As he was being well supplied with beer by his companions, I think it probable the result of the punishment was that he was more drunken after than before.

In 1844 there were only two shops in the village above one story high.  The exceptions are now numbered 150, 152; the latter house was then, as now, a cheesemonger’s.

The shop windows were principally common glass.  Plate glass had not come into fashion.  Some of the shops were lighted with oil lamps, and, I think, some with candles.

I cannot speak for the intelligence of all the tradesmen of that time, but remember a serious conversation with one who, at the conclusion, very gravely remarked, “I suppose publicans in the time of the Saviour were a bad sort of people.  I go every night to the ‘Coach and Horses’ to have one glass and a pipe, and the landlord is not a bad sort of a man, but in old times publicans seem always somehow mixed up with sinners.”

Behind the south side of High Street, where a number of small houses are now built, was a large brickfield, owned by a Mr. Clutterbuck.  A single street only was then built, called New Street.  The proper name, however, was Newcombe Street.  At the south end of this street was

SILVER STREET BAPTIST CHAPEL AND SCHOOL ROOM.

The Church and Congregation of this little chapel afterwards built the large

WESTBOURNE GROVE CHAPEL.

The names of a few of the old church members are still to be found on the register of the church books at Westbourne Grove Chapel, but the majority have found a better, more enduring home.  “They rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.”

Campden Hill Road, at this time called “Plough Lane,” was a private road leading to large houses, one of which had been occupied by Sir I. Newton.  The high Water Tower which may now be seen as a land mark for many miles was not then erected.

At the corner of Plough Lane (the east side now covered with houses and the north side by shops) stood a mansion surrounded by a wall.  This was occupied by a Captain Coote, a German.  I believe both he and his wife had in former time had something to do with the trial of Queen Caroline as witnesses for the Queen.

About 1846 building commenced in earnest.  The beautiful Portobello Lane was denuded of its hedges near Notting Hill, and a roadway cut through to where Horbury Chapel now stands.  Beyond this, in that which is now Kensington Park Road the first new buildings were erected known at that time as the Swiss and Italian Villas.  Ladbroke Square and other houses in that locality soon followed.

On the top of the hill, where once stood Notting Hill Farm and the grand stand of the Hippodrome Race Ground, the foundation stone of a new church, St. John’s, was laid about 1846.  The last owner of this farm seems to have been a man highly respected.  A tablet was erected to his memory in the old church at Kensington, from which I make a short extract:

“IN MEMORY

Of John Hall, &c., &c., and of Notting Hill.  For those who remember him that name were his best epitaph.  To others it may be useful to record that John Hall was one who in life, by his good works, and by fervent faith in death proved that the source of virtue is in the love of God.

&c., &c.

He died August 10, 1816, aged 54.”

The first minister of St. John’s Church was not so highly esteemed as the old owner of the Hill had been.  It was stated that in asking for signatures to a petition that the Church should be a District Church, he misled those who were asked to sign by saying it would make no difference, but directly the object was attained a church rate was called for.  He became very unpopular, and the last I heard of him was that he headed a strange procession.  Walking through the street he was met by a crowd following a broker, who had seized a large clock for church rates.  He was immediately surrounded, and compelled to follow the broker to his house.  Some hundreds of people joined in the procession.  He soon after obtained a fresh living, and the church has always since had ministers who were respected.

PORTOBELLO LANE.

The name was given by a Mr. Adams, who was then occupier of the farm at the end of the lane.  It was named at the time Porto Bello was captured.  In 1844 the farm was called Wise’s Farm, Mr. Wise being the owner.

The lane ended outside the Farm, and a gate opened to a pathway which lead over a bridge on the canal to Kensal Green.

To the west of this Farm lay the old Farm of Knotting Barns, an ancient brick building surrounded by spacious barns and outhouses.  A road to Kensal Green passed through the farm yard.

In 1844 this was known as Salter’s Farm, Mr. Salter being the proprietor.

In 1524 it is recorded in the will of Robert Fenrother, Alderman of London, that Knotting Barns Farm consisted of 40 acres of land, 140 acres of meadow, 200 acres of wood, 20 acres of moor, 20 acres of furze and heath.

In 1543 Henry VIII. took this farm and land in exchange for some he had held (in the county of Southampton).  In 1675 it had decreased in size and was reckoned as 130 acres.  How many acres were connected with in 1844 I cannot record, but I have said that on all sides nothing but corn or meadow land was visible.  The site of Portobello Farm may be known as upon that spot is erected a Roman Catholic building, a home for the aged.

Notting Barn Farm was at the lower part of St. Mark’s Road.  Norland House, where Norland Square was built in 1850 to 1856, was noted for its artesian well which was sunk in 1794 by Mr. Vulliamy to the depth of 260 feet, when the water rose and overflowed at the rate of 46 gallons a minute.  The water was leased to 3 persons at 7/- each per week and sold in the neighbourhood at 2/6 per ton, or ½d a pailful.

Thirty-eight years ago there were no houses from Notting Hill Terrace to Acton with the exception of a few small houses opposite Shepherd’s Bush Common.  This Common had been notorious some years before as a place of execution for highwaymen, and for years gibbets were standing there with the remains of some of the fraternity dangling in the wind.  I never saw them, but when a boy I have seen the remains of pirates hanging by chains by the river side past Greenwich.  The Common was even till late years claimed as the property of the inhabitants, some of whom claimed to the last the right to turn out their horses or goats upon its scanty grass.

Behind the road of Notting Hill there was a lane called Pottery Lane.  In this lane was a place where tiles were made and at the end of the lane a colony of pigkeepers.  Every house here had a colony of the porcine family in its yard.  A number of carts filled with tubs passed daily to London gathering refuse from hotels and mansions to feed the large families of pigs gathered here.

It was not a savoury place and at the time of the cholera the inhabitants suffered severely.

Rough looking people they appeared, but upon closer acquaintance it was seen they looked more uncouth than they really were.  The only religious or secular education the people and children received was provided by the members of the Baptist chapel at Silver Street, and the congregation at Hornton Street.  Their place of meeting for some years, was in an unfinished house with its unplastered walls on two floors not divided into separate rooms.

Their teachers were poor but they had love to God in