What’s The Story of The Cottage, 3 Hayne Street?

While running the Guts and Glory Smithfield walking tour, I’ve been keenly following the progress of ‘The Cottage’ at 3 Hayne Street.

The Cottage 3 Hayne Street | Look Up London

You can walk along Hayne Street off Charterhouse Square, newly-revealed now that Crossrail’s hoardings have come down.

3 Hayne Street looks like something left from a film set, or simply an old house that everyone’s forgotten about.

The Cottage 3 Hayne Street | Look Up London

So what’s its story?

History of 3 Hayne Street

The road was first laid out in 1687 by Thomas Neale, most famous for his work at Seven Dials.

But then came the Metropolitan Railway, which acquired the whole South side of Charterhouse Square in 1864 and started work on the rail extension from Moorgate to Farringdon. The entirety of Neale’s Charterhouse Street was demolished.

The Cottage 3 Hayne Street | Look Up London

But then in 1873-74 a new thoroughfare was finished, named Hayne Street, which according to Pevsner is after the new developer.

So now, teetering on the edge of the tracks, 3 Hayne Street is the final reminder of this 19th century street.

The Cottage 3 Hayne Street | Look Up London

Fate of 3 Hayne Street

Back in August 2020, I saw a thread on Twitter from Tim Dunn (the historian, broadcaster and railway aficionado) saying it was scheduled for demolition in the Crossrail plans from January 2006.

“The dwelling at 3 Hayne Street is scheduled to be acquired and demolished shortly after the works in this area.”

Another Crossrail document, The Farringdon Station Detailed Desk Based Assessment from 2008, simply describes it as a residential building called ‘The Cottage’ and concludes there is probably no archeological deposits underneath as it’s so close to the railway cutting.

The Cottage 3 Hayne Street | Look Up London

Finally, a City of London 2010 report also lists 3 Hayne Street as earmarked for demolition.

But now the access shaft and ticket hall is complete and with the street finished, it seems untouched.

Here are the various stages of works captured from Google Street view in 2008, 2017 and 2021;

Image Credits: Google Maps (2008, 2017, 2021)

Maybe I’m being optimistic, but perhaps it will be saved after all? It’s not listed or of any particular historic or architectural importance but it seems a real shame to lose it.

The Cottage 3 Hayne Street | Look Up London
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12 Comments

  • Jay Venn

    Reply

    Thank you for your fascinating posts: I love the hidden gems of London history you uncover,

    November 24, 2021 at 8:51 am
  • Gary Curtis

    Reply

    hang in there plucky little beautiful house. I really love it. Is the house in use as far as you could tell? It needs a bit of care but it would be a lovely home.

    November 24, 2021 at 12:59 pm
  • Jan Evans

    Reply

    So is 3 Hayne Street inhabited, or was it before the surrounding building began? I can just imagine the place after a renovation

    November 24, 2021 at 1:41 pm
  • Ronald Lloyd

    Reply

    Dear Katie, thank you for the lovely story of the cottage in Hayne Street. Maybe it will survive after all. I think it deserves to. All the best from Ron.

    November 24, 2021 at 5:37 pm
  • Adrian Butters

    Reply

    Yes, I know progress is progress, but to include this building in the list of preserves would at least showcase a little of the past for today, and for future generations to admire.

    November 25, 2021 at 12:43 am
  • Radeva-Dimitrova Mariya

    Reply

    It will be a pity to loose this tiny gem in the City. What can we do to preserve it, I wander? Can we start a petition to keep it? List it? We will support you Katie. Mariya

    November 26, 2021 at 5:52 am
  • Susan Golding

    Reply

    Hello Katie,
    Brilliant, another GEM. I so look forward to your discoveries.
    Happy Christmas.
    Sue Golding.

    December 8, 2021 at 2:01 pm
  • Adetunji

    Reply

    Mariya. Lose, not loose.

    December 27, 2021 at 10:05 pm
  • toni

    Reply

    I walked past it yesterday and there was a courier delivering a parcel to it so it must be inhabited!

    November 30, 2022 at 7:43 pm
  • Saw this last week was totally amazed by it ! Do you know who owns it & why isnt it protected ? I would love to live there ! 😍

    April 3, 2023 at 12:19 am

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