Chilworth Street, W2

Chilworth Street runs from Eastbourne Terrace beside Paddington station to Cleveland Square in the west.

The land of the Hyde Park area, including the River Westbourne, formed the Saxon agricultural lands of Eia, which, in 1086, was bequeathed by Geoffrey de Mandeville to Westminster Abbey. The land to the north of the former Eia estates was owned by the Bishops of London. Paddington was a small settlement around a central green (Paddington Green).

Little further urbanisation took place until the 1790s when there were estimated to be only 340 houses in the parish. Most of the area was given over to grassland, providing grass and hay for the dairy farmers who supplied London with milk.

Rapid development occurred in the early 19th century with housing spreading into the area from built-up areas to the south and east. Development was further sped up with the construction of the Grand Union Canal between 1801 and 1805.

The first Paddington Station was first opened for the Great Western Railway in 1838 as a temporary terminus immediately to the west of Bishop’s Bridge. This station was largely constructed of timber and used the arches of the bridge as the entrances. Roads were made leading down from London Street and Conduit Street (Praed Street). Chilworth Street – at first called Charles Street – dates from this time.





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