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Pimlico was originally known as the Neat House Gardens and was famous for its wholesome produce of herbs and vegetables. By 1820 the Neat House Gardens had become urban fringe’ and in addition to the market gardening there were taverns, resorts and industry.

The Grosvenor Estate owned most of the lands and were in no rush to develop: The produce brought in a good income and the fact that it was a flood plain meant it would be costly to build on. Eventually a man called John Johnson bought a lease to develop the land. Some houses were built but he encountered a great deal of opposition from the gardeners and in 1825 he sold out to Thomas Cubitt.

Cubitt compensated the gardeners generously and let the land to a Mr Martin who farmed the land until development was feasible. Works eventually began with sewers and raising of the ground above flood level. In 1824 Thomas Cubitt had started to develop Belgravia, and with this endeavour, he made his name and fortune. In 1843 he turned his attentions to South Belgravia, as he preferred to call it and laid out the street and squares of today’s Pimlico.