![]() The lessees hoped the blueprint would energise independent builders and leaseholders to transform into an elegant ‘South Belgravia’ this low-lying marshy area, bisected by the ‘Grosvenor Canal’ running north from the sprawling, shallow (then not embanked) Thames up to their canalboat-turning ‘Basin’ (now Victoria Station). Cubitt created a development blueprint running south from Buckingham House (latterly Palace) to the Thames foreshore, stripping off the glutinous Pimlico clay and laying soil from St Katherine’s dock (which he was then excavating) onto the exposed gravel. In the 1820s, the Marquess of Westminster leased this enormous ‘Neat Houses Gardens’ estate (pretty much the area of the present parish of St Gabriel’s) to the man who would become Queen Victoria’s favourite builder, Thomas Cubitt. Before Cubitt’s project, it was the sole traditional link between the thriving entertainment venue Ranelagh Gardens in the old Manor of Chelsea, and the former monastic community around Westminster Abbey. The waterlogged extensive property largely comprised frequently-flooded market gardens, crossed East-West by a single robber-infested elevated trackway (then called ‘Willow Walk’, now ‘Warwick Way’). However, until the first quarter of the 19 th century it was of minimal commercial or residential interest to these entrepreneurial aristocrats. The land comprising what would become known as ‘Pimlico’ was part of the Grosvenors’ massive London estates. The low-lying, marshy Thames-side acres of undeveloped Pimlico originally formed part of the Parish of St George, Hanover Square, created in 1725. It reflects a classic Victorian combination of aristocratic religious philanthropy and good practical commercial entrepreneurship! Most visitors assume the symbiotic relationship is a happy and attractive accident, but the historical truth is more interesting. Thomas Cundy’s charming Kentish-ragstone-faced parish church nestles, like a rustic country church, between enormous leafy plane trees which may well be contemporaneous with the foundation of the church in 1851. Visitors to our Grade-2-listed Victorian private garden in Warwick Square are invariably impressed by the splendid vista looking westwards across the lawn to the elegant spire of St Gabriel’s Pimlico. Mr Blackford repeated Ms Sturgeon’s claim that last year’s Holyrood election, in which the SNP emerged the largest party but lost its majority, provided a mandate for another referendum.Colin Sheaf, Chairman, the Warwick Square Co Ltd And the people of Scotland should look at it in that manner.” Speaking after his victory over rival leadership candidates Joanna Cherry and Drew Hendry, Mr Blackford said he would hold discussions with the First Minster on a second referendum “to make sure we do what is right for the people of Scotland.”īut the former investment banker said: “Any independence referendum, if it were to happen, is an insurance policy on the future of Scotland being impacted by a hard Tory Brexit that damages our interests. The prospect of another independence vote dominated the election campaign in Scotland, with the three Unionist parties urging voters to send Ms Sturgeon a message they did not want one. ![]() The SNP received only 37 per cent of the popular vote, losing almost half a million votes compared to the 2015 election and 21 MPs, including Alex Salmond and Mr Robertson, the party’s deputy leader. Mr Blackford’s intervention came the day after Ms Sturgeon’s Cabinet failed to discuss the referendum in their first meeting since last week’s election. The Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP was speaking shortly after winning the race to succeed Angus Robertson, who lost his Moray seat in the General Election, to lead the SNP’s group of 35 MPs. The First Minister described as “nonsense” allegations that she has already decided to plough ahead with her blueprint to break up Britain despite the SNP’s General Election mauling.Īmid growing pressure on her to make public her stance, a defiant Ms Sturgeon said she would “not be dictated to” over the timing of an announcement and she would set out her plans “in due course after talking to people across the SNP.”īut only hours later Ian Blackford said the SNP will “make sure” that the option of another referendum is available for Scots if they are unhappy with the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. The SNP’s new Westminster leader has undermined Nicola Sturgeon’s claims she is still weighing up whether to press ahead with a second independence referendum after arguing it was Scotland’s “insurance policy” against Brexit. ![]()
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