Cadogan Group Limited and its subsidiaries, including Cadogan Estates Limited, are British property investment and management companies that are owned by the Cadogan family, one of the richest families in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

, which also holds the titles of Earl Cadogan and Viscount Chelsea, the latter used as a

courtesy title A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but rather is used through custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title). In some con ...

by the Earl's eldest son. The Cadogan Group is the main

landlord A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, land, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant (also a ''lessee'' or ''renter''). When a juristic person is in this position, t ...

in the west

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

districts of Chelsea and

Knightsbridge Knightsbridge is a residential and retail district in central London, south of Hyde Park. It is identified in the London Plan as one of two international retail centres in London, alongside the West End. Toponymy Knightsbridge is an ancien ...

, and it is now the second largest of the surviving aristocratic

Freehold Freehold may refer to: In real estate *Freehold (law), the tenure of property in fee simple * Customary freehold, a form of feudal tenure of land in England * Parson's freehold, where a Church of England rector or vicar of holds title to benefice ...

Estates in Central London, after the

Duke of Westminster Duke of Westminster is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. It is the most recent dukedom conferred on someone not related to the ...

's Grosvenor Estate, to which it is adjacent, covering

Mayfair Mayfair is an affluent area in the West End of London towards the eastern edge of Hyde Park, in the City of Westminster, between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane. It is one of the most expensive districts in the world ...

and

Belgravia Belgravia () is a district in Central London, covering parts of the areas of both the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Belgravia was known as the 'Five Fields' during the Tudor Period, and became a danger ...

Property

The Cadogan Estate covers 93 acres (over 376,000 square meters) of the

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is an Inner London borough with royal status. It is the smallest borough in London and the second smallest district in England; it is one of the most densely populated administrative regions in the ...

, including residential properties, offices and retail space. The Estate has been under the same family ownership for almost 300 years. The Foundations of the Estate were established in 1717 when Charles, second Baron Cadogan, married Elizabeth Sloane, daughter of

Sir Hans Sloane Sir Hans Sloane, 1st Baronet (16 April 1660 – 11 January 1753), was an Irish physician, naturalist, and collector, with a collection of 71,000 items which he bequeathed to the British nation, thus providing the foundation of the British Mu ...

, having purchased the Manor of Chelsea in 1712. This part of

has remained under the

stewardship Stewardship is an ethical value that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources. The concepts of stewardship can be applied to the environment and nature, economics, health, property, information, theology, cultural resources e ...

of the Cadogan family ever since, the tradition continuing today under the present

Chairman The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the group ...

, Viscount Chelsea, and his father, Earl Cadogan, who is Life President. Today the Estate includes approximately 3,000 flats, 200 houses, 300 shops, 500,000 square feet (over 46,000 square meters) of office space and over a dozen gardens covering 15 acres (some 60,000 square meters). The Estate's long history, family ownership and conservative financial structure permit a long-term approach, the area developing into one of London's most notable neighbourhoods.

History

The company owes its origins to Sir

Hans Sloane Sir Hans Sloane, 1st Baronet (16 April 1660 – 11 January 1753), was an Irish physician, naturalist, and collector, with a collection of 71,000 items which he bequeathed to the British nation, thus providing the foundation of the British Mu ...

, a well-known explorer, physician and collector, having purchased the manor of Chelsea in 1712 and the 10-

acre The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial and US customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one chain by one furlong (66 by 660 feet), which is exactly equal to 10 square chains, of a square mile, 4,840 square ...

(40,000 m2) site of

Beaufort House Beaufort House is an 18th-century grade II listed house in Ham, near Richmond, Surrey. History Beaufort House was built in about 1780. It was originally the dower house to Ham House. In about 1855, a private Catholic girls school moved to Bea ...

Cheyne Walk Cheyne Walk is an historic road in Chelsea, London, England, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It runs parallel with the River Thames. Before the construction of Chelsea Embankment reduced the width of the Thames here, it fronted ...

in 1737. Sloane later died in 1753 without any male heirs, leaving his estate to two daughters. In 1777, Charles Sloane Cadogan – then Earl Cadogan – granted a lease to architect Henry Holland to create the first-ever purpose-built new town. "Hans Town" provided attractive Georgian terraced houses to people of moderately affluent means.

Jane Austen Jane Austen (; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique, and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots of ...

and her brother lived in one;

William Wilberforce William Wilberforce (24 August 175929 July 1833) was a British politician, philanthropist and leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780, eventually becom ...

, who led the movement to abolish slavery, in another. As London swelled during the industrial age, the 5th Earl Cadogan, George Henry Cadogan (1840-1915), undertook a review of his estate and decided on a comprehensive redevelopment. He commissioned cutting-edge

architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...

and a new red-brick style that became synonymous with the area: Pont Street Dutch. The opening of Sloane Square Station happened in 1868 and the completion of the riverside embankment in 1874. During the period 1877 to 1900 much of the modern Estate took shape. Cadogan Square – the "jewel in the crown" of the new development – the Royal Court Theatre at Sloane Square and Hotel Trinity Church on

Sloane Street Sloane Street is a major London street in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea which runs north to south, from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square, crossing Pont Street about halfway along. History Sloane Street takes its name from Sir H ...

were built under the 5th Earl's auspices and received support from Cadogan to the present day. The 5th Earl was a Chelsea councillor and its first

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

. His grandson, the 7th Earl was Chelsea's last (before being incorporated with the

Royal Borough of Kensington The Metropolitan Borough of Kensington was a Metropolitan borough in the County of London from 1900 to 1965, which since 1901 was known as the Royal Borough of Kensington, following the death of Queen Victoria, in accordance with her wishes. His ...

). He died in 1997 aged 83, the title passing to Charles Gerald John Cadogan, the present Earl Cadogan. The 8th Earl, having been involved for many years as a director and then chairman, is now Life President of Cadogan. His son Viscount Chelsea is the current chairman. Chelsea has a bohemian history and has long been a haven for artists, authors, musicians and designers from

Dante Gabriel Rossetti Gabriel Charles Dante Rossetti (12 May 1828 – 9 April 1882), generally known as Dante Gabriel Rossetti (), was an English poet, illustrator, painter, translator and member of the Rossetti family. He founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhoo ...

to The Rolling Stones and Vivienne Westwood.

stayed in Sloane Street with her brother Henry whilst writing ''

Pride and Prejudice ''Pride and Prejudice'' is an 1813 novel of manners by Jane Austen. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist of the book who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreci ...

'', and poet and writer

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...

called the borough his home.

Sloane Street

The Estate includes one of London's most upmarket retailing districts, based on

, and also contains some very expensive residential property in some of central

's most sought after residential locations. Originally commissioned by Charles, 1st Earl Cadogan in the 18th century, Sloane Street has evolved to become one of the world's most exclusive retail destinations – the epitome of London luxury. An impressive list of flagship stores - including Chloe, Salvatore Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford and Valentino - line the street stretching from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square attracting a truly global clientele. In July 2016, Cadogan launched George House, a £205 million office and retail development on Sloane Street that includes luxury flagship stores – Red Valentino, Boutique One, and Delpozo and smaller independent shops that can be accessed via Pavilion Road. George House also connects directly with new public realm, an open-air courtyard that also features a Granger & Co restaurant and gym from KX Urban.

Pavilion Road

Following a consultation with the local community in summer 2015, Cadogan pledged to create a destination for independent, artisan traders behind the new George House development on Sloane Street. Established fashion and beauty boutiques have now been joined by exciting new artisan food shops in November 2016: a traditional family butcher, Provenance; fine wine shop – Pavilion Wine; bakery and school – Bread Ahead; Natoora – a fruit and vegetable specialist, offering a range of fresh seasonal produce and London Cheesemongers, who specialise in sourcing traditionally produced cheeses.

King's Road

The

King's Road King's Road or Kings Road (or sometimes the King's Road, especially when it was the king's private road until 1830, or as a colloquialism by middle/upper class London residents), is a major street stretching through Chelsea and Fulham, both ...

has roots dating back to the 17th century, when access along the route was only granted to those carrying a special token bearing the king's initials. The route was made public in 1830, at a time when the area was becoming settled by artists, creatives and bohemians who hugely influenced its legacy. For today's locals and visitors, the Kings Road retains bohemian vibes, brought up to date with a rich array of stores, restaurants and coffee shops, cultural offerings, bars and much more. It is still one of Chelsea's most popular destinations and continues to attract a diverse crowd. In October 2015, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea unanimously granted planning approval for Cadogan to redevelop 196-222 King's Road. Plans include a new 400-seat boutique cinema auditorium, a new pub for the local community, as well as retail, residential and office space that will respect the heritage and enhance the special character of its surroundings. Completion of the scheme is expected to be 2020.

Sloane Square

Sloane Square Sloane Square is a small hard-landscaped square on the boundaries of the central London districts of Belgravia and Chelsea, located southwest of Charing Cross, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The area forms a boundary betwee ...

is at the heart of Chelsea and the Estate, and one of London's most glamorous locations for shopping, culture and dining. Its landmarks include the Royal Court Theatre and department store Peter Jones. Cultural life on the square is richly served by the Royal Court Theatre and Cadogan Hall, home to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Holy Trinity Sloane Square welcomes a thriving church community and is a must see for fans of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Sloane Square today, ringed by London plane trees, is a place where visitors and residents meet, drawn by the attractions of its many shops and cafes; flagship stores line the square, and its side streets are filled with independent and artisan retailers.

Duke of York Square

Newly created by Cadogan in 2004, Duke of York Square was the first new public square to be opened in London for a century, and now hosts over 30 shops, 6 restaurants, flats, schools, offices and a weekly Fine Food Market. A massive undertaking to redevelop Ministry of Defence land and buildings, the project also created a new home for the Saatchi Gallery which displays one of the largest private collections of contemporary art and hosts free exhibitions seven days a week. This carefully curated public square at the junction of King's Road and Sloane Square offers fashion, beauty, food and culture in the heart of Chelsea. Current plans include a new café at the heart of the square, designed by NEX Architects. Their new vision for the café features a glass wall that is able to rise and fall depending on the weather – the first of its kind in the UK, due to open in 2018.

Cadogan Hall

Cadogan Hall Cadogan Hall is a 950-seat capacity concert hall in Sloane Terrace in Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England. The resident music ensemble at Cadogan Hall is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), the first L ...

, just north of Sloane Square, is another example of a successful acquisition and repurposing on the Estate. Cadogan bought it in 2000 as a dilapidated church and converted it into a world class concert hall that seats 900 – creating a new subsidised home for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Incorporating state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, plus bespoke acoustic technology appropriate to a world-class performance venue, the refurbishment retains many of the original features including stained glass windows by Baron von Rosenkrantz (who trained in Tiffany in New York).

Asbestos Exposure

On 14 June 2018, Westminster magistrates court fined Cadogan Estates a total of £180,000 for the 'uncontrolled release' of asbestos during renovation works to one of the Estate's properties. The asbestos contamination occurred at Rosetti Studios, Flood Street, Chelsea, in June 2015. Cadogan Estates admitted that there were failures in procedures to ensure the adequate control of asbestos during the renovation process.

References

External links

* {{Real estate in the United Kingdom Cadogan Estate Family-owned companies of the United Kingdom History of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Privately owned estates in London Property companies based in London Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 1753 establishments in England British companies established in 1753