The London Society is delighted to welcome The Cadogan Estate as a new Corporate Supporter. Cadogan is the historic estate that is shaping a 21st-century Chelsea. Spanning 93 acres of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the Cadogan Estate has been under the same family ownership for almost 300 years. Its foundations were established in 1717 when Charles, 2nd Baron Cadogan, married Elizabeth Sloane, daughter of Sir Hans Sloane, who had purchased the Manor of Chelsea in 1712; the family’s stewardship of the area continues in the hands of the present Viscount Chelsea. Today, the Estate includes approximately 3,000 flats, 200 houses, 300 shops, 500,000 square foot of office space – and over a dozen gardens covering 15 acres. At the heart of Cadogan’s management strategy is careful curation of the area, preserving the area’s rich history and charm while ensuring future vitality. The area has developed into a vibrant neighbourhood renowned for a unique mix of dazzling international flagship designer fashion stores, independent boutiques, high-end restaurants, cultural attractions, iconic hotels and stunning homes, set against a backdrop of rich history, elegant streets and beautiful green spaces. Stewardship and community are the watchwords of the Estate: both the family and the company take an active interest in its management. Over the years the Cadogan family has donated land and buildings around Chelsea for schools, social housing, churches, the town hall, fire station and a hospital. In 2000 Cadogan bought a dilapidated church and converted it into a world-class music venue, creating a subsidised home for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Cadogan Hall, just behind Sloane Square. Chelsea has also become the epitome of London luxury when it comes to shopping. Originally commissioned by Charles, 1st Earl Cadogan in the eighteenth century, Sloane Street has evolved to become one of the world’s most exclusive retail destinations. An impressive list of flagship stores – including designers Tom Ford, Alberta Ferretti, Valentino, Chloé, Emilia Wickstead and Giorgio Armani – line a high-fashion catwalk stretching from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square. Most recently, a 135,000 square foot office and retail scheme on the Street, ‘George House’, has been created and includes both luxury flagship stores and smaller shops for independent artisan use including a village butcher, baker, cheesemonger and greengrocer. [caption id="attachment_1739" align="alignleft" width="800"] Duke of York Square[/caption] Duke of York Square was the first new public square to be opened in London for a century, and now hosts a fantastic selection of shops and restaurants, alongside 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 puts on free exhibitions seven days a week. (As part of the Society's Great Estates series, Hugh Seaborn from Cadogan will be talking about the history and plans for the future of the Estate on 4 July. Join our mailing list for details of when registration for this event is open.)