Marylebone history

The correct name is St Marylebone. The Bourne stream ran through the area. When a new church was built by the stream, it was called St Mary’s by the Bourne. The name was later shortened to St Marylebone and applied to the larger area. The northern part of Marylebone was a royal hunting park, which also included the land were Regent’s Park now stands. The southern part eventually came into the possession of Edward Harley, Earl of Oxford and Mortimer. He decided to develop his estate and Cavendish Square was constructed in 1720, along with various supporting streets and squares. His daughter inherited the estate and married the Duke of Portland, and they continued the development of the estate. When Regent’s Park was created, the upper part of St Marylebone also became available for development and was turned into housing during the mid 19th century. Marylebone gave its name to the “MCC”, the governing body of cricket. In 1787 Thomas Lord opened a cricket ground in the Dorset Square area and formed the Marylebone Cricket Club. In 1811 Lord moved his turf to a new site in St John’s Wood. But that was in the route of the new Regent’s Canal, and he moved the turf again to the present location of “Lord’s” in St John’s Wood.