Apsley House, 149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, Westminster, Greater London
Apsley House from with the Hyde Park Screen to the left. Apsley House was built by Robert Adam between 1771 and 1778 for Baron Apsley. It is also known as 'Number 1 London' since it was originally the first house encountered after passing the tollgates at the top of Knightsbridge. The house passed to the Wellesley family in 1807. It was first owned by Richard and then his younger brother Arthur Wellesley - the Duke of Wellington. The house was remodelled and enlarged between 1928 and 1929. Many of the rooms were redesigned to reflect the rising status of the Duke of Wellington. He had been made Prime Minister in 1828, following his great military success at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Annual Waterloo Banquets were held at the house to commemorate the victory over Napoleon. The seventh Duke of Wellington gave the house to the nation in 1947 although the family retained the private rooms, which are still in use. Apsley house is the last surviving great London town house and the only property managed by English Heritage in which the original owner's family still live (2011). Find out more.
