World's End

The area takes its name from The World's End, a public house which dates back to at least the 17th century. However, like the district of Elephant and Castle, the origins of names of public houses are obscure. It is mentioned in Congreve's Restoration comedy Love for Love (1695) as a place of questionable reputation to the west of London. On Cary's New And Accurate Plan Of London And Westminster (1795), the inn is shown on the north side of Kings Road, the only building in the area. The modern public house, the World's End Distillery, on the south side of King's Road, was built in 1897. Famous ex-residents of the World's End Estate include Christine Keeler and Joe Strummer.

The fashionable set who had made their home at the other end of the Kings Road discovered the World's End and found it was the perfect place to open the boutique Granny Takes a Trip. There were several boutiques and hippie shops that clustered round World's End in the late 1960s including Gandalf's Garden selling candles, incense, spiritual books and hippy paraphernalia. Sophisticat sold reconditioned pine furniture and was home to Christian the lion cub; The Sweet Shop at 28 Blantyre Street sold silk velvet patchwork and applique cushions, tunics, and wallhanging designed by artist Laura Jamieson. The shop was frequented by Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, and Keith Richards. A short distance away…