Historic Book

Extract from “History and Antiquities of Kensington” by William Faulkner

Published 1820

Pages 287-292

KENSINGTON consists principally of one street , which extends about
three quarters of a mile in length , from the Goar to Earl’s Terrace .
The town being in the direct road for the Western parts of England ,
is in a constant bustle , and resembles the most populous streets in
London , especially in an evening , when the mails are setting out on their
various destinations .

Bowack thus describes it in the year 1705 –
This town standing in a wholesome air , not above three miles from
London , has ever been resorted to by persons of quality and citizens ,
and for many years past honoured with several fine seats belonging to
the Earls of Nottingham , and Warwick . We cannot indeed find it was .
ever taken notice of in history , except for the great Western Road
through it , nor hath any thing occurred in it , that might perpetuate its
name , till his late Majesty King William was pleased to ennoble it
with his court and royal presence . Since which time it has flourished
even almost beyond belief ; and is inhabited by gentry and persons
of note : there is also abundance of shop – keepers , and all sorts of
artificers in it , which makes it appear rather like part of London , than
a country village .
It is , with its dependencies , about three times as big as Chelsea , in
number of houses , and in summer time extremely filled with lodgers ,
for the pleasure of the air , walks , and gardens round it , to the great
advantage of its inhabitants .

The buildings are chiefly of brick , regular , and built into streets ;
the largest is that through which the road lies , reclining from the
Queen’s House , a considerable way beyond the Church . From the
Church runs a row of buildings towards the north , called Church Lane ,
but the most beautiful part of it is the Square , south of the road ; which
for beauty of buildings , and worthy inhabitants , exceed several noted
squares in London . “
The first house west of Gloucester Road , on the south side of the
great Western Road , on entering from the Gore , is called
NOEL HOUSE , Kensington Gore . – This mansion was built in the
year 1804 , from a design of the late Mr. Byfield .
It consists of three rooms on the two principal floors ; an entrance
hall , with open galleries , on the first and second floors ; and a great
stair case , extending to the first floor , and balconies to both north
and south fronts . The whole premises comprise near four acres . The
pleasure ground is tastefully disposed , and was planted under the in
spection of the late Mrs. Murray Aust ” .
The drawing rooms of the south front , command charming views of
the Surry hills , and the surrounding country , and the situation of the
house , viewed from the mount in the gardens , is quite picturesque , as it
appears to be embosomed in the woods of Kensington gardens , including
a prospect of the Lodge at the west end of Hyde Park , of which it
seems to form a connected part .
It is the property of G. Aust , esq . , . who resides here with his family ,
and it takes its name from the late owner of the ground , Sir Gerard
Noel , bart . , being part of the ancient domain of the Earls of
Gainsborough .
The Nursery of Messrs . Malcolm and Co. adjoins the preceding
premises on the west , fronting the road . The large new house , at the

corner of Love Lane , built in the cottage style , is the residence of
Samuel Drewe , esq .
A large house , now called Kensington House , built about the time
of King William , was the property of the Noel family ; some of whom
probably resided in it . It was taken by Mr. Elphinstone in 1776 for a
school , and occupied by him till 1788 .
This gentleman , whose death has been already mentioned , was
ludicrously characterised in Smollett’s Roderick Random , which , in
consequence became a forbidden book in his school .
COLBY HOUSE is the residence of W. Mair , esq . , one of his Majesty’s
Justices of the Peace , and a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of
Middlesex . 1
This capital mansion , situated facing the palace gates , was built
about 1720 , by Sir Thomas Colby , bart . , whose family resided many
years in this parish .
The house consists of a centre and two wings , and is two stories in
height….

Sir Thomas Colby , the former proprietor of this house , who built it ,
and resided in it many years , was created a baronet in 1720 , and

described of Kensington . Dr. King relates the following anecdote of
this gentleman :
” I knew one Sir Thomas Colby , who lived at Kensington , and was ,
I think , a commissioner in the victualling office : he killed himself by
rising in the middle of the night , when he was in a very profuse sweat ,
the effect of a medicine which he had taken for that purpose , and
walking down stairs to look for the key of the cellar , which he had
inadvertently left on a table in his parlour : he was apprehensive that
his servants might seize the key and rob him of a bottle of Port wine .
This man died intestate , and left more than 200,000 / . in the
funds , which was shared among five or six day labourers , who were
his nearest relations . ” He was a benefactor to this parish , and was
buried in the church .
The house now inhabited by Mr. Bird was formerly the Red Lion
inn and the principal inn in the town , it was much used by travellers
on the Western road : the premises were extensive .
The Manor Courts were once held at the house at the eastern corner
of Young Street .
Mr. Young was an eminent builder in this town on the time of James
II . and King William : he built the street called after his name , and a
great part of the Square .
THE SQUARE Occupies an area of about two hundred and fifty
feet : it was begun to be built in the reign of James II . , and was finished
about 1698 , as appeared by a stone lately to be seen against the
north – east corner .
While the Court was held at Kensington most of the houses were
inhabited by persons of quality , ambassadors , gentry , and clergy , and
at one time upwards of forty carriages were kept in and about the
neighbourhood . In the time of George the Second the demand for
lodgings was so great that an ambassador , a bishop , and a physician have
been known to occupy apartments in the same house . But the late

King never having resided at Kensington , the Square became deserted ,
until the act was obtained for lighting and paving it , since which
period some of the houses have been wholly , and others in part ,
rebuilt , and it is now very respectably inhabited .
The following eminent persons appear , from the parish books , to have
resided here at various periods :
The Duchess of Mazarine in 1692 .
Sir Robert Hamilton in 1693 .
The Earl of Gainsborough in 1697 .
And subsequently , Dr. Mathias Mawson , Bishop of Ely , occupied ,
for several years , the house at the south west corner…”

Page 315

“From Rhodes’s map of Kensington , published in the early part of the
last reign , it appears there was a cold bath at the west end of Parson’s
Yard , which by tradition , was much resorted to . The sites of Hornton
Street and Phillimore Place , are laid down in the same map , as inclosed
fields , with a solitary house standing by the side of the great
Western Road.”