The first minister of St. John’s Church was not so highly esteemed as the old owner of the Hill had been. It was stated that in asking for signatures to a petition that the Church should be a District Church, he misled those who were asked to sign by saying it would make no difference, but directly the object was attained a church rate was called for. He became very unpopular, and the last I heard of him was that he headed a strange procession. Walking through the street he was met by a crowd following a broker, who had seized a large clock for church rates. He was immediately surrounded, and compelled to follow the broker to his house. Some hundreds of people joined in the procession. He soon after obtained a fresh living, and the church has always since had ministers who were respected.
PORTOBELLO LANE.
The name was given by a Mr. Adams, who was then occupier of the farm at the end of the lane. It was named at the time Porto Bello was captured. In 1844 the farm was called Wise’s Farm, Mr. Wise being the owner.
The lane ended outside the Farm, and a gate opened to a pathway which lead over a bridge on the canal to Kensal Green.
To the west of this Farm lay the old Farm of Knotting Barns, an ancient brick building surrounded by spacious barns and outhouses. A road to Kensal Green passed through the farm yard.
In 1844 this was known as Salter’s Farm, Mr. Salter being the proprietor.
In 1524 it is recorded in the will of Robert Fenrother, Alderman of London, that Knotting Barns Farm consisted of 40 acres of land, 140 acres of meadow, 200 acres of wood, 20 acres of moor, 20 acres of furze and heath.
In 1543 Henry VIII. took this farm and land in exchange for some he had held (in the county of Southampton). In 1675 it had decreased in size and was reckoned as 130 acres. How many acres were connected with in 1844 I cannot record, but I have said that on all sides nothing but corn or meadow land was visible. The site of Portobello Farm may be known as upon that spot is erected a Roman Catholic building, a home for the aged.
Notting Barn Farm was at the lower part of St. Mark’s Road. Norland House, where Norland Square was built in 1850 to 1856, was noted for its artesian well which was sunk in 1794 by Mr. Vulliamy to the depth of 260 feet, when the water rose and overflowed at the rate of 46 gallons a minute. The water was leased to 3 persons at 7/- each per week and sold in the neighbourhood at 2/6 per ton, or ½d a pailful.
Thirty-eight years ago there were no houses from Notting Hill Terrace to Acton with the exception of a few small houses opposite Shepherd’s Bush Common. This Common had been notorious some years before as a place of execution for highwaymen, and for years gibbets were standing there with the remains of some of the fraternity dangling in the wind. I never saw them, but when a boy I have seen the remains of pirates hanging by chains by the river side past Greenwich. The Common was even till late years claimed as the property of the inhabitants, some of whom claimed to the last the right to turn out their horses or goats upon its scanty grass.