Mulberry Walk: Where creatives found a home

Tucked away on a quiet, tree-lined street in the heart of old Chelsea stands 5 Mulberry Walk, a four-storey home whose walls have witnessed over a century of London’s most intriguing history. Behind its imposing, classical façade lies a story that weaves together art, aristocracy, scandal, and style — a reflection of Chelsea’s own bohemian evolution.

The house was the vision of Clifton R. Davy, a well-known early 20th-century architect who designed it in the stripped classical style for Baron Rozencrantz, a Dutch aristocrat, painter, and stained-glass artist. Completed in 1913, it was the first house built on Mulberry Walk, a street that took its name from the silk farm that once occupied the site. The local council had designated the area as a haven for artists, musicians, and architects, providing homes for those of “limited means” but great creative ambition.

The Baron and his wife, Lady Louisa Mackenzie, made their home in the upper maisonette, while the celebrated illustrator Claude Shepperson lived on the ground floor until his death in 1921. The street-facing elevation marked the beginning of the classical revival movement in Britain, while the rear of the house retained the character of the earlier Arts and Crafts period, creating a rare architectural dialogue between two eras.

In the 1920s, the house took on a new and more flamboyant identity when it was purchased by Joe Carstairs, the notorious speedboat racer, heiress, and icon of the lesbian demi-monde in London and Paris. The granddaughter of one of the founders of Standard Oil, Carstairs was as famous for her androgynous style and love of adventure as for the legendary parties she held with her partner, Ruth Baldwin. She was said to have kept penguins in the garden, so the current owner commissioned a bronze penguin statue to stand there in memory of her eccentric spirit. Carstairs’ circle included Donald Campbell, whose cars and boats were kept nearby in a garage that has since become the Bluebird Restaurant on the King’s Road. After leaving Chelsea, she bought her own Bahamian island, Whale Cay, where she hosted royalty and Hollywood stars until her death in 1993.

Over the following decades, 5 Mulberry Walk passed through the hands of several notable figures in London society. In 1958, it was purchased by Miss Jane Halford, who rented the ground floor to her close friend Beatrix Miller, the legendary editor of Vogue magazine. For many years, Miller lived and worked here, entertaining the leading lights of the fashion world in what became an unassuming yet important address in Chelsea’s creative landscape.

The current owner, a distinguished architect, acquired the property from Halford’s heirs in 2017. With great care and sensitivity, he undertook a complete restoration between 2020 and 2021, transforming the house into a private residence for himself and his wife, and creating a setting for their extensive art collection, which includes many of his own paintings. The renovation retained the original artist studios, now reimagined as elegant living spaces that echo the Art Nouveau influences of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Among the house’s treasures are a stained-glass window designed by Baron Rozencrantz, depicting the combined coat of arms of himself and Lady Louisa, and a decorative tile frieze in the master bathroom that preserves part of the original sea-themed design introduced by Joe Carstairs.

In its present form, 5 Mulberry Walk is both a living work of art and a home of rare distinction. Its history connects the worlds of art, fashion, and adventure, while its modern restoration ensures that it remains perfectly suited to contemporary life. The house continues to embody the creative and unconventional spirit that has always defined Chelsea, offering a glimpse into the stories and characters that have shaped one of London’s most storied neighbourhoods.

Mulberry Walk is available to rent on a short-term basis. Find out more here.