Just a stone’s throw away from King’s Cross, off Caledonian Road, you’ll find a hidden treasure that seems to have been transported straight from the Victorian era. Keystone Crescent, originally known as Caledonian Crescent, is a charming, semi-circular street that boasts the title of Europe’s smallest crescent.
The delightful Victorian houses that line both sides of the street were constructed by Robert James Stuckey, a man credited with many Victorian buildings in the area. In 1846, the road was named Caledonia Crescent, later changing to Caledonian Crescent, after the nearby Caledonian Asylum for children.
It’s worth noting that ‘asylum’ didn’t carry its current connotations back then – it was more akin to a home for lost children than a mental health ward. According to Living London History, these homes were initially inhabited by lower and middle-class Victorian families, with approximately 240 people living in 22 houses along the road.
The houses will set you back a pretty penny
(Image: Stephen McKay/Geograph Creative Commons Licence)
Stuckey rented out many of the properties, using number 2A as his estate office. However, a collection of letters discovered under the bed at 2A Keystone Crescent revealed a shocking secret about Stuckey – he was leading a double life.
He had married Hannah Bennewith and fathered seven children with her, while also marrying Sarah Culver in 1864 and having another seven children. The letters disclosed that Stuckey maintained relationships with both women simultaneously, even though Hannah passed away in 1857.
Keystone Crescent, previously known for its reputation of prostitution and overcrowding, was renamed in the early 1990s when Algerton Stuckey, Robert’s grandson, decided to revamp the area. Today, properties on this crescent don’t come cheap, with prices hovering around the £1 million mark, according to Rightmove.
The homes vary from two-bedroom houses to five-bedroom ones, all of which are Grade II listed, meaning any renovations require permission. Each house boasts a courtyard garden, with those on the outer circle being larger, while the inner circle homes have fewer floors and slightly more compact rooms.
One particular house stands out with its blue paintwork, while others feature brightly coloured doors.
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