D’Oyley Street, SW1W
Woodman Tavern, D’Oyley Street (1897 or before).

Almost everything in this scene has gone.

Credit: Kensington and Chelsea Libraries
D’Oyley Street is the southern extension of Cadogan Lane.

There was no development on the east side of Sloane Street before 1790. In 1791 the decision was made to lay out unbuilt land on the east side of Sloane Street in a long narrow garden divided by Pont Street. In 1804, Henry Rowles leased the garden ground and other premises on the east side of Sloane Street, to be called Cadogan Place, for 80 years. Three months later Rowles made an agreement with the Hans Town Commissioners to enclose the ground in the centre of Cadogan Place with an iron railing and not to build there for the duration of his lease. The southern garden was occupied in 1807 by Salisbury’s Botanic Garden, which had moved from Lambeth Marsh.

Leases were granted from 1791 for D’Oyley Street and Ellis Street, south of Cadogan Place. Sloane Terrace, Charles Street and Earl Street were built at about the same time.

The original leases for the side streets east of Sloane Street expired in 1887 and the Cadogan Estate then issued several short-term leases for houses in D’Oyley Street, possibly with future redevelopment in mind. Negotiations were underway in 1890 and the streetscape changed as a result.

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