Pratt , John Jeffreys , 1759-1840 , 2nd Marquess of Camden

The land comprising Camden Estate is situated to the east of the High Road in what is now known as Camden Town. The western boundary being the High Road from Crowndale Road in the south, continuing northwards up Kentish Town Road as far as Bartholomew Road in the north. The northern boundary continued across until it met Brecknock Road just north of Camden Road. The western limits being York Way as far as Agar Grove, eastwards across Agar Grove to St Pancras Way rejoining Crowndale Road in the South. The land was originally part of the manor of Cantelowes, which was in the possession of the Canons of St Paul as prebendaries. In 1649 the Commonwealth sold the land and Manor house. However, by 1660, during the Restoration the rights of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's were reinstated together with the original lessees or their representatives.

In 1670 the lease was purchased by John Jeffreys and passed, by the marriage of his granddaughter, Elizabeth, to Charles Pratt, who was born in 1713 and created Baron Camden in July 1765 and Viscount Bayham and Earl Camden in May 1786.

Initially, very little stood on the land other than the 'halfway house,' the Mother Red Cap, and the Manor house. Shortly before his death in October 1794 Earl Camden started to develop the land. Building leases were granted in 1790 for the land in the south of the estate, abutting west onto High Street Camden Town. The building was continued by his son John Jeffreys (Pratt) 2nd Earl of Camden, who was created Marquess of Camden and Earl Brecknock in September 1812. By his death 1840 urbanisation was complete. Earl Camden laid out his buildings along the eastern side of the High Street. They contrasted greatly with those on the western side on Lord Southampton's estate. They were more generous in their proportions. Many of the streets and roads on the remainder of the estate took names which reflected the personal and family connections of the Earl, including Pratt Street, Brecknock Road, Bayham Street and Georgiana and Caroline Street (two of his daughters). His son married Harriet Murray (Murray Street), daughter of the Bishop of Rochester (Rochester Square) and his builder was Augustine Greenland (St Austine's Road and Greenland Street).