Devonshire Close

It dates from the 1770s and originally contained a timber yard, stables, and accommodation for domestic servants who worked in the larger houses surrounding it.

[1] The Close was originally the site of a timber yard[1][2] and would also have had stables for horses and accommodation for servants working in the large houses surrounding it.

[1] The Survey of London writes of the area that by the start of the 20th century, "the bijou house on side streets or at the back was now making its debut, as motor garages supplanted stinking stables and the mews became detoxified.

[1] 40 Devonshire Street, a "mews side-house"[1] which is on the corner of the western entrance to the Close, was built in the 1930s[1] in what Historic England describe as the "arts and crafts Georgian revival" style.

Number 40 was occupied as a house but the modernist 39 was acquired by G. Grey Wornum who used it as the base for his architectural practice, possibly because its modern style did not suit the rest of the area.