May 2015 archive

Christian Effort in the Kensington Potteries

NOTE: This article first appeared as ‘Christian Effort in the Kensington Potteries, Notting Hill’ authored by Robert Lee in the London City Mission Magazine during March 1902 and has been made available thanks to local historian Tom Vague and the Colville Community Forum.  Notting Dale ‘Christian Effort in the Kensington Potteries, Notting Hill’ by Robert Lee, London City Mission …

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In the Potter’s Field

NOTE: This article first appeared as ‘In the Potter’s Field’ in the London City Mission Magazine during October 1911 and has been made available thanks to local historian Tom Vague and the Colville Community Forum.  Facing the disused kiln is the entrance to Avondale Park, the site of which was given by Sir Henry Robson to mark the year …

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Off the Track in London – in the Royal Borough of Kensington

NOTE: This article first appeared as ‘Off the Track in London – in the Royal Borough of Kensington’ by George Sims (first published in The Strand magazine 1904 as ‘Off the Track in London’, and as ‘The Avernus of Kensington – Highest Death Rate in London’ in St Clement’s parish magazine 1911). It has been made available …

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The Rag Fair, Notting Dale

NOTE: This article first appeared in the North Kensington Citizen during May 1939 and has been made available thanks to local historian Tom Vague and the Colville Community Forum.  The Rag Fair started because of the existence of the workhouse in the locality many years ago. It was held in two residential streets far from public transport. …

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North Kensington and Notting Dale Local History Project

Thanks to historian Tom Vague and the Colville Community Forum, a series of articles from local history projects in W10 and W11 have been made available to The Underground Map. The Rag Fair North Kensington Citizen May 1939     In The Potter’s Field       Christian Effort in the Kensington Potteries Christian Effort in the …

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Westbourne Green: a retrospect

By W. L. Rutton, F.S.A. Reproduced from The Home Counties Magazine (1902) The Westbourne Green residences, to which reference is made in the article, are: 1. WESTBOURNE PLACE or HOUSE, built circa 1745, by the architect Isaac Ware. Its subsequent occupants were Sir William Yorke, Bart.; the Venetian Ambassador; Jukes Coulson, iron merchant; Samuel Pepys Cockerell, architect; …

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The making of Sgt. Pepper

Just going a bit off topic here. A 1992 documentary about the making of the Sgt. Pepper album. Includes the story behind how George Martin patched together Strawberry Fields…

Rackham Street, W10

Rackham Street, built in the mid nineteenth century is a road that disappeared from the streetscape of London W10 in 1951. During the night of 27/8 September 1940, after Nazi incendiary bombs, the central part of Rackham Street become a huge crater (though only one person was killed). As the Luftwaffe aimed for the railway …

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Trolleybus at Westbourne Bridge

Just found this fantastic photo of a route 662 trolleybus at the junction of Harrow Road and Westbourne Bridge. The photo was taken in somewhat wintry conditions (and at odds with the time of writing of this blog!) on 2 January 1962. It was the last day of running for the route, and replaced largely …

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The Narrow Boat

Just a few days ago, on this blog, we were paying a visit to Adela Street, the location of their yard in the 1972 Steptoe and Son movie. We were about to post our next article about a pub called The Narrow Boat – once the Victoria Arms which was positioned until 1989 on the …

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