of ponds in Hyde Park into one, so as to form what is called the Serpentine River.

Her Majesty also added 300 acres from Hyde Park.

At this time the gardens were only opened on Saturday, whilst His Majesty and Court went to Richmond, and company appeared only in full dress on this day.

Hyde Park was originally Hyde Farm, and belonged to the Monastery of Westminster.  At the Reformation it became vested in the Crown.

During the Commonwealth the Park was sold in 3 lots.  112 acres on Bayswater side were bought by Richard Wilcox for £4,141, and John Tracey bought 177 acres on the Kensington side for £3,906 7s. 6d.

Anthony Deane, of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, bought Tyburn Meadow, a banqueting house at Park Corner, Bayard’s watering, a fortification, a barn and stable, and land down to Park Corner, for £9,020 8s. 2d.

The fortification was opposite St. George’s Hospital, and another was in Mount Street, Park Lane.

These fortifications were hurriedly put up by the inhabitants to prevent the royalist army reaching London.

Hudibras writes:

“Marched rank and file, with drum and ensign.
T’entrench the city for defence in;
Raised rampiers with their own soft hands,
To put the enemy to stands.

“From ladies down to oyster wenches
Laboured like pioneers in trenches,
Fal’n to their pick axes and tools,
And helped the men to dig like moles.”

HORTON STREET CHAPEL,

Formerly a Congregational Chapel, now a Baptist, was erected principally by Mr. Forsyth, head gardener to George III.; Mr. Thomas Broadwood, of Pulteney Street, and Mr. Saunders, body coachman to George III., with whom he was a great favourite.  The King was much accustomed to converse with the latter upon religious subjects.  The first minister who officiated was the Rev. Mr. Hall, of Edinburgh.  The first stated minister was Dr. Lake, who left to take a curacy in the Established Church.  He was succeeded by Rev. John Clayton, who was afterwards minister of Poultry Chapel.

Dr. Liefchild succeeded him, then Dr. Vaughan, then Dr. Stoughton, for whom, after many years, a new chapel was built in Allen Street.

SILVER STREET CHAPEL,

Now Westbourne Grove Baptist Chapel, was erected 1823 by several humble Christian men, who were soon joined by Mr. Baxter, editor of the Polyglot Bible.  The names of Mr. Farmer, Mr. Worger and Mr. Baxter ought to be remembered by the Church.

Under Mr. Lewis the church increased so much that it was felt necessary to take ground to build a larger chapel.

WESTBOURNE GROVE BAPTIST CHAPEL

Was erected 1853.  The first cost was £5,500.  Galleries had soon to be erected at cost of £579, and in 1866 it was thought necessary to enlarge the building by adding 16 feet on each side at cost of £5,895; total, £11,974, the whole of which was raised by voluntary subscriptions, under the pastorate of the Rev. W. G. Lewis.  In 1881 Rev. J. Tuckwell, of Luton, accepted the pastorate, and under his ministry the church and congregation have largely increased.  On the 20th of April, 1882, one of the finest organs in London was opened here, which has added much to the beauty of the building.  It was built by Brindley and Foster, of Sheffield, at a cost of £820.

Horbury chapel was a sister church of Hornton Street, and was erected about 1846.  The present honoured pastor, Rev. W. Roberts, being the first minister.

1831 there were 3 Sunday Schools with 263 children.

In 1811 I see the inhabitants of Kensington were very unequally divided.

I cannot say if this inequality still exists.

PART II.
“REMEMBRANCES” OF KENSINGTON, NOTTING HILL & PADDINGTON, 38 YEARS AGO.

The first time I heard of Notting Hill was many years since.  I was asked to sign a petition, the prayer of which pleaded for Parliamentary interference to stop the action of the Proprietors of the Hippodrome at Notting Hill from running horses on Sundays.  I have heard since that races were not run upon that day, but horses were tried as a preliminary step to the races during the week.

In 1844, when I first became acquainted with the neighbourhood, I enquired what had become of the race-course and was shown an open country,—the place now occupied by St. John’s Church, Notting Hill, being the spot on which the grand stand had been erected, and the course as nearly as I can describe is now covered by Clarendon Road, Cornwall Road, Portobello Road, Horbury Terrace and Ladbroke Square.  I found that the inhabitants had insisted upon a right of way across the grounds, and taking the law into their own hands, with hatchets and saws had removed the barriers and thus by maintaining their right to cross the ground when they pleased caused the racing men to abandon it.

The changes which have taken place in the parishes are to my mind so marvellous that I think it will not be uninteresting to those whose acquaintance is of a later date to record what I remember of the locality 38 years ago.

Starting from Edgware Road and passing down what was then called the Uxbridge Road, now known as the Bayswater Road.  On the south side Hyde Park was enclosed by the old iron railings which were pulled down by the mob a few years since.  Kensington Gardens were enclosed by an old wall which I esteemed to be a disgrace to London.

The narrow pathway outside the wall was used by the parish authorities as a suitable place to keep reserved heaps of broken granite for repairing the road.

The spot now occupied by Palace Gardens was also enclosed and formed a kitchen garden to the Kensington Palace.

On the north side from Edgware Road, Connaught Terrace and a few houses on either side of the Burial Ground were existing, but Hyde Park Gardens were not.  A little further on however was an old public house standing at the corner of a road known as Elm Grove and beyond that several wooden shops, one occupied as an oyster and ginger beer dealer and the other by a coach maker, beyond this was the Parish Ground known as “Bread and Cheese” land, occupied by a Mr. Cheese as Tea Gardens and by Mr. Hopwood as a Nursery Ground.  Passing some villas we arrived at the “Black Lion” standing at the corner of Queen’s Road, then known as “Black Lion Lane,” then on to Bark