The Social Geography of Grosvenor Square: Mapping Gender and Politics, 1720–1760

Abstract

This paper explores the manner in which architectural and urban forms staged social performance. Drawing on architectural theory regarding the uses of space, it reveals the manner in which the urban environment provided various spatial stages upon which to establish and promote social standing, political alliance and gender relationships. Evidence is drawn from the Grosvenor estate in Mayfair between 1720 and 1760. Demographic studies of the estate provided evidence of a rich and diverse society in residence, which included a significant number of single women and influential political persons. Utilizing diverse social variables, such as gender and class, this research seeks to expose the varied roles and dimensions played by the urbanite, specifically those who utilized Grosvenor Square as their platform for social and spatial performance. Attention is drawn to the means by which eighteenth-century London society consumed and utilized specific spatial patterns in the urban landscape.