Towel, tea towel

This linen tea towel printed with a map of Chelsea was designed by Mardie Madden, a young illustrator who had studied at the Central School of Art. Mardie’s map of Chelsea was originally printed in 'Tatler' magazine in May 1959 to illustrate a story about the ‘liveliest square mile in town’. The department store John Lewis saw the story and asked to adapt her design for a tea towel. The map imarks Chelsea's bohemian, yet establishment character. It shows the location of pubs, restaurants, coffee bars and antique shops alongside its churches and historic buildings.

The restaurants in the King's Road include Alexander's, which was owned by Alexander Plunkett Green and Mary Quant, and shared premises with Quant's boutique Bazaar. Both opened in 1955. Like the Markham Arms next door, they were popular meeting places for the Chelsea 'set'.