LONDON: Horse Stables to Luxury Homes

Mews are another one of London's hidden gems.

Mews are generally quiet streets with no through traffic and are located behind main streets. 

Often they are in central and busy locations - but their beauty is that they are quiet and peaceful. 

Mews had humble origins.

In the 17th to 19th centuries they were built behind the townhomes of the wealthy. 

They were originally built to stable the horses and carriages of the affluent families. There was simple accommodation above the horses where the stable hands and other servants would live. 

Mews homes were purposely designed to have small rooms, low ceilings and with windows only at the front of the property. The reason there were no windows at the back was to prevent the servants from looking into the gardens of the wealthy houses they served.

Because they were built to house horses and carriages the mews were utilitarian, with cobblestones and a drain down the middle to take away the waste from the horses. 

Today most mews' stables have been converted into houses, modernized and now are considered very desirable residences. 

As the city has grown they are centrally located but, are a quiet oasis on a traffic-free street.

A great place to raise a family, or, walk a dog.