The house, owned by State Councillor I.I. Benkendorf, who was the nephew of the general and head of the gendarmes of Emperor Nicholas I, was built in 1799. In 1805, the famous fable writer I. Krylov lived and worked here. Later, on March 1, 1813, the English Club began its activities in this building. The building underwent renovations in 1838, 1849, and 1930.