Property Description

Situated to the west of Hyde Park in Westminster is Rex Place, a through road between Mount Street and South Street (in 2 sections). A small Mews only containing 8 properties, it is similar in terms of size and style to Balfour Mews, another original/ surviving Mews that runs parallel to Rex Place (although Rex Place is actually two sections, continuing on to Mount Street whilst Balfour Mews stops at Aldford Street). Both roads are orientated North-South.

In World War II, a high explosive bomb fell onto Aldford Street, just to the east of the Mews. Probably replaced as a result of the damage, the surviving Mews belies any evidence of previous equestrian usage. The area was noted as being upper-middle class and wealthy when the London Poverty Maps were first published.

The Mews is part of Westminster City Council’s Mayfair Conservation Area; first designated in 1969, it derives its name from a fair held in the month of May in fields around the site of today’s Shepherd Market. The area is dominated by fashionable town-houses (and their mews) reflecting the history of English domestic architecture from the early 18^th to the early 20^th century.

The Mews properties are currently used for commercial and residential purposes, made up of two, three, four and five storeys. The plain brickwork buildings have mansard roofs with a tarmacadam road surface and raised pavements. Number 10 Balfour Mews is a neo-Georgian house, associated with No.8 Rex Place.

Everchanging Nature

Stabling was provided in Balfour Mews, south of Balfour Place and parallel to Rex Place 1898-1900. The east side of the street was designed by Balfour and Turner. The stables served the new houses to the north and west. The Mews itself was a broad yard, open at both ends with the residential sections planned so as to face Aldford Street and South Street.

Original buildings were two storey stables, these have now largely changed and additional storeys have been added. A few planning applications have been made for alterations before and since 2003, notably; changes to the fenestration and alterations to the interior of the properties, the addition of roof terraces and replacement railings. Conservation Area controls apply to new development in the Mews.