Occupying both sides of Bickenhall Street, the estate comprises 7 individual blocks, all served by lifts and benefiting from an onsite Concierge/Security Team and Building Manager.
Bickenhall Mansions was built around 1896 by architects W.H. Scrymgeour. Constructed as a purpose-built block, it is characterised by its red brick exterior, gothic revival features, iron railings and Juliet balconies. Mansion blocks fulfilled the high demand at that time for prime residences in prestigious areas, offering well proportioned lateral layouts, high ceilings and an abundance of daylight.
During World War II, Bickenhall Mansions was home to the Special Operations Executive (SOE), an arm of the British intelligence. Formed in 1940, the SOE were a collection of spies dedicated to infiltrating and sabotaging Nazi plots. Trained in guerrilla warfare, they used radio transmitters to communicate with resistance groups across the rest of Europe. These operatives helped coordinate strikes against the Axis powers and their aim was to disrupt the Nazi supply lines by blowing up trains, bridges and factories. The night of the 10th May 1941 saw the worst bombing of WW2 and Bickenhall Mansions became “engulfed in fire from end to end” as Baker Street bore much of the bombing raid. They became known as ‘Britain’s Underground Army’ before finally dissolving in 1946.
1987 saw the restoration of the exterior façade and construction of new penthouse apartments. In 2020 Bickenhall Mansions commenced a multi-million pound refurbishment programme of internal and external areas.
