Westbourne, London
Encyclopedia
Westbourne is an area now in west London
which has transferred its name to local streets such as Westbourne Grove
and also to the River Westbourne
which used to form the eastern boundary of the area but which has been diverted underground to form one of the lost or Subterranean rivers of London
.
. It included a mansion house and a farmhouse. It is recorded in 1222 as Westeburn and in 1294 as Westborn. Westbourne Green is recorded as Westborne Grene in 1548, Washborne Green in 1680 and Wesborn Green in 1754.
of Westbourne was distinct from the manor of Paddington. But since it had no church, it did not form its own parish, but formed the western part of the parish of Paddington, which did have a church. This lack of a central focus was reflected in the fact that even the manorial courts, in later years, sat in distant Knightsbridge
(which caused the manor to be known as "the Manor of Westbourne with Knightsbridge"). The boundary between the Westbourne and Paddington parts of the parish was the river, which ran from north to south.
(a distant relative of the diarist Samuel Pepys
); and the General Commander in Chief of the Army, Viscount Hill
, who left in 1836. Viscount Hill has given his name to Lord Hill's bridge, now a road leading from the Westway. The house was demolished in 1836 to make way for the houses and gardens of what is now Westbourne Park Villas.
Westbourne Farm was the home, between 1815–1817, of the actress Sarah Siddons
, who lived there with her daughter. The Farm was at the point where the Harrow Road, the Westway
and the canal converge. Mrs Siddons was buried at St Mary's Church, the main church of Paddington, on Paddington Green, where her grave can still be seen.
Thomas Hardy
lived in this area, mainly at no 16 Westbourne Park Villas, which was his home 1863-67.
station Westbourne Park
. The first station operated from 1866 to 1871. In 1871 it was replaced by another station further east. There were both mainline platforms (to the north) until 1992 and underground platforms. The good transport encouraged many to move into this area. To the north and east there were extensive railway yards. More recently there is also a Westbourne Park bus garage, built where there once were railway yards, just northeast of the underground station.
The name Westbourne (which means "west of the river") was by the nineteenth century applied to the river itself, and Westbourne is no longer used as the designation of the area. Instead, Westbourne Green or Westbourne Park are used.
There is, however, a Westbourne ward (north of Westbourne Grove) as part of the political map, and there is also a Westbourne conservation area (for planning purposes).
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
which has transferred its name to local streets such as Westbourne Grove
Westbourne Grove
Westbourne Grove is a retail road running across Notting Hill, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, a section of west London, England. It runs from Kensington Park Road in the west to Queensway in the east, crossing over Portobello Road...
and also to the River Westbourne
River Westbourne
The River Westbourne is a river in London, England. It flows from Hampstead down through Hyde Park to Sloane Square and into the River Thames at Chelsea...
which used to form the eastern boundary of the area but which has been diverted underground to form one of the lost or Subterranean rivers of London
Subterranean rivers of London
The subterranean or underground rivers of London are the tributaries of the River Thames and River Lea that were built over during the growth of the metropolis of London...
.
Early history
The hamlet of Westbourne, centred on what is still called Westbourne Green, was an old settlement to the west of PaddingtonPaddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
. It included a mansion house and a farmhouse. It is recorded in 1222 as Westeburn and in 1294 as Westborn. Westbourne Green is recorded as Westborne Grene in 1548, Washborne Green in 1680 and Wesborn Green in 1754.
Manor and parish
The manorManorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of Westbourne was distinct from the manor of Paddington. But since it had no church, it did not form its own parish, but formed the western part of the parish of Paddington, which did have a church. This lack of a central focus was reflected in the fact that even the manorial courts, in later years, sat in distant Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
(which caused the manor to be known as "the Manor of Westbourne with Knightsbridge"). The boundary between the Westbourne and Paddington parts of the parish was the river, which ran from north to south.
Buildings and famous residents
In 1746, Westbourne Green had five main houses. The largest of these was Westbourne Place or Westbourne House, which was rebuilt in 1745 by the architect Isaac Ware as an elegant Georgian mansion of three storeys with a frontage of nine windows divided into three parts. The central third was topped by a large pediment and contained the main door, which also had a pediment over it. The lower two storeys were formed into bays at each end, which contained three windows each. Amongst the well-known residents of this house were Sir William Yorke, baronet; the Venetian ambassador; the architect Samuel Pepys CockerellSamuel Pepys Cockerell
Samuel Pepys Cockerell was an English architect. He was the son of John Cockerell, of Bishop's Hull, Somerset, and the brother of Sir Charles Cockerell, 1st Baronet, for whom he designed the house he is best known for, Sezincote House, Gloucestershire, where the uniquely Orientalizing features...
(a distant relative of the diarist Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
); and the General Commander in Chief of the Army, Viscount Hill
Viscount Hill
Viscount Hill, of Hawkstone and of Hardwicke in the County of Salop, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1842 for the soldier Rowland Hill, 1st Baron Hill, with remainder to the heirs male of his elder brother John Hill...
, who left in 1836. Viscount Hill has given his name to Lord Hill's bridge, now a road leading from the Westway. The house was demolished in 1836 to make way for the houses and gardens of what is now Westbourne Park Villas.
Westbourne Farm was the home, between 1815–1817, of the actress Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She was the elder sister of John Philip Kemble, Charles Kemble, Stephen Kemble, Ann Hatton and Elizabeth Whitlock, and the aunt of Fanny Kemble. She was most famous for her portrayal of the Shakespearean character,...
, who lived there with her daughter. The Farm was at the point where the Harrow Road, the Westway
Westway
Westway may refer to:* Westway , a highway in London* Westway a proposed but unbuilt highway* Westway , a BBC World Service soap opera* Westway , a British TV series made in 1976* Westway, Texas...
and the canal converge. Mrs Siddons was buried at St Mary's Church, the main church of Paddington, on Paddington Green, where her grave can still be seen.
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
lived in this area, mainly at no 16 Westbourne Park Villas, which was his home 1863-67.
Modern name
When this part of London was developed into a residential area, Westbourne Park was the name given to the area. This is reflected in a number of street names (notably Westbourne Park Road) and in the UndergroundLondon Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
station Westbourne Park
Westbourne Park tube station
Westbourne Park is a London Underground station on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines, between Ladbroke Grove and Royal Oak stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2 in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea . Although the Metropolitan Railway had been extended to Notting Hill and Hammersmith...
. The first station operated from 1866 to 1871. In 1871 it was replaced by another station further east. There were both mainline platforms (to the north) until 1992 and underground platforms. The good transport encouraged many to move into this area. To the north and east there were extensive railway yards. More recently there is also a Westbourne Park bus garage, built where there once were railway yards, just northeast of the underground station.
The name Westbourne (which means "west of the river") was by the nineteenth century applied to the river itself, and Westbourne is no longer used as the designation of the area. Instead, Westbourne Green or Westbourne Park are used.
There is, however, a Westbourne ward (north of Westbourne Grove) as part of the political map, and there is also a Westbourne conservation area (for planning purposes).