Under
South Molton Lane and
Avery Row flowed the Tyburn Brook, which formed the eastern boundary of the Grosvenor Estate
Brook Street’s location was shared by the Grosvenor Estate in the west and Conduit Mead Estate to its east. The development of the street began in 1720 by both estates.
Sir Richard Grosvenor took leases of land in the Conduit Mead Estate and enter into special agreements with the builders so that developers would not block the line of
Brook Street to
Hanover Square.
Grosvenor also committed to build "a large brick arch and shore over the said brook". With the route of
Brook Street secured, he sold on building agreements between 1724 and 1726 of all the land on both sides of his portion of
Brook Street. By 1729 most of the houses were in occupation.
In 1735 Robert Seymour described the new street as "for the most part nobly built and inhabited by People of Quality".
In the eighteenth century the street was sometimes referred to as Lower
Brook Street to distinguish it from
Upper Brook Street. The eastern part between
New Bond Street and
Hanover Square was known as Little
Brook Street.
The street originally consisted of London terraced housing mostly built to individual designs, some by well-known architects for aristocratic clients. Some of the original houses have been replaced by buildings from a variety of periods.
A feature of the street is the Claridge’s hotel, at the junction with
Davies Street.
Both George Handel and Jimi Hendrix lived in the same house at 23-25
Brook Street.