In the late 17th Century, England and Scotland were gripped by a conspiracy to assassinate King Charles II. Anti-Catholic hysteria was raging throughout the country and whispers of a plot to kill the Protestant King began spreading through his inner circles.
One of the biggest plans uncovered was the ‘Popish Plot’ of 1678. Five Catholic Lords, including the Viscount of Stafford, were accused of scheming to have the king shot or poisoned by his personal doctor Sir George Wakeman.
The Viscount was dragged from his home at Tart Hall in Westminster and brought to trial for his involvement in the plot. Although the conspiracy was later proven fictitious, Stafford was ultimately beheaded, and later made a Catholic martyr by Pope Pius XI.
Although Tart Hall never again opened after his execution, a historic house on this site was constructed in 1820. Now on the market with Dexters, it’s had a long and illustrious history up to the present day.
In the late Georgian era, the home was transformed into an apothecary by Henry Unwin that was likely decorated with various bric-a-brac such as stuffed tortoises and alligators. These were displayed to show Unwin had access to rare potions and medicines and may have also have served to distract his clients while he cheated them on the scales.
Although multiple families resided in the townhouse in the following decades, a London letter carrier called Andrew Clements moved in with his children in 1841. Employed by the Royal Post Office, his job entailed him wearing a full military tunic and walking upwards of sixty miles a week. This means that in the course of a three year career, he would have travelled the equivalent of almost four times around the world on foot.
Today, the mixed use property on Wilfred Street provides a future buyer with an excellent development opportunity. Spread over four floors, the second storey is currently used as residential space and has three bedrooms, as well as a bathroom and kitchen. All the other levels are used as office space, but the entire house could be converted into a family home subject to planning permission.
‘Located less than half a mile away from Victoria and St James’s Park tube station, this central London townhouse lies 300 yards away from St James’s Park,’ says Chris Cady, Director of Dexters Westminster. ‘With high ceilings and a generous amount of space and light, it could make an outstanding family home or be maintained for commercial use.’
