Little America

"Little America" describes the prominent American influence in Londons Mayfair and more particularly, Grosvenor Square. The history of the US political presence in this Georgian terraced square dates back to the late 1700's when the new United States' first envoy to Great Britain, John Adams, first took residence on a corner of the square. This was the first "embassy". The next US embassy was where the current Canadian embassy is located before finally taking over a new purpose built facility opposite in the late 1960's. During the Second World War, Dwight D Eisenhower used number 20 Grosvenor Square as his HQ and there followed a prominent build up of Americans posted to the area. The nearby church just round the corner features a plaque commemorating it's main use during the conflict as seeing many American soldiers worship there. On a more cultural note, two next-door houses nearby on Brook Street saw the musical minds of George Handel and Jimi Hendrix residing within their narrow 18th century interiors. Further on the imposing Charing Cross railway station looms over a discrete townhouse that once saw Benjamin Franklin living there for a long while. Other points of note are the church where Theodore Roosevelt was married and the park on Grosvenor Square which contains memorials to Eisenhower, Franklin D Roosevelt, the Eagle Squadron and the more recent 9/11 Memorial garden. The square is home to many diplomatic residences but it's strong US connections led to the area getting it's nickname during the Second World War.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• American
• Embassy
• Macdonald
• House
• Grosvenor
• Square
• London
• England
• UK
• NVP
• Charing
• Cross
• Benjamin
• Franklin
• John
• Adams
• Theodore
• Roosevelt