Cavendish Square

Cavendish Square began in 1717 as a grand vision for an aristocratic enclave, but its earliest years were defined by a financial collapse known as the South Sea Bubble. This economic crisis brought construction to a halt, leaving the intended site for a Duke's palace as a vacant lot that locals eventually used as a rubbish dump. What was meant to be the centerpiece of a prestigious new estate remained stalled for years while the surrounding streets slowly filled with more modest townhouses.