The grand rooms had been built in the 1730s,[2] at the time Lord Burlington was developing the second phase of his real estate venture at the end of Burlington House gardens; they were extended by Squibb with a top-lit auction room.
[4] Among the country house auctions that fell under his hammer was that of the contents of Streatham Park, sold for Hester Thrale Piozzi in May 1816.
[5] Among those associated with Squibb was Michael Bryan, the connoisseur and author of the Dictionary of Painters[6] When not used as an auction venue, the large room Squibb added to the premises might be temporarily converted to a theatre, as Horace Walpole noted in 1790: I found Little Burlington Street blocked up by coaches.
Lord Barrymore, his sister Lady Caroline, and Mrs. Goodall the actress, were performing the Beaux Stratagem in Squib's auction-room, which his lordship has converted into a theatre.
[7]George Squibb's son Francis succeeded him briefly in the family business, but died prematurely in 1833.