Category: St. James’s Square, London

St. James’s Square, London

St. James’s Square (a garden square) is in London’s Westminster area. For many years, it was a very fashionable area and, in the 1720s, was home to seven dukes and seven earls. In the centre of the square is an equestrian statue of King William lll – erected in 1808. By the 1830s, it was noted that the square was losing its exclusive aura with many occupants moving west to the Belgravia area.
In 1984, the square was the site of the Libyan embassy (centre of the photograph). The siege in that year resulted in the fatal shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. There is a plaque remembering the event – directly opposite the building.
Image: Photographer unknown (1920s)
The same view in February 2022. Image: © TimeViews Steven Miell
A merged version of the two photographs. Use the slider in the centre.