History of Marylebone
Marylebone gets its name from St Mary's parish church. It's a majestic neighbourhood with an interesting history and royal connections. Formally Holy Trinity Church, now One Marylebone, was completed in 1828 and designed by Sir John Soane in celebration of Napoleon’s defeat. The first known mention of Marylebone dates back to the 11th century. In the 18th century, the village began to grow rapidly as people moved to the city in search of work. In 1711, John Austen sold his estate in Marylebone to the Duke of Newcastle. Within 10 years, plans had been drawn up for the development of the whole area, starting with Cavendish Square and moving north. Most of the new streets took their names from the extended families of the estate's owners.
During the late-18th century, the main street in Marylebone became the Marylebone High Street we might recognise today, lined with shops and houses. The Portland Estate leased pieces of land out on 99-year leases, on which builders of all types built according to plans approved by the Estate. This led to a great variety of buildings in terms of style, size, and occupancy.
In the mid-19th century, Harley Street in Marylebone developed into a centre for medical specialists, with doctors and surgeons attracted by the good travel connections, a ready clientele, and the proximity of several hospitals. The bombing of London during World War II took its toll on Marylebone. The east side of the high street was badly hit, as were parts of Harley Street. Demolition and rebuilding followed, but priority was given to housing, and surviving retail premises in need of refurbishment were put on hold.
Despite repeated efforts to revitalise the high street in the post-war period, by the mid-1990s many shops were unoccupied or running as charity shops. Then, following a new direction set by The Howard de Walden Estate, two fashionable but functional shops were drawn to the area in the form of The Conran Shop at the top of the high street and Waitrose towards the bottom. In their wake, a concentrated effort was put into encouraging the arrival of distinctive independent stores and restaurants to breathe new life into the shopping streets. Marylebone Village was reborn.
Today, Marylebone is a vibrant and cosmopolitan neighbourhood. It is home to a diverse mix of people, from young professionals to celebrities to tourists.