high-profile crime. In 1980, the Iranian Embassy siege took place in Knightsbridge, lasting several days. It ended when the Special Air Service stormed the building on live television. In 1983, three Christmas shoppers and three Metropolitan Police officers were killed by an IRA car-bomb placed outside Harrods. In 1987, the Knightsbridge Security Deposit centre was the target of a robbery and the thieves left with a hoard worth £60 million. In 2005, 22-year-old beautician Clare Bernal was gunned down by her stalker and ex-boyfriend Michal Pech on the shopfloor of Harvey Nichols in front of colleagues and shoppers, before Pech fatally turned the gun on himself.
Many residential buildings are heavily covered by CCTV and are staffed by security guards, while railings or bars on lower floor windows are commonplace.
Buildings
To the north of the area, is the Hyde Park Barracks of the Household Cavalry, with a distinctive 33 storey tower by Sir Basil Spence. The Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department is based in Walton Street.
Transport and locale
Nearest places
Nearest tube stations
The nearest London Underground station is Knightsbridge on the Piccadilly line. (The former Brompton Road tube station closed in 1934.)
See also
- Royal Thames Yacht Club, 60 Knightsbridge
- St Columba's Church of Scotland, Pont Street
- Caledonian Club
References
- Greater London Authority, The London Plan: The Sub Regions
- London, David Hughson, 1809
- British history online, 'Knightsbridge Green Area: Scotch Corner and the High Road', Survey of London: volume 45: Knightsbridge (2000), pp. 79-88
- An advertisement from the Illustrated London News, 3 January 1885, quoted in McLaughlin, para 10.
- Arthur Sullivan with English text by W.S. Gilbert. "The Mikado: libretto of the Japanese comic opera in two acts". Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- "Sheikh shells out £100m for London's most expensive flat" The Times 28 March 2007 accessed 11 June 2007
- The Times, 2007
- Settlement and building: From 1865 to 1900, A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 12: Chelsea (2004), pp. 66-78 accessed: 11 June 2007
- "Bomb unauthorised says IRA" The Guardian, 19 December 1983
External links
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