The RBK&C was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, which reorganised 86 boroughs and urban districts into 32 London boroughs and also created the Greater London Council. When it was was formed, it inherited the royal status  from the previous ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON whose status was granted in 1901 as it included of Kensington Palace, where Queen VICTORIA was born in 1819 and lived until her accession in 1837.

Chelsea (alternatively Chelsey) was first a place name of Old English origin, and the most common theory of its meaning is chalk landing place, Calc-hyð = "chalkwharf". The Synod of Chelsea at Chelchith in 787 is often identified with Chelsea, London; but the first firm record is of a manor at Chelsea just before the Norman conquest, relating to the fact that Thurstan, governor of the King's Palace during the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042–1066), gave the land to the Abbot and Convent of Westminster.

Art runs through Chelsea's history. From the Pre-Raphaelite painters to 1960s counterculture and the 2008 launch of the Saatchi Gallery, we take a trip through the decades.

Attracted to the area by low rents, studio space and access to the inspiration-giving river – while still remaining within easy reach of the West End and prospective buyers – the Cheyne Walk PRE-RAPHAELITE artists found themselves in a community of like-minded thinkers. 

So… You have just crossed the river

The piece was created by Sir David Wynne; a self-taught artist who established his studio on Campden Hill, Holland Park in the early 1960s.

Variation: Turn right into phene st., RIGHT INTO OAKLEY GARDENS, AND RIGht INTO CHEYNE GARDENS

In the mid-nineteenth century Oakley Crescent (later Oakley Gardens) was constructed to the west of Manor Street on the site of a former Dairy House that was originally associated with Chelsea Manor. Oakley Crescent was developed around a garden square and contained terraced houses to the north and south. To the west of the site small terraces framed the junction of Phene Street, and in the two corner plots semi-detached houses were laid out diagonally to face the square (one of these has subsequently been turned into a single house).The garden square was infilled not long after the original development. In the mid-to-late-nineteenth century the area was undergoing rapid development in order to meet the high demand for residential property. The first edition of the Ordnance Survey map in 1862 shows the garden square under construction. Terraced houses had been partially built on the south and north sides of the plot, and two buildings constructed fronting Manor Street. By the second edition of the Ordnance Survey map in 1894-95, the square had been completely laid out to form the present site.

ELIZABETH granted the house, as a grace and favour, to LORD HOWARD OF EFFINGHAM, victor of the ARMADA, and she visited him here. At that time ROBERT CECIL occupied the former dwelling of THOMAS MORE, very close-by after having inherited from LORD BURLEIGH.

The MANOR became “BUCKINGHAM HOUSE” when the 1rst DUKE occupied it. Then, seized by the COMMONWEALTH. Then sold to the MARQUESS OF WORCESTER, who, in becoming DUKE OF BEAUFORT, changed the name: BEAUFORT HOUSE. For JOHN EVELYN all the improvements in the house were a waste of money. Instead he liked the improvements made by CHARLES CHEYNE, helped by the dowry brought by his new wife LADY JANE CAVENDISH.

Their son though  did not like Chelsea so sold most of his land holdings to a DR.SLOANE. 

Remember: the. CHEYNES owned the property, after the CROWN, and before SIR HANS. He came to live here with his 2 daughters, and one of them , SARAH, married into the STANLEY FAMILY, of PAULTONS. The other, ELIZABETH, married the descendant of a WELSH prince, CADWGAN AP ELYSTAN, a CADOGAN.

The manor, thus, was divided. However, eventually, most of the Chelsea land would be concentrated in the ownership of the CADOGANS.

Expore A little further down cheyne walk and  ALONG THE EMBANKMENT

Lord CHEYNE, LORD MAYOR of LONDON was the landlord  here. Son WILLIAM inherited and commenced setting out building plots, and …the commercial value of the land began to be realised.

And see a list of its famous residents past and present

Founded in 7 GOWER ST., BLOOMSBURY,  a daring and revolutionary art movement, which praised the Italian painters of the QUATTROCENTO (preceding RAPHAEL) and dismissive of POST-RENNAISSANCE ART and most Royal Academicians.

MILLAIS, HOLMAN HUNT and ROSSETTI wanted to take membership numbers to 7 (mystical), so they invited COLLISON, STEPHENS, WILLIAM ROSSETTI and WOOLNER. PRB letters was their (secret meaning, for a short period) insignia.

Back to the  original lbtc route…

The Henry VIII Manor’s wall remains are behind the branches to the left of the artist’s studio house 

1839. Built  to serve the new working class suburb ,as a chapel of ease, due to an overcrowded ST.LUKE’S, made a separate chapel 1860. Combined with ST.LUKE’S 1986.

The parish, by the 1890s, was more populated, and with a different social character, with new mansion flats blocks being built, palatial houses (Embankment), an an artists’colony in its heyday.

Arch. EDWARD BLORE,  extension by ARTHUR REEVE, new West  front by CAROE, entrance porch by WOODWARD.

The HYDMAN TRUST funded the cost of the church (a fraction of the expenditure of ST.LUKE). The HYDMAN FAMILY owned extensive sugar plantations in the WEST INDIES, and slaves… but in a twist of irony, one very fine stained glass window has an image of WILLIAM WILBERFORCE

Established in 1853, the handsome, red-brick freehouse is steeped in swashbuckling history, taking its name from HMS Surprise, the captured French corvette, later used by the British Navy to sneak up on enemy vessels in the days of Admiral Nelson.

More recent years have seen The Surprise shrug off World War II bomb damage, and win loyal followings of scarlet-clad CHELSEA PENSIONERS  and CHELSEA ART SCHOOL  student-bohemians, and, rumour has it, house a pet lion in its upstairs rooms.

The landlord is JACK GREENALL, who used to own the PHEASANT in BERKSHIRE. The Interior design is by ISABELLA WORSLEY.

Now, that You are crossing TITE ST., A little extra EXPLORATION

In the1870s, thanks to the laying out of the EMBANKMENT (Mr TITE, was a member of the METRO.BOARD OF WORKS, who impulses the project) this area became fashionable, and especially sought after by established writers and artists…

On the site of GOUGH HOUSE, which later became a school, and later a hospital, and was finally demolished. Richard Gough (1655–1728), a rich merchant and director of the East India Company, who profited from the Hanoverian accession by gaining a knighthood and a seat in parliament. He built the area around what is now GOUGH SQUARE, CITY OF LONDON. DOCTOR SAMUEL JOHNISON  leased the property where he elaborated the FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DICTIONARY from Gough’s son Henry, who had been made a baronet after his father’s death and also inherited the seat in 1728.

Born Florence, Italy. Prolific American painter, specializing in portraits. After 1910 he turned his attention to painting murals and watercolours of Alpine and Italian landscapes. Died Tite Street.

JOHN SINGER SARGENT  painted here portraits of ELLEN TERRY and HENRY JAMES. 

On 25 and 27 November 1974 the Provisional Irish Republican Army placed several bombs in pillar boxes and one in a hedge behind a pillar box. This was a new tactic used by the IRA in England, although a similar tactic had been used in Northern Ireland during The Troubles several times previously. 40 people were wounded from five explosions in several districts.

And more Attractions nearby, just in cAse you wish to explore..

The second oldest medicinal garden in England was f.by the SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES in 1673, for the study of plants employed for in curative properties. When the S.A. found itself short of funds, in the 1730s,  SIR HANS SLOANE  rescued it a presented to the APOTHECARIES SOCIETY on condition that 50 plants be given to the ROYAL SOCIETY every year.

A rock garden was created in 1772 from blocks of lava brought from Iceland.

And it was, originally established as an outdoor classroom to train their apprentices. Apothecaries were an important part of society, offering general medical advice and treatments often made from herbs. At the Garden apothecaries were trained to identify different plants, and to understand their uses. Until the 1970’s students training to be pharmacists, the modern-day apothecary, studied the uses of plants at the Garden.

There is a legend, though: I That of Gossypium hirsutum (cotton) seeds sailing across the Atlantic from Chelsea to Georgia in the 18th century to start the American cotton industry…KEEP READING the blog, and many more…

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, also known as Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road, is the signature restaurant of the British celebrity chef.

It opened in 1998 and was Ramsay's first solo restaurant.

In 2001 it was awarded three Michelin stars, and in 2022 Ramsay celebrated 21 years with all three.^[1]In March 2013, the restaurant reopened following an art deco redesign under Chef Patron Clare Smyth.^[2] In 2020, Matt Abé took over as Chef Patron, owning and running the restaurant as part of Ramsay's restaurant group.

BRAM STOKER. He published Dracula during his period  living here (1897).
Later on, the house has been occupied by Norman Foster?

Royal Avenue was laid out in the 1690s by William III with the intention that it form part of a proposed carriage way between the Hospital with Kensington Palace.^[1] As the middle of the square was enclosed by a hedge and a small white fence, by 1748 it was known as White Stile Walk.

The lbtc tour follows its course, along royal hospital road

See next chapter

Iraqi-born Jewish brothers from London, Charles and Maurice Saatchi, who created some of the most memorable ad campaigns of the 1970s and 1980s, and then in 1994 were ousted from their firm by an American shareholder revolt

More about the area Nearby

Laura Ashley was at 120 Kings Road, which until 1966 had been owned by the water closet manufacturer Thomas Crapper [1836-1910], who started in Marlborough Road (now Draycott Avenue) in 1861 and moved there in 1907. He was initially apprenticed to a plumber in Sidney Street, and later became plumber to Royalty following his highly successful invention of “Crapper’s Valveless Waste Preventer” with “Certain Flush with easy Pull.”

It has often been claimed in popular culture that the profane slang term for human bodily waste, crap, originated with Thomas Crapper because of his association with lavatories. A common version of this story is that American servicemen stationed in England during World War I saw his name on cisterns and used it as Army slang, i.e., "I'm going to the crapper".^[13]

built in 1769. The façade was added in 1881 in the French style by the artist and interior decorator Amedee/ Lelix Joubert, a member of the Joubert family of cabinet-makers who owned the building. He also added the entrance arch that is supposed to be a copy of the Arc du Carrousel with its quadriga, a four-horsed chariot.

Its name derives from a game dealer called Samuel Baker in 1865
The Pheasantry is an historic Georgian building originally used to raise pheasants for the royal household. 

It's had many distinguished residents including Augustus John and Annigoni. Famous ballerina Serafima Alexandrovna Astafieva opened her school here on the first floor in 1916. She taught prima ballerinas Alicia Markova and Margot Fonteyn here.

It was also the home of Eleanor Thornton, thought to have been the model for The Spirit of Ecstasy mascots on the bonnets of Rolls Royce cars.

In 1932 Rene de Meo and Mario Cazzini opened a members-only club restaurant on the ground floor and basement, which survived until 1966. Members included Francis Bacon, Aneurin Bevan, Marc Chagall, Cyril Connolly, Lucien Freud, Robert Newton, Gregory Peck, John Rothenstien, Dylan Thomas, and Peter Ustinov. [See Booklet by Nesta Macdonald]Dylan Thomas used to drink here when it was a club in the 1930's.

In 1976 the six-year campaign to save The Pheasantry from dereliction reached a peak. Under the patronage of Sir John Betjeman, the Friends of The Pheasantry wanted the building restored with residential studios, an art gallery, and exhibition space. They were not successful in preventing the adjoining development, but the front and gateway of the Pheasantry survived, heavily restored, as part of the rebuilding of 1971-81, forming a restaurant hemmed in by shops and offices. 

The Pheasantry nightclub was the venue for early UK gigs by Lou Reed, Queen (band) and Hawkwind, among others, and was the place where singer Yvonne Elliman was discovered by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, leading to her role in the original soundtrack recording of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Eric Clapton lived on the top floor in the late 1960's. In his latest autobiography he tells of visits from George Harrison where they would take acid and write songs. On one occasion Eric narrowly avoided arrest on drug charges by fleeing out of the back of the building just as Sergeant Norman Pilcher, a detective with a knack for arresting rock stars, buzzed the intercom with 'postman, special delivery' and burst in.

Another JAMES BOND possible address?

Built in the 1850’s by Francis Edwards, the elegant terraces on either side of the square facing Kings Road were built some ten years earlier. It was named in honour of the Duke of Wellington whose body had lain in state in the Royal Hospital.

Aleister Crowley, the satanic author, lived at 31 Wellington Square, as did the fictitious James Bond.

138a Markham House:  Originally residential and occupied by solicitors, in November 1955 Mary Quant, Archie McNair and Alexander Plunket-Greene bought the freehold of the basement and ground floor of Markham House, later The Markham Pharmacy, on the corner of Markham Square, for £8,000 (now worth about £9.5 million). and split it into two businesses, Bazaar and Alexander's 1955 - 1969: The shop was an immediate success, largely due to the fact that their inexperience had them selling their clothes and accessories too cheaply, not only affecting their profits but also annoying other local retail outlets, a 'mistake' that was quickly rectified, but not before the boutique had gained a significant reputation. After some of her designs were featured in Harper's Bazaar and purchased by an American manufacturer, Quant concentrated on designing and making more of the clothes she sold rather than buying the stock in.

Although Quant is acclaimed as the person who 'invented' the mini skirt, it is more factual to say that she popularised the description after allegedly naming her short creations after her favourite car, even though the term had previously been used as early as 1920, by the Daily Express and other newspapers, to describe the (relatively) short skirts of the time. In her 1966 first autobiography 'Quant by Quant', the term 'mini-skirt' isn't mentioned at all. She is also credited with either 'inventing' or popularising the accompanying coloured or patterned tights and, later in the decade, the 'hot pants' fashion craze. "We were in at the beginning of a tremendous renaissance in fashion. It was not happening because of us. It was simply that, as things turned out, we were a part of it".  Ronald Tuckerman estate agents occupied the rest of the premises. The basement initially housed a coffee bar / jazz club called Alexander's the sign to which can be seen on the image. The club Bosun’s Locker used to be here, as well, underneath Markham House. Around 1925, Markham House was occupied by G.F.Wilkins, solicitors.

Apple Tailoring (Civil and Theatrical)  which opened to the public on May 23rd 1968,  was the latest addition to the Beatles growing Apple group of companies – they already had a boutique on Baker Street.

The Beatles had known the shop for a while. Before their involvement, it was called Dandie Fashions. ‘Dandie Fashions’ was the brainchild of  John Crittle. He arrived from Australia around 1964, and  it didn’t take John long to get himself established amongst London’s young and hip in-crowd. A fortunate turn of events landed John his first real employment was at  ‘Hung On You’at 22 Cale Street, Chelsea, just off the Kings Road. It later became Jane Asher’s Cake Shop.

c.1967 - 1970. This was an elite establishment and allegedly the location of John Lennon's first public appearance with Yoko Ono at the pre-launch party for Apple Tailoring, held on 22nd May 1968. In 1967 Alvaro Maccioni had teamed up with Enzo Apicella and Mino Parlanti to open the large, members-only bar / restaurant / discotheque. A double-page spread in the Evening Standard asked "Are you one of the beautiful people? Simple test: Can you get in to the dell'Aretusa?". The establishment attracted diners such as Princess Margaret, Sammy Davis Jr, David Bailey and Twiggy.

Quorum 1966 - 1969. Designer Alice Pollock first opened Quorum in Ansdell Street W8 in 1964, to be joined in 1965 by Ossie Clark and his future wife Celia Birtwell, who designed fashions and fabrics respectively. The Radnor Walk building also housed the English Boy male modelling agency on the second floor, run by Pollock and Sir Mark Palmer, a baronet, an Old Etonian and former page of honour to his godmother, the Queen. The first floor was occupied by Brian Jones and girlfriend Suki Potier. The boutique was well-known for its extravagant fashion shows, usually attended by celebrities such as The Beatles. David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd) was a delivery driver for Quorum for a while. In 1969, Alfred Radley became a partner in the business and Clark started designing for Radley as well as Quorum. The business was bought out by Radley later in 1969. It also occupied 113 Kings Road between 1969 and 1972 

Chelsea Old Town Hall as it’s officially known, has hosted some starry weddings over the years. Famous faces who’ve said “I do” at Chelsea include footballer Bobby Moore, T.Rex frontman Marc Bolan, Pierce Brosnan, photographer Irving Penn, Sharon Tate & Roman Polanski, and Judy Garland. Perhaps the most famous wedding at Chelsea Town Hall was one which never actually happened. It was rumoured George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin were to marry at Chelsea after they posted their banns there, which had the press in a complete frenzy, camped out on the steps. The town hall essentially had to issue a statement to deny the wedding was taking place and to ask the press to p*ss off so as not to cause disruption for the mere mortals who were actually getting married there that day.

Antiquarius c.1920: Part of the 'Antiquarius' building was originally a billiard hall, a fine example of Arts and Crafts architecture, built in the 1920s by the Temperance Movement. Along with the adjoining Chelsea Garage, a new garage at 15 Flood Street built in 1919 and disguised to look like an 'olde English' inn, it became home to a number of fashion boutiques and a conglomeration of about 150 antique dealers' outlets during the 1960s until fairly recently, when the entire building was let to Anthropologie, the US fashion chain. Many of the antique dealers of the old Antiquarius have now moved to the Antiques Centre at 58 Kensington Church Street.

The garage was built in 1923 for the Bluebird Motor Company, designed to the very latest style by the architect Robert Sharp. At the time of its completion the garages were claimed to be the largest in Europe. At 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m2), there was room for 300 cars in the main garage, a further 7,000 sq ft (650 m2) was given over to workshops. On either side of the garage two further buildings contained lounges and writing rooms. The lounges were segregated for ladies, owners and chauffeurs.

After seeing duke of york and crossing king’s road, Again Along the route

Located in the Hans Town Conservation area, almost adjacent toSloane Square, Draycott Place is a row of striking red-brick late Victorian

townhouses built around 1892 in the Queen Anne Revival style.

With a 20ft frontages, the properties has a majestic façade with decorative architectural elements, including an imposing pedimented doorcase, emblazoned with mythical birds, swags and flora.

Nearby, more to see!

Nearby, if you have timE…