Master Builder - Thomas Cubitt Cubitt was not only a builder, but he was the
continued a modest lifestyle, refusing a title from
first to establish a building business that was able
Queen Victoria, and in particular he continued to
to supply all the building trades, as well as the
call himself ‘builder’ instead of ‘architect’ or ‘land
architectural designs for a house. Along with his
surveyor’ as was more socially acceptable.
brothers, William and Lewis, the Cubitt’s took care of land drainage, sewerage, roads, lighting, gardens, as well as the construction of the houses
One other key feature of Cubitt’s legacy in
and mews. They employed their own trades-
Belgravia was his ingenious way of overcoming
men – bricklayers, masons, carpenters, plumbers
the problems with the swampy ground. Firstly,
as well as painters and decorators. The Cubitt’s
Cubitt dug up the top layer of clay and used it to
were also known for the good workmanship and
make bricks, and secondly used earth taken from
efficiency, further establishing them as the high
the recently excavated St Katherine’s Dock to
quality builders of the age. Cubitt became known
level the ground and allow for the foundations of
as ‘the emperor of the building trade’, but he
houses to be built on gravel.
Estate Surveyors - The Cundy’s The Cundy family had a long association as
vise the progress of ongoing work. He oversaw
estate surveyors for the Grosvernor’s, with three
many aspects of the development, including
generations managing the estate from 1821 until
checking the measurements of the buildings
1890. Thomas Cundy I (1765-1825) was estate
on site and monitoring the quality of the work.
surveyor from 1821 until his death in 1825, but
Thomas Cundy, junior was also responsible for
during that time he produced and submitted the
the designs of three estate churches: St Paul’s
definitive plan (though there were later additions
Wilton Place (1840-43), in Perpendicular style;
and alterations) for Belgravia. His son, Thomas
St Michael’s Chester Square (1846) in decorated
Cundy II, junior (1790-1867) replaced his father
Gothic style; and the church of St Barnabus in
and his role was to provide plans for developers,
the street of that name, off Pimlico Road (1848-
and sometimes individual builders, and to super-
50) in pure Gothic style.
06 the history of belgravia