A Topographical and Statistical description of the County of Middlesex ,etc (1810) by George Alexander Cooke
Quitting Grosvenor Square, at its north-east angle, Upper Btook Street, a handsome avenue, inhabited
cbietly by nobility, leads us into Hanover Square, the area of which contains about two acres;
this square is so called in honour to the Brunswick family, being built shortly after the accession of George I. The houses which surround it exhibit many specimens of the German stile of architecture;
in the centre a neat shrubbery is inclosed with an iron railing. The Concert Rooms, opened under
the direction of Messrs. Harrison and Knyvett, are situated upon the east side of the square.
George Street opens into this square : nearly at the middle of the south side of which is situated
the parish church of St. George, Hanover Square, a church celebrated for being the chief
scene of fashionable marriages. Here, it is said, were published the matrimonial banns of one of
our royal dukes with a distinguished lady from the northern part of this island.
St. George's Church is built of stone, roofed with lead, and arched over three of its aisles; within,
the ceiling rests upon eight Corinthian columns, raised upon pedestals ; between these extend a
band of ornamented scroll-work, &c. the intermediate spaces rilled with sunk pannels; the side
aisles correspond in their decorations with this; four galleries occupy the three sides of the church, there being two galleries upon the west side, of which the uppermost contains the organ, and also seats for the children of the parochial charity schools. The finishing of the work in this church is well executed; the pulpit and altar are peculiarly handsome; the altar-piece is a fine painting, supposed to be from the pencil of Sir James Thornhill, whose paintings in St. Paul's we have noticed in a former walk. This church is one of the 50 new churches erected in the reign of Anne, by act of parliament; it has a plain body, with an elegant portico to the west front ; the diameter of the Corinthian pillars which compose the portico is large, and they support a handsome pediment, with an acroteria, upon its apex, but without further decoration. Above the clock, the corners of the tower are adorned with elegant and lofty Corinthian columns, coupled and crowned with their entablature, which at each angle supports two vases; above these the tower still rises till it is terminated by a dome, crowned with a turret, upon which is a ball, from which springs a weathercock. The ground upon which this building is founded was presented to the parish by Lieutenant- General Stewart, who, shortly after, bequeathed to it 40001. for the erection and endowment of a charity school.
Use the "Show me" link to locate Hanover Square on the map. You may need to scroll down to see Hanover Square highlighted.
Chapter 20 