Statue of the 1st Marquess of Westminster, Belgravia

The statue you are approaching commemorates Robert Grosvenor, the first Marquess of Westminster, who is responsible for the very existence of the neighborhood you are currently walking through. Before his development projects began in the early nineteenth century, this land was a marshy, hazardous area known as Five Fields, notorious for being a haven for highwaymen and thieves. Under his direction, working alongside the master builder Thomas Cubitt, these swampy lands were transformed into the grand, stucco-fronted residential district of Belgravia. The statue itself was not erected until 1998, commissioned by the sixth Duke of Westminster to honor his ancestor's visionary urban planning. Sculpted by Jonathan Wylder, the figure of the Marquess stands accompanied by two Talbot dogs, a breed of hunting hound that appears on the Grosvenor family coat of arms. These dogs are now extinct, known as the ancestral stock of the modern bloodhound, and their inclusion serves as a direct link to the family's ancient history. Beneath the sculpture, you will find the Grosvenor family motto, Virtus non stemma, which translates to Valour not Garland. This message emphasizes the belief that personal courage and good deeds carry more weight than the honors of noble birth. Below this, a quotation from the influential art critic John Ruskin is inscribed, reading, When we build, let us think we build for ever. This sentiment perfectly captures the lasting legacy of the Grosvenor family, who turned what was once a dangerous, neglected patch of land into one of the most stable and enduringly fashionable residential districts in London.