In 2022 I wrote an article about Mews Arches. It may interest you.
Mews Arches
To many, one of the characteristic features of a Mews is its entrance and in particular its Arch. But how typical is this? What variety of arches are there? Why were the Arches built, and who do they belong to?
Arches mark out the Mews within their location and provide them with a degree of architectural merit. Arguably there is little else of architectural merit in Mews; the properties are small, uniform, and they are constructed from conventional materials. Few have listed status and their conservation area status is based on a unique collective appearance.
A Mews property was originally built as the equivalent of a modern live/work unit; residential accommodation was built over an area used for trade or commerce. Essentially functional in design, they were simply constructed on more of an equine scale as they were originally occupied by horses and carriages.
Accordingly, the Mews origins were as service streets, tucked away from the main houses they served and many now show themselves to the public in deference to their social status as a third-class location.
In their book ‘The Mews of London’ Barbara Rosen and Wolfgang Zuckermann explained
“……many a Mews is hidden from the glance of the casual passerby and are entered through arches or discrete gateways often set unobtrusively into a building façade.”
The functional requirements of the Mews, together with the shape of the site and the constraints imposed by the London Building Acts and bylaws, determined the Mews design and layout.
For a large number of Mews, the Metropolitan Board of Works was the legislative body responsible for the approval of applications to create or alter Mews. They determined the design aspects, such as the Mews width, height, paving construction details, and the Mews entry.
There were, in effect, five designs for the types of entrances designed to hide the Mews from passers-by:
1. A narrow entrance – Where the entrance narrows at the point of entry to the Mews which were generally wider than their entrances. The Metropolitan Board of Works required the minimum width of the Mews to be 20 feet which became part of building regulations. This allowed for coaches to pass e.g. Montagu Mews South has a splayed shape at the entrance. This simple visual device was employed on the first Mews and survives from the 18th century.
Gates were generally not provided, The Metropolitan Board of Works made it clear they considered the Mews to be public spaces and gates would have compromised this.
2. A change of direction – Here the Mews are hidden from sight of passers-by around a corner or by using an offset entrance e.g. Burton Mews.
3. An entrance under the adjacent buildings – Typically the entrance is incorporated into a terrace of houses using what looks like an arch e.g., Leinster Mews. Such designs were not favoured by the Metropolitan Board of Works. They strongly opposed to this form of entrance as an only entrance to the Mews. The Metropolitan Board of Works felt that the Mews entrance should be open to the sky to improve ventilation. St George's Square Mews was proposing two entrances in 1865 and this was refused permission until both were made open to the sky.
4. An entrance open from above – This may be designed or consequential e.g., Courtfield Mews where the Arch has been removed.
5. A separate Mews arch – 19th-century fashion originated by the Royal Architect - John Nash - in the design of the Royal Mews and his work in Regents Park; thereafter seen on the majority of Mews in Belgravia and Kensington.
Belgrave Mews West
Belgrave Mews West has an odd but nevertheless listed freestanding arch. It is not connected to the street façade and is now isolated in the middle of the modern federal German Embassy complex where other parts of the Mews have succumbed to indifferent modern designs.
Conservation areas now cover much of central London and this includes around 70% of the Mews. Only a smattering of Mews contain listed buildings, although most with Arches are listed. These Arches are less prevalent than their iconic image might suggest with less than 10% of the 378 authentic Mews (as recorded by Everchangingmews.com), having an Arch.
Arches range from simple openings to an imposing portal which employs an array of classic motifs.
On a slightly grander scale are arches such as those at Stanhope Mews West. Classical arches dominate the Mews on the Grosvenor Estate in Belgravia, the design of many being attributed to Thomas Cubitt. These employ a selection of architectural features such as keystones, rusticated finishes, imposts, cornices, pedestals, parapets, and decorative scrolls. The Arches were designed to be unique and at Stanhope Mews West are different at each end of the Mews though stylistically complimentary.
The Arch’s primary function is to act as a division of space. Probably the best example of a form of division being the west entrance to Holland Park Mews which is placed at the bottom of a slope and uses its columns to create three parts; a wide carriage entrance and two narrow pedestrian entrances.
This deliberately echoes the imposing grandeur of the Roman triumphal Arch such as the arch of the Arch of Constantine in Rome.
Mews Arches were designed to maintain the integrity and rhythm of the terrace when it was introduced to the planning of streets and squares – notably Belgrave Square and its surrounding area. Here the street side of the arches are more ornate and flamboyant than that seen from the Mews, which is often left bare.
Today these qualities attract a Mews dweller and suggest that entering an exclusive domain under an imposing arch is like passing through a gatehouse on the way to a private estate.
Classical buildings are based on temples or triumphal arches. From the Temple comes the pediment (the triangular top), and from the triumphal arch comes the particular arrangement of columns and arches.
The triumphal Arch is a Roman form and appears on most classical buildings. This comprises the following parts: plinth, bass, engaged columns, keystone, voussoirs, attic story, cornice and decorative panels.
The arch to Queens Gate Place Mews, circa 1855, is a grade 2 listed complex classical design consisting of a large central opening to accommodate a grand carriage with two smaller pedestrian entrances either side of the. The curved pediments contain an elaborate scrolled motif and entablature are supported by two giant Ionic columns. The elevation has a part rusticated finish.
The ownership of the Arches has proven a thorny subject over the years. Ownership of those built into adjacent dwellings, and ones that the estates clearly maintain can be excluded from this ownership mystery, but elsewhere there are independent and free-standing structures without obvious ownership.
This problem was such a concern in 1972 that the town planning committee of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea affixed a poster to the arches in an attempt to trace their owners. This stated… This arch is important to the street scene but it is deteriorating due to a lack of maintenance… Who owns this Arch?
Today the Arches seem to have been reclaimed and appear in better repair. Mews and its Arches have undergone remarkable changes in the last 200 or so years. It is a testimony to their adaptability that so many are so fully utilised…. such is the fascination of the Everchangingmews.
Further advice about London Mews
The original article, written by Martyn John Brown MRICS, MCIOB, MCABE, MARLA, MISVA of Everchangingmews , appeared in Lurot Brand's regular publication.
For more information see www.everchangingmews.com and London Mansion Flats Limited www.londonmansionflats.com who is a Chartered Surveyor specializing in Mews and Flats.
Everchangingmews and London Mansion Flats Limited is owned and run by Martyn John Brown who provides professional surveying advice – for surveys, valuations and Party Wall matters contact info@everchangingmews.com, info@londonmansionflats.com or call Martyn on 0207 419 5033.
