This small mews was originally constructed in the 1860s, as evidenced by its first appearance in the 1871 census. It was nestled between the rear gardens of houses in Blenheim Crescent and Westbourne Park Road. During its earliest years, the mews likely featured typical two-story houses with stables and coach-houses on the lower level, while the upper floors provided living quarters. The census records from the 19th century reveal that these properties were primarily occupied by coachmen and grooms, who undoubtedly served the residents of the more prestigious houses in the neighbouring streets.
As the era of horses and carriages gave way to automobiles, the ground floors of the mews were predominantly converted into garages and workshops. During the Second World War, five of the houses at the end of the mews were repurposed as industrial facilities for manufacturing structural steelwork in support of the war effort. By the war’s end, the mews had fallen into disrepair and was among several mews identified by the Council for future acquisition and demolition under the slum clearance program. However, immediate action was not taken by the Council. Instead, various private redevelopment proposals were submitted for planning approval, ultimately leading to the construction of the current 14 stock-brick houses in the 1960s. While the mews retains its cobblestone pavement, it is likely that the original cobbles have been replaced over time.
Initially, the mews was classified as a private road, allowing public access but relieving the Council of any responsibility for its maintenance, which was a common arrangement for mews. In the early 1990s, the residents successfully obtained a closure order, terminating public access rights and enabling them to install gates at the entrance to the mews. This transformation established Kensington Park Mews as one of the few gated developments in the area.
