Report on the Plans of the Various Railways before the Examiners of the House of Commons, 1864, so far as relates to the Parish of Kensington

by James Broadbridge

Railway No. 3 on plan.

Commences by a junction with Line No. 1, in Pelham Street, and proceeds northerly through Alfred Place, West, Old Brompton Road, by Thurlow Place, Cromwell Road, and traversing Exhibition Road, and thence to a junction with the Metropolitan Railway, Paddington.

This portion of railway is proposed to be executed as a tunnel.

Road levels unaltered; interruption of sewer to be provided for.

South Kensington, New Road, Road from Cadogan Place to South Kensington.

For making a street or road commencing in the Parish of St. Luke’s, Chelsea, at the West End of Pont Street, crossing Cadogan Place and Sloane Street, through Land between Hans Place and the Pavilion, to and through Walton Street into the Parish of Kensington, at the south end of Ovington Square, through Yeoman’s Row, Michael’s Grove, Michael’s Place, York Cottages, into Brompton Road, opposite Kensington Museum.

The Plan shews a new road of a length in this Parish of 1,360 feet, being from Brompton Road to the Parish Boundary by Ovington Square, of an average width of 100 feet; the road to be finished at the levels of the existing roads, excepting at the junction of Michael’s Grove with Brompton Crescent, where it is proposed to raise the road 2′3″.

Powers are sought to purchase in this Parish the Premises comprising Thurloe Place, York Cottages, northern side of North Terrace, Michael’s Place to Michael’s Grove, east end of Brompton Crescent, Michael’s Grove, Yeoman’s Row, south end of Ovington Square, and Grove Place.

The several railways herein described as passing into or through this Parish more or less interfere with or remove property now rated. I submit it will be for the Vestry to consider whether the facilities of railway communication will counterbalance the present loss upon the rates that may be sustained. Also, to consider whether all the projected schemes, or any one of them, would form a check to, or encourage the large building operations now progressing, or contemplated: under any circumstances, it will be necessary for the Vestry to take such steps for the proper protection of such roads and sewers as are proposed to be interfered with by the projected lines.

I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JAMES BROADBRIDGE.