Elvaston Mews, South Kensington, London, SW7

The first thing of note is the elaborate curved and carved archway supported by 2 ornate columns. The second would have been the working stables. No. 11 Elvaston Mews, built in the 1830s is rumoured to have been a stables for 170 years. Although at the moment we cannot find the evidence, we are sure that the Rothmans’ Shire horses were stabled there – we used to see them pulling the Rothmans’ carriage around South Kensington (more investigation being carried out). Capital Carriages were next and offered for hire “an Elegant Victorian Landau Carriage harnessed to a fine pair of Dapple Grey Horses and driven by a highly experienced Liveried Coachman”.

This was followed by a period of “liveried stables” although it also had riding school facilities.

Between the Rothmans period and the Liveried stables, Lurot Brand were interested in buying it to house their South Kensington Office thereby being able to retain all the original features of the stables and perhaps even create a “Museum of Mews”. It became too complicated because of Planning.

In 2009 unfortunately the stables had to sell and, to our great sadness planning permission was granted to convert the house to residential complete with a basement.

This leaves only 2 working stables in London – both of them in Bathurst Mews W2.

Elvaston Mews runs north to south across Elvaston Place and east from Queens Gate Gardens.

BOROUGH: Kensington and Chelsea.