Abingdon Road, W8

Abingdon Road stretches between Stratford Road and Kensington High Street.

Abingdon Arms Pub, Abingdon Road.
Credit: User unknown/public domain

The present name recalls the parish connection with the abbey of Abingdon but the road began its life as Newland Street in 1817,built upon land from the Nokes Estate – a farm which used to be in the area.

The street is tree-lined and attractive.

The east section of Abingdon Road between Cope Place and Abingdon Villas was developed in 1852-4. Nos. 40-50 (even) were probably built by Richard Anderson, a builder from Plaistow who had a brickfield in the area, and No. 52 by Barnabas Jennings and William Stevenson. These were all builders involved in other parts of the Abingdon Villas and Scarsdale Villas area.

Ilchester Mansions was built by James Turner and Charles Withers in 1892-3. The designs were by George Eves. Eves was the estate surveyor for the Allen-Stevens Estate which owned much of the land in this area.

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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

Roy Batham Notting Dale Added: 7 Jan 2022 05:50 GMT	Batham Family (1851 - 1921) I start with William Batham 1786-1852 born in St.Martins Middlesex. From various sources I have found snippets of information concerning his early life. A soldier in 1814 he married Mary Champelovier of Huguenot descent By 1819 they were in Kensington where they raised 10 children. Apart from soldier his other occupations include whitesmith, bell hanger and pig breeder. I find my first record in the 1851 English sensus. No street address is given, just ’The Potteries’. He died 1853. Only one child at home then George Batham 1839-1923, my great grandfather. By 1861 he is living in Thomas St. Kensington with his mother. A bricklayer by trade 1871, married and still in Thomas St. 1881 finds him in 5,Martin St. Kensington. 1891 10,Manchester St. 1911, 44 Hunt St Hammersmith. Lastly 1921 Census 7, Mersey St. which has since been demolished. Source: Batham/Wiseman - Family Tree Reply
Joan Clarke Mary Place Workhouse Added: 2 Feb 2021 10:54 GMT	Avondale Park Gardens My late aunt Ivy Clarke (nee Burridge) lived with her whole family at 19 Avondale Park Gardens, according to the 1911 census and she was still there in 1937.What was it like in those days, I wonder, if the housing was only built in 1920? Reply
ken gaston Avondale Park Gardens, W11 Added: 16 Jan 2021 11:04 GMT	Avondale Park Gardens My grandmother Hilda Baker and a large family lived in number 18 . It was a close community and that reflected in the coronation celebration held on the central green . I grew up in that square and went to school at Sirdar Road then St. Clements it was a great place to grow up with a local park and we would also trek to Holland Park or Kensington Gardens .Even then the area was considered deprived and a kindergarden for criminals . My generation were the first to escape to the new towns and became the overspill from London to get decent housing and living standards . Reply
john ormandy Mary Place Workhouse Added: 20 Mar 2021 17:48 GMT	Mary Place Workhouse There was a lady called Ivy who lived in the corner she use to come out an tell us kids off for climbing over the fence to play football on the green. Those were the days. Reply
john ormandy Avondale Park Gardens, W11 Added: 14 Mar 2021 18:59 GMT	Avondale Park Gardens, W11 We moved to number 6 in 1950 an family still live there now. I think i remember a family name of Larter living in the house you mention also living in the Gdns were names Prior, Cannon, Parsons Clives at number 26 who i went to school with. Reply
Brian Lucas Avondale Park Gardens, W11 Added: 15 Mar 2021 16:02 GMT	Avondale Park Gardens, W11 I also lived here at No. 15 1854 then move to No. 23 The Lucas Family Reply
john ormandy Avondale Park Gardens, W11 Added: 20 Mar 2021 17:21 GMT	Avondale Park Gardens, W11 Remember the Lucas family think the eldest was about same age as me cant remember his name though seem to rember had several younger sisters may have been twins!! Reply
john ormandy Avondale Park Gardens, W11 Added: 20 Mar 2021 18:02 GMT	Avondale Park Gardens, W11 Went to that coranation party with my two younger brothers who both went to St Clements along with Alan Mullery the footballer. I went to St James before moving on to St Johns along with Alan who lived in Mary Place where we were both in the same class. Reply
Former Philbeach Gardens Resident Philbeach Gardens, SW5 Added: 14 Jul 2021 00:44 GMT	Philbeach Gardens Resident (Al Stewart) Al Stewart, who had huts in the 70s with the sings ’Year of the Cat’ and ’On The Borders’, lived in Philbeach Gdns for a while and referenced Earl’s Court in a couple of his songs. I lived in Philbeach Gardens from a child until my late teens. For a few years, on one evening in the midst of Summer, you could hear Al Stewart songs ringing out across Philbeach Gardens, particularly from his album ’Time Passages". I don’t think Al was living there at the time but perhaps he came back to see some pals. Or perhaps the broadcasters were just his fans,like me. Either way, it was a wonderful treat to hear! Reply

LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Watts Beethoven Street School Added: 17 May 2022 20:29 GMT	Baeethoven St School, also an Annex for Paddington College of FE. In the early 70’s I took a two year science course at Paddington CFE. The science classes were held on weekday evenings at Beethoven Street school, overseen by chemistry teacher, Mr Tattershall. Reply
Southover, N12 Added: 25 Apr 2022 22:11 GMT	Southover, N12 Everyone knows Central Woodside is the place to be. Ever since kdog moved from finchtown, Woodside has been thriving. Reply
Bernard Miller Windsor Terrace, N1 Added: 12 Apr 2022 17:36 GMT	My mother and her sister were born at 9 Windsor Terrace My mother, Millie Haring (later Miller) and her sister Yetta Haring (later Freedman) were born here in 1922 and 1923. With their parents and older brother and sister, they lived in two rooms until they moved to Stoke Newington in 1929. She always said there were six rooms, six families, a shared sink on the first floor landing and a toilet in the backyard. Reply
Brian Lynch Staples Corner, NW2 Added: 10 Apr 2022 13:38 GMT	Staples Mattress Factory An architect’s design of the Staples Mattress Factory An image found on the website of Dalzell’s Beds, in Armagh Northern Ireland. Reply
Heathrow Road, TW6 Added: 19 Feb 2022 16:21 GMT	Harmondsworth (1939 - 1965) I lived in a house (Lostwithiel) on the Bath Road opposite the junction with Tythe Barn Lane, now a hotel site. Initially, aircraft used one of the diagonal runways directly in line with our house. I attended Sipson Primary School opposite the Three Magpies and celebrated my 21st birthday at The Peggy Bedford in 1959. Reply
Emma Seif Hill Street, London Added: 25 Jan 2022 19:06 GMT	Birth of the Bluestocking Society In about 1750, Elizabeth Montagu began hosting literary breakfasts in her home at 23 (now 31) Hill Street. These are considered the first meetings of the Bluestocking society. Reply
Golborne Gardens, W10 Added: 14 Jan 2022 03:06 GMT	Goldbourne Gardens W 10 I lived in Goldbourne Gardens in the 50,s very happy big bomb site Reply
Chris Nash Shortlands Close, DA17 Added: 10 Jan 2022 22:54 GMT	Shortlands Close, DA17 Shortlands Close and the flats along it were constructed in the mid-1990s. Prior to this, the area was occupied by semi-detached houses with large gardens, which dated from the post-war period and were built on the site of Railway Farm. The farm and its buildings spanned the length of Abbey Road, on the south side of the North Kent Line railway tracks. Reply

NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

Biba Biba was a London fashion store of the 1960s and 1970s, started and primarily run by the Polish-born Barbara Hulanicki with help of her husband Stephen Fitz-Simon.

Biba

Derry and Toms Derry & Toms was a London department store.

Derry and Toms

Kensington Market Kensington Market was a three storey indoor market at 49 Kensington High Street, created in late 1967

Kensington Market

Kensington Roof Garden Kensington Roof Garden (formerly known as Derry and Toms Roof Gardens) covers 6000 square metres.

Kensington Roof Garden

Kensington School The Kensington Proprietary Grammar School was an educational establishment founded in 1830 that is perhaps best remembered for being one of the founders of the Football Association in 1863.

Kensington School

Linley Sambourne House 18 Stafford Terrace, formerly known as Linley Sambourne House, was the home of the Punch illustrator Edward Linley Sambourne and open as a museum.

Linley Sambourne House

St Mary Abbot’s St Mary Abbot’s Hospital operated from 1871 to 1992. From 1846 to 1869 the site housed the Kensington Parish Workhouse.

St Mary Abbot’s

St Mary Abbots St Mary Abbots is a church located on Kensington High Street and the corner of Kensington Church Street in London W8.

St Mary Abbots

NEARBY STREETS

Abingdon Mansions, W8 The Abbots of Abingdon were once Lords of the Manor of Abbot’s Kensington.

Abingdon Mansions, W8

Abingdon Villas, W8 Abingdon Villas runs between Earls Court Road and Marloes Road.

Abingdon Villas, W8

Adam And Eve Mews, W8 Adam And Eve Mews is a street in Kensington.

Adam And Eve Mews, W8

Allen Street, W8 Allen Street extends south from Kensington High Street.

Allen Street, W8

Alma Studios, W8 Alma Studios is a street in Kensington.

Alma Studios, W8

Ansdell Terrace, W8 Ansdell Terrace is a cul-de-sac off of Ansdell Street and was previously known as St Albans Road North.

Ansdell Terrace, W8

Argyll Road, W8 Argyll Road was built as part of the development of the Phillimore Estate.

Argyll Road, W8

Ball Street, W8 Ball Street was created by the Kensington Improvement Scheme of 1868-71, carried out by the Metropolitan Board of Works.

Ball Street, W8

Beatrice Place, W8 Beatrice Place is a street in Kensington.

Beatrice Place, W8

Blithfield Street, W8 Blithfield Street is a quiet cul-de-sac running north from Stratford Road.

Blithfield Street, W8

Chantry Square, W8 This is a street in the W8 postcode area

Chantry Square, W8

Cheniston Gardens, W8 Cheniston Gardens is a street in Kensington.

Cheniston Gardens, W8

Cope Place, W8 Cope Place is a street in Kensington.

Cope Place, W8

Cornwall Gardens Walk, SW7 Cornwall Gardens Walk is a road in the SW7 postcode area

Cornwall Gardens Walk, SW7

Cromwell Road, SW5 Once known as Cromwell Lane, the road was named after one of Cromwell’s sons who lived here.

Cromwell Road, SW5

Cromwell Road, SW5 A street within the E1 postcode

Cromwell Road, SW5

Derry Street, W8 Derry Street formerly known as King Street and laid out in the mid-1730s.

Derry Street, W8

Devonshire Place, W8 This is a street in the W8 postcode area

Devonshire Place, W8

Drayson Mews, W8 Drayson Mews is a street in Kensington.

Drayson Mews, W8

Earl’s Terrace, W8 Earl’s Terrace is a road in the W8 postcode area

Earl’s Terrace, W8

Earls Court Road, W8 Earls Court Road is the main road serving Earls Court.

Earls Court Road, W8

Earls Walk, W8 Earls Walk is a street in Kensington.

Earls Walk, W8

Eden Close, W8 Eden Close is a street in Kensington.

Eden Close, W8

Edwardes Place, W8 Edwardes Place is a street in Kensington.

Edwardes Place, W8

Edwardes Square, W8 Edwardes Square is a garden square in Kensington.

Edwardes Square, W8

Essex Villas, W8 Essex Villas is a road in the W8 postcode area

Essex Villas, W8

Holland House, W8 Residential block

Holland House, W8

Holland Lane, W8 Holland Lane was a small side street next to the Holland Arms.

Holland Lane, W8

Holland Park Ilchester Place, W14 Holland Park Ilchester Place is a street in Kensington.

Holland Park Ilchester Place, W14

Holland Park Road, W14 Holland Park Road is a street in West Kensington.

Holland Park Road, W14

Holland Park Road, W14 Holland Park Road runs between Addison Road and Melbury Road.

Holland Park Road, W14

Hornton Place, W8 Hornton Place is a street in Kensington.

Hornton Place, W8

Ilchester Place, W14 Ilchester Place runs between Abbotsbury Road and Melbury Road, immediately adjacent to the southern boundary of Holland Park itself.

Ilchester Place, W14

Ilchester Place, W14 Ilchester Place is a road in the W8 postcode area

Ilchester Place, W14

Iverna Court, W8 Iverna Court is a street in Kensington.

Iverna Court, W8

Iverna Gardens, W8 Iverna Gardens is a street in Kensington.

Iverna Gardens, W8

Kelso Place, W8 Kelso Place is a street in Kensington.

Kelso Place, W8

Kensington Apartment, W8 Kensington Apartment is a road in the W8 postcode area

Kensington Apartment, W8

Kensington Arcade, W8 Kensington Arcade is a street in Kensington.

Kensington Arcade, W8

Kensington Church Court, W8 Kensington Church Court is a street in Kensington.

Kensington Church Court, W8

Kensington Church Walk, W8 Kensington Church Walk is a street in Kensington.

Kensington Church Walk, W8

Kensington High Street, W8 Kensington High Street is one of western London’s most popular shopping streets, with upmarket shops serving a wealthy area.

Kensington High Street, W8

Kensington Square, W8 Kensington Square is a garden square in London, W8.

Kensington Square, W8

Lexham Gardens, SW5 Lexham Gardens is a road in the SW5 postcode area

Lexham Gardens, SW5

Lexham Gardens, W8 Lexham Gardens is a street in Kensington.

Lexham Gardens, W8

Lexham Mews, W8 Lexham Mews is a street in Kensington.

Lexham Mews, W8

Logan Place, W8 Logan Place is a road in the W8 postcode area

Logan Place, W8

Macmillan House, W8 Residential block

Macmillan House, W8

Marloes Road, SW5 Marloes Road is a road in the SW5 postcode area

Marloes Road, SW5

Marloes Road, W8 Marloes Road runs north from the Cromwell Road.

Marloes Road, W8

Marlogs Road, W8 Marlogs Road is a street in Kensington.

Marlogs Road, W8

Melbury Court, W8 Melbury Court is a road in the W8 postcode area

Melbury Court, W8

Melbury Road, W14 Melbury Road is a grand, sweeping avenue, laid out from 1875 onwards.

Melbury Road, W14

Palace Place Mansions, W8 Palace Place Mansions is a street in Kensington.

Palace Place Mansions, W8

Park Close, W14 Park Close is a road in the W14 postcode area

Park Close, W14

Pembroke Gardens Close, W8 Pembroke Gardens Close is a road in the W8 postcode area

Pembroke Gardens Close, W8

Pembroke Gardens, SW5 A street within the W8 postcode

Pembroke Gardens, SW5

Pembroke Gardens, W8 Pembroke Gardens is a road in the W8 postcode area

Pembroke Gardens, W8

Pembroke Mews, W8 Pembroke Mews is a street in Kensington.

Pembroke Mews, W8

Pembroke Place, W8 Pembroke Place is a street in Kensington.

Pembroke Place, W8

Pembroke Road, SW5 Pembroke Road is a street in Kensington.

Pembroke Road, SW5

Pembroke Square, W8 Pembroke Square was developed by the Hawks family.

Pembroke Square, W8

Pembroke Studios, W8 Pembroke Studios is a street in Kensington.

Pembroke Studios, W8

Pembroke Villas, W8 Pembroke Villas is a road in the W8 postcode area

Pembroke Villas, W8

Pembroke Walk, W8 Pembroke Walk is a road in the W8 postcode area

Pembroke Walk, W8

Pennant Mews, SW5 Pennant Mews is a street in Kensington.

Pennant Mews, SW5

Phillimore Gardens, W8 Phillimore Gardens is a street in Kensington.

Phillimore Gardens, W8

Phillimore Place, W8 Phillimore Place was part of the old Phillimore Estate and, at first, named Durham Villas.

Phillimore Place, W8

Phillimore Walk, W8 Phillimore Walk is a street in Kensington.

Phillimore Walk, W8

Radley Mews, W8 Radley Mews is a street in Kensington.

Radley Mews, W8

Scarsdale Place, W8 Scarsdale Place is a street in Kensington.

Scarsdale Place, W8

Scarsdale Villas, W8 Scarsdale Villas is a street in Kensington.

Scarsdale Villas, W8

South Edwardes Square, W8 South Edwardes Square derives its name from William Edwardes, 2nd Lord Kensington - the square was built on part of his Holland House Estate.

South Edwardes Square, W8

South End Row, W8 South End Row is a street in Kensington.

South End Row, W8

South End, W8 South End is a street in Kensington.

South End, W8

St James House, W8 Residential block

St James House, W8

St Margarets Lane, W8 St Margarets Lane is a road in the W8 postcode area

St Margarets Lane, W8

St Mary Abbots Place, W8 St Mary Abbots Place is a street in Kensington.

St Mary Abbots Place, W8

St Mary Abbots Terrace, W14 St Mary Abbots Terrace is a street in West Kensington.

St Mary Abbots Terrace, W14

St Mary Abbot’s Place, W8 This is a street in the W8 postcode area

St Mary Abbot’s Place, W8

St. Mary’s Gate, W8 St. Mary’s Gate is a road in the W8 postcode area

St. Mary’s Gate, W8

St. Mary’s Place, W8 St. Mary’s Place is a road in the W8 postcode area

St. Mary’s Place, W8

Stable Yard Ilchester Place, W14 Stable Yard Ilchester Place is a street in Kensington.

Stable Yard Ilchester Place, W14

Stafford Terrace, W8 Stafford Terrace was built between 1868 and 1874 by builder Joseph Gordon Davis.

Stafford Terrace, W8

Stone Hall Gardens, W8 Stone Hall Gardens is a street in Kensington.

Stone Hall Gardens, W8

Stratford Road, W8 Stratford Road is a street in Kensington.

Stratford Road, W8

Sunningdale Gardens, W8 Sunningdale Gardens is a street in Kensington.

Sunningdale Gardens, W8

Thackeray Street, W8 Thackeray Street is a street in Kensington.

Thackeray Street, W8

Upper Phillimore Gardens, W8 Upper Phillimore Gardens is a street in Kensington.

Upper Phillimore Gardens, W8

Warwick Chambers, W8 Warwick Chambers is a street in Kensington.

Warwick Chambers, W8

Warwick Gardens, W14 Warwick Gardens is a street in West Kensington.

Warwick Gardens, W14

Warwick Road, W14 Warwick Road is a street in West Kensington.

Warwick Road, W14

Wrights Lane, W8 Wrights Lane is a street in Kensington.

Wrights Lane, W8

Wynnstay Gardens, W8 Wynnstay Gardens is a road in the W8 postcode area

Wynnstay Gardens, W8

Young Street, W8 Young Street, named after the developer of Kensington Square, was in use as a road by 1685.

Young Street, W8

NEARBY PUBS

Greyhound This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so.

Greyhound

Holland Arms Holland Arms was a pub on Kensington High Street.

Holland Arms

Princess Victoria This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so.

Princess Victoria

Radnor Walk The Devonshire Arms at 37 Marloes Road is a Victorian era pub built in 1865 with a traditional beer garden.

Radnor Walk

Scampi’s Kingdom This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so.

Scampi’s Kingdom

The Britannia This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so.

The Britannia

The Hansom Cab This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so.

The Hansom Cab

The Scarsdale This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so.

The Scarsdale

Warwick Arms This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so.

Warwick Arms

Kensington

Kensington is a district of West London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, located west of Charing Cross.

The focus of the area is Kensington High Street, a busy commercial centre with many shops, typically upmarket. The street was declared London's second best shopping street in February 2005 thanks to its range and number of shops.

The edges of Kensington are not well-defined; in particular, the southern part of Kensington blurs into Chelsea, which has a similar architectural style. To the west, a transition is made across the West London railway line and Earl's Court Road further south into other districts, whilst to the north, the only obvious dividing line is Holland Park Avenue, to the north of which is the similar district of Notting Hill.

Kensington is, in general, an extremely affluent area, a trait that it now shares with its neighbour to the south, Chelsea. The area has some of London's most expensive streets and garden squares.

Kensington is also very densely populated; it forms part of the most densely populated local government district (the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) in the United Kingdom. This high density is not formed from high-rise buildings; instead, it has come about through the subdivision of large mid-rise Victorian and Georgian terraced houses (generally of some four to six floors) into flats.

LOCAL PHOTOS

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Early map of Kensington Palace TUM image id: 1557149096 Licence: CC BY 2.0	St Cuthbert’s, Philbeach Gardens is a Grade I listed Anglican church in Earls Court. It was built between 1884 and 1887, designed by the architect Hugh Roumieu Gough (1843–1904) and hailed as a jewel of the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Credit: Wiki Commons/Trearddur72 TUM image id: 1631012517 Licence:	The Holland Arms on Kensington High Street, drawn by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd. The writer Joseph Addison was a frequent customer. Credit: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea TUM image id: 1623770043 Licence:	Allen Street Credit: GoArt/The Underground Map TUM image id: 1593784668 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Boyne Terrace Mews, W11 TUM image id: 1453967964 Licence: CC BY 2.0
No. 6 (in the foreground) and No. 5 Lansdowne Mews in 2006, with Green’s Court beyond TUM image id: 1453888862 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Marloes Road, W8 TUM image id: 1530121229 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Ladbroke Walk seen from Ladbroke Terrace (2006) Credit: Thomas Erskine TUM image id: 1453886118 Licence: CC BY 2.0	The corner depicted is that of Abingdon Road and Scarsdale Villas, showing the church in the background. TUM image id: 1489943340 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Serving refreshments to shelterers at Holland Park underground station (1940) TUM image id: 1630625283 Licence:

In the neighbourhood...

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The Holland Arms on Kensington High Street, drawn by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd. The writer Joseph Addison was a frequent customer.
Credit: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Licence:

Allen Street
Credit: GoArt/The Underground Map
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Marloes Road, W8
Licence: CC BY 2.0

The corner depicted is that of Abingdon Road and Scarsdale Villas, showing the church in the background.
Licence: CC BY 2.0

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