History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

While researching our next book, Marianne discovered an interesting and mysterious woman who lived in Neasden for a short time. Gloria de Casares was described as, 'strikingly beautiful, with deep blue eyes, auburn hair and an exceptional figure'.  She was a woman who enjoyed the good things in life. Her husband Emilio Roberto Casares was the wealthy son of Emilio Narciso Casares, an even wealthier Argentinian businessman. Narciso was the first Argentinian merchant to set up a London office to trade livestock and frozen meat between the Argentine and England.   On 18 June 1917 Gloria and Emilio were married at the Marylebone Registrar’s Office, and the couple shared an expensive home at 16 York Terrace, overlooking Regent’s Park. This was their London address, as they also leased Bucknalls, a large, 14-bedroom mansion in Watford .   Built in 1855 and later extended, the house stood in extensive grounds. There were a series of dinners and dances at home and in town, and we...