rich harvest at Notting Hill, but many a hard working man falling into their hands has been ruined.

Between Richmond Road and Ledbury Road is a road called Artesian Road.  This is in remembrance of an artesian well which was sunk there.  The water was very pure and cold and houses in Ledbury Road and in its neighbourhood were supplied with water from this well until the water companies bought it up.

The Richmond Road was built about 1848.  Mr. Plimley, fruiterer, and Mr. Anderson, confectioner, are the oldest inhabitants.  Sutherland Place, Courtnell Street, Archer Street, were built about 1850.  The first two houses built in Portobello Road stood for many years unfinished and were called “The Folly.”

The house now occupied by the London Photographic Co’s studio at the corner of Norfolk Terrace was built in the middle of a field, and for some time seemed likely also to be called The Folly, and certainly in its solitary position it looked for some time very foolish, but the builders knew what was likely to follow better than those who were not in the secret.

But even they could not have thought that the quiet Westbourne Grove of their day would ever become the busy place it is now with its enterprizing men of business and its crowded thoroughfares.

CHURCHES

In Paddington 38 years ago were very few.  There was the old church on Paddington Green, and no other except the chapel in St. Petersburgh Place, the minister, the Rev. Mr. Smalley, was rightly highly esteemed; his curate, Rev. Mr. Buckmaster, and the Scripture reader, Mr. Leask, were also powers for good in their day.

How well this church has been honoured by the late lamented Archdeacon Hunter his large congregation will long remember.  It seems sad that he should not have lived to see the new church which he commenced completed, but the Great Disposer of all events knew best, and he worships now in a better sanctuary.

Kensington had its parish church, St. Mary Abbot’s, and a chapel in Addison Road.  At the former was a man beloved by all who knew him, the Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair, a man whose memory will be still dear to some old inhabitants of Kensington.

In Hornton Street, Kensington, was the chapel formerly under the pastorate of Dr. Vaughan, and here the Queen’s mother often listened to the Gospel.

The Wesleyans had their chapel behind the High Street, and the Baptists in Silver Street Kensington Gravel Pits.  This church now worships as Westbourne Grove Chapel.

Old Silver Street chapel would hold about 200 people, it had one gallery in front of the pulpit, and behind the pulpit sliding doors opened on to the Sunday School Room.  On great occasions the minister could have a congregation both in front and behind him.  This however did not often happen.

In 1844 the minister was Rev. F. Wills, and the Deacons Messrs. Saunders, Farmer, Worger and Wood.  All these honoured brethren “have ceased from their labours.”

Nonconformity was not allowed much room in Paddington, the land there mainly belonged to the Bishop and the friends of the Established church.

The Baptists had a chapel in Praed Street, from which has sprung the Westbourne Park Chapel under the pastorate of Rev. J. Clifford.  The Wesleyans had a chapel in Queen’s Road since rebuilt.

All honour to the men and women who have been instrumental not only in erecting buildings but in maintaining the great and important work connected with these places of worship.

The churches and the country look to the young to follow in the steps of those who through good report and evil have worked on for the promotion of Christ’s kingdom and the welfare of their neighbours.

The past generation have done much.  Let every Christian see to it not only to hold the ground acquired, but to use all their influence to do even more than those who have gone before.

I conclude with the desire that one more used to literary composition had written the facts.  I hope all discrepancies will be overlooked and that it may not be uninteresting to read

The Remembrances of

AN OLD INHABITANT.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KENSINGTON, NOTTING HILL, AND PADDINGTON***