Lancaster Gate

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Lancaster Gate in 1866.

The Lancaster Gate of Kensington Gardens

Lancaster Gate is a mid-nineteenth century development in the Bayswater district of west central London, immediately to the north of Kensington Gardens. It is comprised of two long terraces of houses overlooking the park, with a wide gap between them which opens onto a square containing a church. Further terraces back onto the pair overlooking the park and loop around the square. The terraces are stuccoed and are in an eclectic classical style featuring English Baroque details and French touches. The church, known as Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, was an asymmetrical gothic composition with a needle spire. The architects were F. & H. Francis. Only the tower and spire survive, the rest of the building having been replaced by a housing scheme called Spire House in 1983.

Lancaster Gate stands alongside Hyde Park Gardens as one of the two grandest of the 19th century housing schemes lining the northern side of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The development was planned in 1856-7 and construction took at least ten years. The terraces overlooking the park were designed by Sancton Wood and those around the square by John Johnson. The exteriors are largely complete, with just a couple of 20th century infills, but many of the interiors have been reconstructed behind the facades. Many of the properties are still in residential use and command very high prices. Others are used as embassies, offices, or hotels. For many years the headquarters of The Football Association were located in Lancaster Gate and the term was often used to refer to the organisation, but it has now relocated to Soho Square.

The name Lancaster Gate also refers to a nearby gate of Kensington Gardens.