In writing the history of the transformation of Notting Hill from country to its present condition I must mention a gentleman, the Rev. Mr. Walker, who it was said came to the neighbourhood with half a million sterling to invest. Who were his advisers I do not know; but he was not long in causing hundreds of carcases of houses to be built. If he had commenced his operations on the London side of the estate no doubt the houses would have sold and a fine investment made, but as he preferred building from Clarendon Road (where roads were not made) towards London the land was covered with unfinished houses which continued in a ruinous condition for years and the consequence was the investor was almost ruined.
This gentleman built All Saints Church and intended to put upon it a spire as high as that on Salisbury Cathedral. Sad tales could be told of not a few who sank their all in bricks and mortar. Lawyers and money-lenders have in time past reaped a rich harvest at Notting Hill, but many a hard working man falling into their hands has been ruined.
Between Richmond Road and Ledbury Road is a road called Artesian Road. This is in remembrance of an artesian well which was sunk there. The water was very pure and cold and houses in Ledbury Road and in its neighbourhood were supplied with water from this well until the water companies bought it up.
The Richmond Road was built about 1848. Mr. Plimley, fruiterer, and Mr. Anderson, confectioner, are the oldest inhabitants. Sutherland Place, Courtnell Street, Archer Street, were built about 1850. The first two houses built in Portobello Road stood for many years unfinished and were called “The Folly.”
The house now occupied by the London Photographic Co’s studio at the corner of Norfolk Terrace was built in the middle of a field, and for some time seemed likely also to be called The Folly, and certainly in its solitary position it looked for some time very foolish, but the builders knew what was likely to follow better than those who were not in the secret.
But even they could not have thought that the quiet Westbourne Grove of their day would ever become the busy place it is now with its enterprizing men of business and its crowded thoroughfares.
CHURCHES
In Paddington 38 years ago were very few. There was the old church on Paddington Green, and no other except the chapel in St. Petersburgh Place, the minister, the Rev. Mr. Smalley, was rightly highly esteemed; his curate, Rev. Mr. Buckmaster, and the Scripture reader, Mr. Leask, were also powers for good in their day.
How well this church has been honoured by the late lamented Archdeacon Hunter his large congregation will long remember. It seems sad that he should not have lived to see the new church which he commenced completed, but the Great Disposer of all events knew best, and he worships now in a better sanctuary.
Kensington had its parish church, St. Mary Abbot’s, and a chapel in Addison Road. At the former was a man beloved by all who knew him, the Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair, a man whose memory will be still dear to some old inhabitants of Kensington.