Leicester House, Manor house in Westminster, London, United Kingdom.
Leicester House was a substantial townhouse featuring brick walls and stone details, positioned near present-day Leicester Square. The building had a central courtyard and exemplified Georgian architecture in Westminster.
The house was built in 1635 for Robert Sidney, Second Earl of Leicester, requiring special permission from King Charles I. During the 1700s it underwent several changes that altered its purpose and importance in London.
The residence served as a gathering place for artists and thinkers who met to discuss ideas and innovations. These meetings shaped London's intellectual life during the 1700s.
The site is located in central Westminster where Leicester Square now stands and is easily accessible. Visitors should know that only the history remains since the original building no longer exists.
The house was home to the Leicester House faction, an alternative opposition movement during King George II's reign. This group found shelter there and became a symbol of political resistance in the mid-1700s.
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