A Brief History of One Marylebone

One Marylebone, formerly Holy Trinity Church, was built in 1826-28 to the designs of Sir John Soane to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

(Danielle loves this fact as she lived in rue Jean Waterloo Wilson, in Brussels, as a child and then grew up in another Waterloo, near Liverpool.)

Soane (1753 –1837) was arguably England's finest architect in the Neo-Classical style. His architectural works are distinguished by their clean lines, massing of simple form, decisive detailing, careful proportions and skilful use of light sources. His best-known work, the Bank of England, had a widespread effect upon commercial architecture.

Grade I listed by English Heritage, One Marylebone is one of only three London churches by Soane; it was the most expensive and now considered to be the most architecturally distinguished. His influence of the Neo Classical is evident in the portico of the church and his constant desire to work with light is never more evident than it is in the 1st Floor Galleries. Apart from the loss of the original chancel, the basic structure of Soane's church survives complete and is of huge national architectural and historical significance.

The building was deconsecrated in the middle of the twentieth century and returned to its former glory in 2007 when it opened its doors as London's most exciting new events venue.

Sir John Soane was a passionate traveller and an extraordinary collector: we highly recommend a visit to his Bloomsbury home-turned-museum if you have time. (www.soane.org)