What did George Villiers blue plaque do at College Hill?

The Story

# George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham at College Hill Standing on College Hill in the shadow of St. Michael Paternoster Royal, you're at the site where George Villiers, the second Duke of Buckingham, established his grand London residence in 1672—a mansion befitting one of the most powerful and controversial figures of the Restoration court. This wasn't merely a home, but a seat of influence where Villiers held court during the latter years of his tumultuous career, hosting nobles and securing his position in the complex political machinations of Charles II's reign. From this very spot on the Thames-facing hill, the Duke orchestrated deals, entertained lavishly, and witnessed his own decline from the dizzying heights of royal favor to relative obscurity, making this address a monument to both his extraordinary power and his ultimate fall from grace. The house itself is long gone, demolished centuries ago, but the blue plaque marks the physical anchor point of one of history's most flamboyant courtiers—a reminder that even the mightiest residences fade, though the memory of their inhabitants endures.