"Dr John Samuel Phene was a rather eccentric chap, a traveller, art collector, poet and recluse, who was also the property developer who laid out the houses in this part of Chelsea. He owned a particularly weird-looking house on the corner of Oakley Street and Upper Cheyne Row which was built in the grounds of the derelict Cheyne House. The legend is that his wife to be died on their wedding morning, and he left the breakfast table untouched for years,"
"Looking at the 1868 OS map, you can see that the western side of Margaretta Terrace is the backs of houses facing Oakley Street, whereas the eastern side is the fronts of houses. Which is not a bad idea as it fits houses into a tight space, while also ensuring those looking out of their houses won't be looking into the front rooms opposite."
"So if you walk along the road, it's lined with grand looking houses, all listed of course, on one side, and walls of back gardens on the other. However, that might have proved an expensive luxury as the southern end was developed a few years later with houses facing both sides. Still grand looking houses, but no back gardens."
Margaretta Terrace in Chelsea displays an unusual arrangement where one side shows the fronts of houses while the opposite side reveals backs facing Oakley Street. The layout resulted from phased development during the mid-19th century by Dr John Samuel Phene, a traveller, collector, poet and property developer. His odd corner house occupied the derelict Cheyne House grounds and inspired local legends about a bride and a preserved breakfast table. Much of the area was developed by 1865, but the terrace's southern end remained unfinished for about twenty years. The completed northern stretch has grand listed façades opposite garden walls; the later southern development placed houses on both sides without back gardens.
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