St Cloud Road was part of a prestigious enclave that opened up, driven by the proximity of the Crystal Palace in 1854. Originally part of the Great Northwood, Gypsy Hill was largely underdeveloped until the mid-19th century. The 1850s and 1860s saw the emergence of influential property developers such as the United Land Company (ULC) set on carving out large estates to help middle and working-class men buy land and consequently acquire the right to vote. This specific pocket was a speculative, fast paced development with a name that was a deliberate marketing choice on their part to establish a posh and enviable French Connection. St Cloud Road was named after Saint Cloud in France, a hill site famous for a Royal Palace and park just outside Paris which used to be the residence of the Sun King’s brother in the shadow of the Versailles Palace.