Though London is known for its many famous and bustling streets–some of the most popular being Oxford Street and Regent Street–some of its more lowkey and dreamy roads are situated in small historic areas such as mews streets and alleyways, serving as remnants of a time when horses and carriages were the primary mode of transportation. And while NYC has a few historic and cobblestone streets of its own, there’s one in particular that makes us feel as if we’ve hopped on a flight to go hangout with our friends across the pond –Pomander Walk.
Pomander Walk is actually more than just one road, though–it’s a charming micro-neighborhood tucked away on NYC’s Upper West Side. Though the road was built in 1921 you may not even know it exists due to it being concealed behind a black gate on 95th Street, midway between Broadway and West End Avenue. But if you’re lucky enough to be invited in through the gate and climb a staircase you’ll arrive at NYC’s most unexpected byway.
The road is lined on either side with Tudor homes, their designs alternating between stucco, brick, and half-timber. It was named after the London play, Pomander Walk by English playwright Louis Napoleon Parker, though being the play is set in “a retired crescent of five very small, old-fashioned houses near Chiswick” the piece likely inspired more than just the name.
The unique history of how Pomander Walk came to be…
In 1921, Irish immigrant and nightclub impresario Thomas J. Healy bought a large portion of the block. Hoping to eventually build a large hotel on the land, Healy built the enclave, originally referred to as a “colony,” as a temporary means of income while raising the money to do so…