The listed coordinates will place you across the street from arguably one of Londons greatest examples of Victorian architecture. This grade II* listed building was commissioned and lived in by the famous dramatist Sir W.S Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan) and designed/built by famous british architect Sir Ernest George with the help of his partner Harold Peto.
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 – 29 May 1911) was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for the fourteen comic operas (known as the Savoy operas) produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan. The most famous of these include H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and one of the most frequently performed works in the history of musical theatre, The Mikado. The popularity of these works was supported for over a century by year-round performances of them, in Britain and abroad, by the repertory company that they founded, the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Eleven of the Savoy operas continue to be frequently performed in the English-speaking world and beyond by opera companies, repertory companies, schools and community theatre groups. Lines from these works have become part of the English language, such as "short, sharp shock", "What, never? Well, hardly ever!", and "Let the punishment fit the crime".
Sir Ernest George (13 Jun 1839–1922) was an English architect, landscape and architectural watercolour painter, and etcher. Born in London in 1839, Ernest George began his architectural training in 1856, under Samuel Hewitt, coupled with studies at the Royal Academy Schools 1857-1859. After a short period in the office of Allen Boulnois, he went on a sketching tour of France and Germany, which inspired him to the architectural style that would make him famous. On his return to London, he set up an architectural practice in 1861 with Thomas Vaughan. They had their breakthrough in 1869, when Ernest George was contacted by the tea and spice importer and Member of Parliament Henry Peek (son of James Peek who started the biscuit business Peak Frean & Co). He was about to buy the village of Rousdon in Devon, and wanted George to build him a large mansion house south of the village, plus several other buildings. This complex became eventually known as the Rousdon Estate, and from 1930 to 1998 the George designed mansion house served as the private boarding school Allhallows College.
During the partnership with Peto, George designed houses in London for the Cadogan Estate in Chelsea and Kensington. In 1881 they designed Stoodleigh Court at Tiverton for Thomas Carew. In 1891 they designed an extension to West Dean House for William James, creating the Oak Room, now Oak Hall in West Dean College. George was a first-rate architect. His work on the magnificent buildings in Collingham Gardens and Harrington Gardens are considered by many to be to be among the finest examples of domestic architecture in the UK, not least No 39 Harrington Gardens, the spectacular house designed for William Schwenck Gilbert.
39 Harrington Gardens First listed on 15th April 1969, this grade II* listed building is arguably one of the best examples of Victorian residential architecture in the UK. Understood to be the first building that stood on Harrington Gardens this residence has been copied and replicated in material, scale and detail across many London homes. A full scale replica of the staircase has been installed in at least one other London residence since its completion. The interiors survive intact and the building is now the home to an architectural practice as opposed to being a residence.
Due to the listed status of this beautiful red brick building the cache is located across the road, so while at GZ please take a minute to admire the view.
Happy hunting.