London Location of Plaque Honoring Edwina Montbatten

Wilton Crescent, single digit house number. Wilton Crescent is on the NW side of Belgrave Square. Not sure about Red Cross, but this is one of those round blue English Heritage plaques -- it's on the last (?) house in which he lived.

Edwina

It's 2 Wilton Crescent. Bit more information here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilton_Crescent

Alan

Wilton Crescent is not far from Hyde Park. It's about a 7 minute walk from Hyde Park Corner tube station.

Isn't the plaque on Wilton Crescent for Louis Mountbatten and not Edwina? There is no official blue plaque for her. And Wilton Crescent not the headquarters of the Red Cross either.

MOUNTBATTEN, Earl of Burma (1900-1979) and Countess of Burma (1901-1960)

Last Viceroy and Vicereine of India lived here.
2 Wilton Crescent, SW1
Westminster 2000

All the preceding is quoted from http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/discover/blue-plaques/search/m12/373524/ . Search for other blue plaques at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/discover/blue-plaques/search/ .

Thanks for all the helpful replies. As I recall, the plaque was on a small brick building on a typical street. It said that it was the location of the Red Cross Headquarters during WW II and that Edwina Montbatten was the head of the UK Red Cross at that time. Because I have lost the picture of this plaque, I can't be sure this is correct. Rereading parts of her biography, it seems she was head of the St. John Ambulance Association. That may be the location of the plaque. Thanks for all the clues about where I might look to find this location. Edwina

So, Edwina, were you named for her?

Yes, Nigel, I was named for her. My aunt chose the name and always told me that she was a famous English actress, thereby cementing my theatrical bent. However, she was so much more, as I have read in a biography by Richard Hough. Now I have the information about WIlton Crescent, which is not far from where we will be staying while in London. However, it seems that address was their residence, and I need to look further for the Ambulance (or Red Cross) headquarters. The "blue plaque" heritage site showed no results for her name, so I will do further research. Thanks again to all who gave suggestions. I will let you know the results. Edwina

I learned on a London Walk (London's Secret Village) that St. John Ambulance was founded at St. John's Gate in Clerkenwell. It was an interesting walk in an interesting area. There is a museum in the gate now which may mention Edwina Mountbatten. I do not remember a plaque. English Heritage allows only the one previously identified plaque per honoree, although anyone else can stick up a plaque under some competing scheme.

I wonder if it might be at the Order of St. John headquarters in St. John's Lane in London. They have a museum there, so, as Superintendant of the Ambulance Society, she would gain an important mention. You could check that location with Street View at maps.google.com to see if you recognize the building. E-mailing the museum might also gain you some information.

Edwina, you probably have learned by now that Edwina Mountbatten was not an actress, but a member of the British aristocracy and something of a playgirl in her day. Her marriage to Lord Louis Mountbatten may have driven her to that.

Edwina....it might be here....The London (Prince of Wales’) District St John Ambulance headquarters is at Edwina Mountbatten House, 63 York Street, London W1

Robin, I think you've placed it for me. Our hotel was on York St near the Baker St. Tube station, so that's the address, I'm pretty sure. Thanks so much for all the responses. Yes, Norma, since reading her biography, I'm surprised anyone would call her simply an actress, but she was in a movie or two. Reading her Wikipedia entry, I noted the surname CASSEL in her lineage, and it rang a bell. So I went to my genealogical research and found that same surname for an ancestor born in 1781. Now I'll be onto another "mystery adventure" trying to figure out if I could be really related to her. Wish my aunt were around to chat with. Thanks again, Robin.

Edwina, I'm so glad you found the plaque. Well done!

Thanks to Robin, I located the plaque honoring Edwina Montbatten at 63 York St in London. It was not on her residence but at the headquarters of the St. John Ambulance Service. Thanks to Robin, I now have pictures of me standing in front of it. It is so gracious of all of you who help others with their travel questions. I will try to do the same. Edwina

Hi Edwina, I'm so glad that I was able to help you. Hope you had a great trip to London.