Nancy Astor lived here. But who was she and why does this plaque adorn this building at 4 St James’s Square? This blue plaque marks the London home of Nancy Astor. She was the first woman to sit in British Parliament. Let’s step back in time to understand her story.
Nancy Astor was born Nancy Witcher Langhorne in Virginia USA in 1879. She travelled to England in 1904. Two years later she married Waldorf Astor. He was a wealthy newspaper proprietor and MP for Plymouth. In 1919 Waldorf Astor inherited his father’s peerage. He had to give up his seat in the House of Commons. Nancy Astor stepped forward as a candidate in the by-election.
Astonishingly no woman had ever sat in the Commons before. Nancy Astor won with 51% of the vote. She remained the Conservative MP for Plymouth Sutton for over 25 years from 1919 to 1945. Initially she was seen as a stop-gap candidate.
Ironically Nancy Astor had not been part of the campaign for women’s votes. Many considered her a political lightweight. Yet her enthusiasm and campaigning spirit were undeniable. She championed causes for underprivileged women and children. For example she strongly supported Margaret McMillan’s nursery schools. A teetotaller she supported banning alcohol sales to those under 18. This bill passed in 1923. She never held ministerial office.
The Astors owned a country house in Buckinghamshire called Cliveden. This gave its name to the Cliveden Set. This was a group of influential politicians. They saw Hitler as a defence against Communism. They supported appeasement. This sought to avoid conflict with Nazi Germany. They did this by accepting its territorial demands.
Lord Astor once confronted Hitler about the persecution of Jews. However Nancy Astor was prone to anti-Semitic comments. Her anti-Catholic views also fuelled her pro-German stance. Yet in 1940 she voted to remove Neville Chamberlain from office. Still her association with appeasement damaged her standing.
Nancy Astor’s background was Protestant. Later she converted to Christian Science. The political diarist Chips Channon called her warmhearted witty and a whirlwind. He also thought she was an unconscious snob and a hypocrite.
In 1912 the Astors acquired 4 St James’s Square. It became their London home. Built in 1726-8 for the 1st Duke of Kent it is the oldest surviving building in the square. Today it houses the Naval and Military Club.
Number 4 St James’s Square boasts a Palladian facade of stock brick. The mansion was a glittering setting for entertaining. It had magnificent reception rooms and a huge ballroom. Lady Astor hosted dinner parties for 50 people. She threw two balls a season for up to 600 guests. Receptions sometimes had as many as 1000 attendees.
Damaged by bombs and requisitioned during World War II number 4 was sold in 1946. This marked the end of Nancy’s political career. It also symbolised the decline of the great London house as a centre of political influence.
English Heritage unveiled the blue plaque in 1987. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher praised Astor’s courage. She said she had taken heart from Astor for entering that totally male-dominated place. So this plaque commemorates a complex figure. Nancy Astor was a pioneer. She broke barriers for women in politics. Yet her views on some issues remain controversial. She lived at 4 St James’s Square from 1912 to 1946.