London’s Alleys: Rose and Crown Yard, SW1

This is a large yard hidden behind a covered walkway in posh St James that may have been named after an old coaching inn, but no one is entirely sure.It certainly appears on maps as the Rose and Crown Yard from the early 17th century, surrounded by buildings, one of which could have been an inn, but nothing appears in the records to show one was there.
The entrance to the yard today is dominated by Almack House, a large office block that stretches above the top of the yard. The name of the offic