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the us embassy
a little slice of history

Duke Refused to Sell Land for Embassy

List of All 'Life in the UK' Articles

By BRIAN WILSON
UK Travel Correspondent
Special to North Palm Beach Life


What was unique about the "old" USA embassy in London?

I’m taking about the site at Grosvenor Square, not the new one at Nine Elms London.

After WW2, the USA wanted to build a new embassy and bring all the activities under one roof. They sited on Grosvenor Square.
The Duke of Westminster’s family had owned the land for hundreds of years, so the USA Ambassador met up with the Duke to buy the land.

There was only one problem – and it was a big one – the Duke’s family had one rule: "We do not sell land; we will lease it."

Now, all Embassies need to own the land on which to build, so they can claim it as "sovereign territory" -- i.e. outside the control of the host country

After much discussion, the Duke would not change his position – he would lease the land, but no sale. The Duke, who had fought in the war, wanted to say "Thank you" to the USA by offering the land on a long lease at a low rent.

The story goes that, in a last desperate attempt to change the Duke’s mind, he was invited to meet the President, where, sitting in the Oval Office, the Duke noted that, before the War of Independence his family owned a number of Estates in the USA, but his family had not received any recompense after the war ended. "If only …."’

There seemed to be an opening – a breakthrough – but the Duke was leading them on – for, when asked for the names of these Estates, it seemed that they included vast tracts of Maine, New York and Florida.

So, in the end the Grosvenor Square Embassy was sited on land, still owned by the Duke of Westminster, but given to the USA on a 999-year lease at a "peppercorn rent" (usually set at £10 - yes £10 or $13 per year).

Now there are some people who would say that the Duke of Westminster "stole" the land in Florida from the Spanish, who in turn had stolen it from the French, who would have taken it from the indigenous peoples.

Mind you, if you look at UK History – the Romans took over land by force – then the Saxons – then the Danes (Vikings) - then the Normans (they were not French – they were ex-Vikings --  i.e. people from the "North." 

What ever is the case – it just shows the close historical links between us both.

NORTH PALM BEACH LIFE

Contact us: northpalmlife@gmail.com

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  • Home
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      • 2018 Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade
      • Brightline >
        • Brightline Dino Train
        • Polar Express 2019
        • Breezin' on Brickell
        • Brightline Day Trips: Frost Science Museum
        • A Trip on Brightline
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        • Brightline Tasting Train
        • Brightline Train Unveiling
        • Brightline Topping Out
        • The Polar Express Train Ride
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      • History >
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      • North Palm Beach Country Club
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      • Hurricane Readiness
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        • The Chef's Table on Carnival Sunrise
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      • Reindeer Games
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      • Life in the UK - Bath, England
      • Life in the UK - Croquet
      • Life in the UK - Music in Russia
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      • Life in the UK - US Embassy
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      • A Visit to the Philippines
      • Grand Canyon National Park
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      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Hiking in Bear Country
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
      • The Kerrville Folk Festival
      • Building Hope in the Rio Grande Valley
    • Island Destinations
    • Lake Okeechobee Picnic
    • October Odyssey >
      • Cartagena, Columbia
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      • Antigua, Guatemala
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      • Coast Starlight
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      • Road Trip! Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
      • Road Trip! - Mogollon Rim
      • Road Trip! - Verde Canyon Railroad
      • Road Trip! - Jerome, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - California
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Celebrity Tour
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
      • Road Trip! - Festival in Palm Springs
      • Road Trip! - Willcox, Arizona and Apple Annie's Orchard
      • Road Trip! Willcox Wineries
      • Road Trip! Chiricahua National Monument
      • Road Trip! Tombstone, Arizona
      • Tombstone, Part Two
      • Road Trip! - Epilogue
    • Unknown Yellowstone >
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Heart Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Summit Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Shoshone Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Grizzly Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Riddle Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Pelican Cone
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Mt. Washburn
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Specimen Ridge
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Avalanche Peak
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Divide Creek
    • U.S. Virgin Islands >
      • Coral World - U.S. Virgin Islands
      • St. Thomas Food Tour
      • St. Thomas Tour
    • Vizcaya
  • Contact
    • Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition
    • Community Garden Grand Opening
    • Our Community Garden
    • LEGO Exhibit at Mounts Botanical Garden
    • Pamela Barker - Author
    • The Story of StarText
  • Search