Just minutes from King’s Cross station you will find a beautiful, little, hidden gem of a street…
Keystone Crescent is not only picturesque and charming but it also, reputedly, has the smallest radius of any crescent in Europe!
History Of The Area
Keystone Crescent sits just off Caledonian Road, linking King’s Cross to Holloway Road.
Caledonian Road was laid out in 1826 and was initially, imaginatively called; ‘New Road’.
It changed to Caledonian Road in 1861, named after the Caledonian Asylum for Scottish Children, located roughly where Pentonville Prison now is. The Asylum was established in 1815 and moved to this site in 1828 to provide a roof and education to Scottish children orphaned during the Napoleonic Wars.
The school was relocated to Hertfordshire in 1907 and the school building demolished.
At the beginning of the 1800’s, the area we now call King’s Cross was pretty dismal, with slaughterhouses, rubbish heaps and a smallpox hospital. It was known as ‘Battle Bridge’, more background on which you can read about in my Fleet River walk post.
The arrival of the Regent’s Canal in 1820, the New Road in 1826 and then King’s Cross station in 1852 brought industry, investment and property development into the area.
It was given the name King’s Cross in 1836 after a statue of King George IV was erected here at the crossroads. The statue did not last long, being removed in 1845 to ease congestion.
Much of the area was owned by the Thornhill Family. You can read more about them in my blog on London’s Smallest Nature Reserve. They sold off portions of their land to builders and property developers, including the site of Keystone Crescent.
History of Keystone Crescent
Keystone Crescent was built by the son of a Shoreditch bricklayer; Robert James Stuckey. Stuckey built the crescent speculatively, along with over 100 other properties in the area. Finished in 1846, it consisted of 24 houses and was originally called ‘Caledonian Crescent’.
Why the crescent shape was chosen is not known, however, it was probably to make the most of an unusually shaped site.
The houses would have initially been those of lower/middle class, working families. In 1851 there were 240 people, of 76 families, living in 22 houses.
Lots of the properties were held onto and rented out by the Stuckey family, with 2A acting as the estate office.
How We Nearly Lost It (Twice)!
The Crescent was nearly redeveloped by Algerton Stuckey, Robert’s grandson, in the early 1900’s. The area had a reputation for prostitution and being dirty and crowded. Thankfully, the plans fell through. He did, however, change the name to Keystone Crescent, presumably to make it sound more appealing.
In the early 1990’s, when the Channel Tunnel was being constructed, a new station was initially proposed next to King’s Cross. This would have involved the destruction of 83 homes and 53 shops over 17 acres of land. Half of Keystone Crescent was to be demolished to dig the hole required to build the station.
The area was ultimately, thankfully, saved by a group of steadfast local residents.
Stuckey Family Drama
Whilst researching the history of the Crescent, I came across a dramatic story about the Stuckey family.
A stash of letters and personal items belonging to Robert Stuckey were discovered by his descendants under the bed at number 2A, that revealed a shocking secret: he had a second family!
Robert first married Hannah Bennewith, with whom he had 7 children. He then married Sarah Culver in 1864, with whom he also had 7 children, this time using the surname ‘James’ (his middle name).
Hannah died in 1857 but the letters reveal that the two relationships ran alongside each other. Indeed, Robert’s first child with Sarah (the 2nd wife) had arrived in 1841. Whether Hannah knew she was sharing his affections with another woman is unclear but this was all certainly news to Robert’s descendants.
Bob Stuckey has actually had the letters transcribed and you can buy it here.
What to Spot
As well as supposedly having the smallest radius of any crescent in Europe, it is also apparently unique in having a matching inner and outer circle.
The houses are all uniform with a round arched doorway, Welsh slate roof, with a stucco band running around the 2nd storey.
The houses are now Grade II listed and are in the Keystone Crescent Conservation Area, meaning they enjoy special protections.
Look out for the quaint parish marker plaques that include the names of the church wardens in 1845 and 1855.
At the time of writing, one of the terraced houses is up for sale for £1.3 million! Click here for the listing. If any kind benefactors out there would like to buy me this house, that would be greatly appreciated.
More on the fascinating history of London’s streets below!
The Fascinating Story Of Vauxhall’s Secret Jungle Neighbourhood
Tucked away amongst the backstreets of Vauxhall you will find Bonnington Square. Bonnington Square is…
Seven Symbols And Secrets To Spot On Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge is used by tens of thousands of people everyday. It is bookended by…
The Weird And Wonderful History Of Grotto Passage
So many of London’s dark and narrow alleyways have amazing stories to tell. Grotto Passage…
Death In Mayfair: The “Cursed” Flat Of Curzon Square
On the corner of Curzon Street and Curzon Square in Mayfair you will find an…
Hi there,
I absolutely love following your stories and facts!
My partner, Peter, teaches art and architecture to American University, and often knows of your sites when I read them out to him.
However, I have just shown him this article on Keystone crescent. He said, “I don’t know it, but it looks very familiar “.
Please bare with me on this story..
Peter also makes marmalades and Jams for my b&b in Stratford upon Avon and has won awards for them at the world marmalade awards.
About 6 years ago he was was walking through London to view an exhibition and got a phone call from BBC West Midlands asking about his marmalades. He told them he was on a busy street and would have to go somewhere quieter to talk… And turn into what he now realises was Keystone Cresent as he remembers thinking how quant it was and he stood by the railings on the left in your first picture.
Thank you so much for your website, I hope to do one of your tours one day.
Please do let me know if you ever want to come to stratford upon avon.
Bill..
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your comment, really pleased to hear you are enjoying the posts. What a coincidence re. Keystone Crescent! It certainly makes for a good quiet spot away from the hustle and bustle!
Hi, some information for you, my grandmother Zillah Stratful lived at 7 keystone crescent for over 70 years, leaving in 1977 I think, she died aged 96. She raised 11 children there, my mum being the youngest, with one cold tap and an outside loo. She went through two world wars in that house. My other grandmother owned the newsagents on the corner as you turn into the Crescent on the left, her private front door was opposite Stuckeys office. As my mum worked in the shop my brother and I spent our days at number 7 before starting school and all school holidays were spent there. Happy memories.
Hi Wendy, thank you so much for your lovely and interesting comment! I love hearing the personal stories from people linked with these places, it really makes you consider just how many people’s lives have passed through these historic places. Warm wishes, Jack
Pingback: A Secret Wildlife Haven Near King's Cross - Living London History