At some point in our life, we've all probably asked our parents what a Blvd, Pde, Esp or Ave was when we saw them on a street sign. But what about the street signs which say mews?
Unless you live in England, it's unlikely you saw one in person. As far as I can tell, there are only a handful of other places in the world with streets called mews. Hence why I went looking for answers as an adult while studying a map of my heroine's house in Hearts Unknown.
If you don't live in England and have seen a road called mews, let me know in the comments!
The first thing I noticed about these 'mews' was that they all seem to copy the name of a principal street quite near them. They also seem to be behind houses, so I thought maybe it was access to the back yards or something.
That was and wasn't correct.
Streets called mews were access lanes to the stables of the wealthy and elite of society
Which certainly explains why the buildings and streets for mews were smaller and behind the bigger houses!
Now, on a technicality the word mews actually means a stable. But the road itself is called a mews because it was the access lane to those stables. Hence why it shared the name of a nearby principal street. For example. Bruton Mews were the stables to the houses on Bruton Street.
Although as I write this, I'm wondering if any distressed gentry used to let out their mews? That might make an interesting tale. (But I'm not here to brainstorm a new book, so I'd best put a pin in that.)
Of course, this was back in the olden days when people used mews as actual stables. Nowadays, most (if not all) mews have been converted into houses.
A mews would usually have a few stalls and a place for your carriage on the lower floor with servants' quarters above. There were occasionally courtyards as well.
In the image below, I've highlighted many of the mews in brown. I've put Bruton Mews in yellow.
Why is Bruton Mews yellow? Because it is the location of the first scene in my upcoming release, Hearts Unknown.
Did you know what a mews was? Have you ever seen one?
Your sneak peek!
I mentioned that Hearts Unknown opens in Bruton Mews, and I'd love to share the first page with you!
Hearts Unknown
By: Dienece Darling
Chapter 1
London, 1763
I twitched my nose against the sharp scent of Father’s Weymouth Pine. This was not the moment to sneeze. Not while I perched precariously in the tree behind our London terrace house.
I spared a glance at the baby bird cradled in my palm. Hopefully, its nest wasn't much farther.
I blew out a deep breath and stretched for the next branch.
“Edith Howard, you are the bane of my existence.” The familiar yet unexpected voice of Clarence Beauchamp made me miss my mark.
I thrust myself forward, scrambling for a hold. The fabric of my glove ripped on the sharp scales of bark. My skin scraped across the sticky trunk, but I found no purchase. A cry tore from my throat. Not only at my own rushing descent, but that I’d lost hold of the bird. Could the tiny thing survive a second fall?
Could I?
I braced for impact. It came sooner than expected. My back thwacked into something solid, presumably my former childhood friend as he grunted and shifted.
Thick arms wrapped around me, but we were all elbows and pointy bits. Not at all romantic as I had assumed being caught by a man would be. Perhaps because it was only Clarence.
His breath skimmed my ear. “When did you get so heavy?”
The unmitigated gall...
Want to know how this scene ends?
Coming out November 15th!
Well, I hope you enjoyed this month's Catching the Past and your sneak peek at Hearts Unknown. Let me know in the comments if you have ever seen a mews!
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