South Kensington Living
Alexander Square
Alexander Square is a small garden square on the west side of Brompton Road.
There is a terrace of houses on one side, set well back from Brompton Road with a communal garden in front and a small private road.
The houses are mainly four-storeys (plus basement) painted white up to first floor level. The first floors have attractive small wrought-iron balconies and the small private road in front of the houses gives ample parking for the residents.
Alexander Square is part of the Alexander Estate.
In 1826 John Alexander entered into an agreement with James Bonnin for the construction of Alexander Square. The ‘square’ was to consist of two terraces facing east over ornamental plantations towards Brompton Road. Work began on the southern terrace in 1827. (This date appears in the pediment above the central house and refers to the date the work started, not the date it was completed). The terrace comprised 8 houses (Nos. 13-20). Alexander granted leases of Nos. 16-20 in 1828 and of Nos. 13-15 in 1827. It was usual for leases to be granted on completion of the building work to the builder, who could then sub-let for his profit. But it was often the case that the lease was granted to the builders' financiers as their security, so the leases were granted to various people apart from Bonnin himself.
The design for the houses, prescribed by the building agreement, required a kitchen in the basement, parlours on the ground floor, drawing rooms on the first floor, bedrooms on the second floor and attic houses above (in the larger houses). The parlours and drawing rooms were to be separated by folding doors. The detail of the decoration, including papered walls and gilt mouldings, were also prescribed.
In 1830 work began on the northern terrace. It is certain that Bonnin built all the houses, and all the leases were eventually granted to him. Whilst the work was in progress, John Alexander died so it was his son Henry Browne Alexander who granted the leases between 1831 and 1832 as the houses were completed. These houses were Nos. 5 – 12. George Basevi became surveyor to the Alexander Estate in 1829 or thereabouts. Although he was not involved in the house design, which already was fixed, it seems likely he had an influence on architectural details of the later terrace. For example, the doors have iron studded frames which is a feature used by Sir John Soane, under whom Basevi studied.
The northern arm of Alexander Square no longer exists. The houses there were demolished in 1909. The southern arm containing Nos. 21-24 (consecutive) Alexander Square are essentially extensions of south terrace, and are very similar to the houses there. Its not believed than Bonnin was involved in building them.
