Portman Square

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Portman Square

Portman Square is a garden square in Marylebone, central London. It is surrounded by private townhouses owned by the Portman Estate, with the gardens kept for residents’ use. The square marks the western end of Wigmore Street, which connects to Cavendish Square to the east.

History and features:
- Built between 1765 and 1784 on land owned by Henry William Portman.
- A nearby infantry barracks, Portman Square Barracks, stood between Portman and Orchard Streets but was demolished around 1860.
- At the east end of the gardens is the Hamilton Memorial Drinking Fountain, funded by Mariana Augusta in memory of her husband Sir John James Hamilton. The fountain is a Grade II listed landmark.

Notable residents:
- The houses were rented by prominent families and individuals in the early years. No. 15 was leased by Alexander Duff, the future Duke of Fife, before his marriage to Princess Louise. Princess Louise lived at No. 15 from 1889 until her death in 1931.

Listing:
- A portion of the north side is in the Grade I listed category, a high level of protection for historic buildings.