Pimlico

PIMLICO, a parochial district, formerly a chapelry, in the parish of St. George, Hanover-Square, liberty of the city of Westminster, county of Middlesex, 3 miles (S. W. by W.) from St. Paul's. The origin of Pimlico is comparatively modern, but the name is of earlier date, though at what period, or on what occasion it was appropriated to this suburb of the metropolis, westward of St. James's and the Green Parks, is uncertain. Most, if not all the present buildings are of a date subsequent to the erection of Buckingham House, in the beginning of the last century. The eastern part contains a range of handsome houses called Grosvenor-place, extending southward from Hyde-Park Corner, and fronting the Green Park and the Royal Gardens; and the ground to the west between Knightsbridge and Chelsea, once called the Five Fields, is now occupied by many well-executed and several truly magnificent buildings, forming streets and squares, erected by the late Marquess of Westminster. To the north is Wilton-crescent, a semicircular range, with another along the diameter, the latter ornamented in front with Corinthian pilasters. Eaton-place and Wilton-place, especially the former, contain some handsome mansions. Belgrave-square, which may be termed the finest in the metropolis, includes in its plan four detached lines of buildings, respectively fronting the east, west, north, and south, with four isolated structures at the angles. From this square, Belgrave-street forms a noble avenue to Eatonsquare, in which is the church of St. Peter. Great additions and improvements are now in progress, under the direction of Mr. Cubitt, to the south-east of Pimlico, towards the Thames: among the new buildings here is Eccleston-square. The Royal Palace, occupying the site of old Buckingham House, is noticed under the head of London.

The principal streets and squares are well paved, and lighted with gas, under the direction of commissioners; and water is supplied chiefly from the Chelsea waterworks, which were constructed in 1724, when the proprietors were incorporated by act of parliament, and a canal was made from the Thames, near Ranelagh, to Pimlico, whence the water is conveyed by pipes to the reservoirs in Hyde Park and the Green Park. Here are some saw-mills, a Roman cement manufactory, whitelead works, an establishment on an extensive scale for the manufacture of machinery, and a distillery; on the banks of the Grosvenor canal, extending from the Thames, and on those of the basin in which it terminates, are coal, stone, and timber wharfs. In Grosvenor-place are Tattersall's betting and auction-rooms.

Pimlico was constituted an ecclesiastical district, by an order of council, in July 1830. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a Grecian edifice, with a grand Ionic portico of six fluted columns, supporting a plain pediment, behind which is a square tower surmounted by a dome and cross. The building was commenced in September 1824, and completed in 1827, at an expense of £5555, by the Parliamentary Commissioners; it was consumed by fire December 3rd, 1836, when the walls only were left standing entire, but it has been restored. The living is a district incumbency; net income, £700; patron, the Bishop of London. St. Michael's church, Chester-square, consecrated in April, 1846, and towards the erection of which the Grosvenor family gave £5000, is in the decorated English style, with a stone spiral steeple, and contains 1200 sittings: the living is in the gift of the Marquess of Westminster; income, £800. St. Paul's church, Wilton-place, is described under the head of Knightsbridge. The episcopal chapels are, Belgrave chapel, in Halkin-street, the front of which has a noble Ionic portico of four plain columns; Charlotte chapel, in Charlotte-street, erected as a chapel of ease to St. George's; and Ebury chapel, near Chelsea. In Palace-street, near the border of St. George's parish, is Buckingham chapel, a place of worship for Independents. The grammar school, in Ebury-street, erected in 1830, is a handsome structure, with a well-executed portico of two Doric columns between pilasters, supporting a pediment decorated with triglyphs and dentils: the institution is supported by a proprietary subscription, for the classical education of youth on moderate terms.

Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.