1 Morland Gardens – Presenting petition to Full Council on Monday 15th September.

 Guest post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity

“Altamira”, the landmark Victorian villa in Stonebridge, and subject of the petition.

 

On Monday evening (15 September) I will be presenting Willesden Local History Society’s petition, calling on Brent to retain the heritage Victorian villa as part of its redevelopment of the Morland Gardens site, at the Full Council meeting. As the petition was active a few months ago, I will include a copy of what it said at the end of this article, should you wish to read it.

 

I won’t go into the detailed reasons why Brent should not demolish this beautiful and historic building here, as you can read those in an open letter to two Cabinet members in May, when it seemed likely that the petition might need to be presented at a meeting in June. That didn’t happen because Council Officers had still not decided whether or not to recommend retaining this locally listed heritage asset, even though they were supposed to have been reviewing that since November 2023!

 

Ahead of the Full Council meeting, I had written to the Mayor, who will be chairing it, last Monday, with two requests. The email was copied to the Council’s Governance Manager, who organises arrangements for the meeting and had notified the Society that it would be allowed up to five minutes to present its petition.

 

The first request was that the photograph of “Altamira”, shown above, should be shown on the small screens around the meeting hall during the presentation (with the countdown clock in a window at one corner), so that councillors and members of the public not familiar with the building could understand what the petition was about.

 

When the Governance Manager responded last Thursday (‘after discussions with the Mayor’), I was told: ‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible to arrange alongside the speech timer.’ My reply to that was:

 

‘I find it hard to believe that this would not be possible technically. It may be that the Officers controlling the screens at the meeting do not know how to do that, but if they were to ask a member of the Council's IT staff to show them how it can be done, that would improve their skill set and allow them to provide a better service to councillors at future meetings.’

 

My second request to the Mayor was for him to agree that if I gave up some of the five minutes allowed for my presentation, he would use the "spare" time to invite any councillors who wished to speak briefly on the petition, to do so. Such an arrangement would be within the Mayor’s discretion, as Standing Order 6 in Brent’s Constitution allows him to decide on how the proceedings at Full Council meetings are applied (subject to a majority of councillors not objecting to his decision).

 

Standing Order 6, from Part 2 of Brent Council’s Constitution (May 2025 edition).

 

The response I received from the Governance Manager was: ‘Whilst your request has been considered, I can confirm that the mayor intends to follow the same procedure as at previous meetings.  This will mean you having up to 5 minutes to present the petition with the Lead Member then having the opportunity to provide a brief response.’

 

There is actually nothing, in Brent’s Standing Orders regarding petitions, saying that the response to a petition will come from a Cabinet member, or excluding any other councillors from responding to one! It appears to have just developed that way [probably because the Leadership wants to keep control of the Council’s business, and to exclude the majority of the borough’s elected councillors from having a say].

 

I have to admit that the reason I was willing to give up some of the five minutes I would be allowed is that I know there are eight individual councillors, from across all three political groups on the Council, who have told me privately that they want to see the Stonebridge heritage villa retained. I had written to each of them to say that there might be an opportunity to say a sentence or two in support of the petition. [There may still be, if the Mayor changes his mind.]

 

Although I’ve heard it rumoured that the Labour Group/Council Leader enforces strict control over his backbench councillors, I was still surprised by the first reply I received from one I had written to: 

 

‘It will be difficult for me to go against the party as part of the collective responsibility that I am subject to. The decisions are made in Cabinet and so, as a back bencher I have no input. Sorry I can't be of any more help.’

 

I did reply, saying that, as far as I was aware, it was not Brent Labour policy to demolish this locally listed heritage building, and the councillor should not be afraid to express their genuine personal belief that ‘this iconic building should be saved.’

 

Another Labour councillor replied: ‘Ordinary Councillors like me are not permitted to issue independent responses unless they are explicitly supporting the Cabinet Lead Member’s position.’

 

[These replies do not reflect well on democracy in Brent, where there are 57 councillors elected to represent the views of residents in their wards!]

 

So, I will present Willesden Local History Society’s petition on Monday evening, and hope that the Cabinet Lead Member’s position (probably written for her by a Council Officer) is that they will retain Altamira, when the Council finally gets round to regenerating the 1 Morland Gardens site.

Philip Grant.

The Willesden Local History Society petition:

 

Title: Retain the heritage Victorian villa, Altamira, as part of redeveloping 1 Morland Gardens

 

Petition: We the undersigned petition the Council and its Cabinet, when considering the regeneration of 1 Morland Gardens, as part of the Bridge Park / Hillside Corridor proposals, to retain the beautiful and historic locally listed Victorian villa, Altamira, as part of the redevelopment of that site for affordable housing and youth facilities. The 150-year-old landmark building is part of the original estate which gave Stonebridge Park its name, and its sense of place can be an inspiration to local young people who would use it, while there is plenty of space behind the Victorian villa to build a good number of genuinely affordable homes.

 

Background Information: Between 1872 and 1876, the noted Victorian architect, Henry Kendall Jnr, developed an estate of middle-class homes on a field beside the Harrow Road, just to the west of Harlesden. He called the estate Stonebridge Park, and that was the origin of the name for the area which grew up near it.

 

Although there are other late 19th century houses in Brent which are described as being of Italianate style, numbers 1 and 2 Morland Gardens, originally “Altamira” and “Hurworth”, are the only surviving examples with distinctive belvedere towers. Seen from the crossroads at the top of Hillside, and with the trees of the community garden in front, they provide one of the best streetscape views in the area.

 

“Altamira” remained as a private house until around the time of the First World War, then became a members’ club for many decades. In the 1990s, this beautiful Victorian villa was chosen by Brent Council, and sympathetically restored and extended, with funding from Harlesden City Challenge, to become the home of the Brent Adult and Community Education Service, in an inspirational Stonebridge setting.

 

In 2018, it was decided to upgrade the facilities for what is now the Brent Start college, and an architect was chosen, through a competition, with experience of combining heritage and modern buildings. Sadly, at an early stage, a planning officer wrongly advised that the locally listed building could be demolished, without taking into account Brent’s adopted heritage planning policies or the heritage significance of the Victorian villa.

 

As a result, the scheme which was given the go-ahead by Brent’s Cabinet in January 2020, and received planning consent later that year, despite numerous valid objections, would have seen the heritage asset demolished and a new concrete building of up to ten storeys constructed over the site and the adjacent community garden, providing a new college facility and 65 homes.

 

That scheme saw a number of problems, because of mistakes that had been, and continued to be made by the Council and its Officers, and even though an award was made for the first stage of a two-stage design and construct contract in the summer of 2022, no actual construction had begun on the site when the planning consent expired at the end of October 2023.

 

A review of what to recommend for the future of the 1 Morland Gardens site was begun in November 2023, and a year later the outline of “affordable homes and community facilities” was included as part of a large consultation exercise on Bridge Park and the Hillside Corridor. The second consultation in March 2025 has refined this further to “affordable homes and youth facilities” for 1 Morland Gardens, but without giving any indication over whether Council Officers will recommend retaining the heritage building, “Altamira”, as part of their proposals.

 

This locally listed Victorian villa is a much loved and much valued part of the Stonebridge streetscape, and this petition has been set up by Willesden Local History Society so that people who live, work or study in Brent can express their support for it to be retained as part of the Council’s latest proposals for redeveloping 1 Morland Gardens.

 

1 Morland Gardens – Councillor Benea’s reply to my open letter – why are the Council dithering over the heritage Victorian villa?

 Guest post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity

 

The Italianate-style belvedere tower of “Altamira”, beyond the community garden.
(Photo by Margaret Pratt, May 2023)

 

Earlier this month, Martin published an open letter, “Brent’s Morland Gardens development, and the future of the heritage Victorian villa”, which I had sent to two key Cabinet members, ahead of a decision which is due to be made on 16 June. On 21 May, I received this reply from Councillor Teo Benea, the Lead Member for Regeneration:

 

‘Dear Mr Grant,

 

Thank you for your open letter to myself and Cllr Donnelly-Jackson dated 8 May 2025.

 

I have spoken to officers regarding 1 Morland Gardens and a decision on the site use options will be proposed for Cabinet’s consideration at the meeting on Monday 16 June 2025. No decision has been made on retaining the locally listed Altamira building and Cabinet will only be asked to consider the proposed site use(s) for Morland Gardens as part of developing a complementary vision for the Hillside Corridor.

 

I will ensure that officers consider your letter and content as part of ongoing work to progress the Cabinet approved site use option.

 

Thank you.

Kind regards,

Teo Benea
Cllr for Sudbury ward
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property’

 

It was in January 2020 that Brent’s Cabinet approved a recommendation for the redevelopment of their 1 Morland Gardens site, to provide updated facilities for the Brent Start college (which had been there since 1995) and Council homes. Planning Committee approved the plans (by five votes to two) later that year, including the demolition of the locally-listed Victorian villa at the heart of the college. But the scheme was so flawed, and so many mistakes were made in trying to implement it, that the planning consent expired at the end of October 2023, without construction having begun.

 

I was told in a letter from Brent’s Director of Property and Assets in November 2023, under the heading “An urgent rethink on original proposals”, that:

 

‘We are always reviewing and updating schemes across the board as part of our usual governance arrangements, and we are doing that with even more rigour given the underlying economic conditions. Following the expiration of the planning permission, the Council is reviewing its options for the Morland Gardens site, including the Altamira building.’

 

Despite the supposed urgency, nothing further was heard, until I sent an open letter to Brent’s Chief Executive at the end of March 2024, which I shared in a post - Is Brent Council “busy doing nothing”? In response, Brent’s Head of Capital Delivery said: ‘the Council is continuing to review its options and proposals for the Morland Gardens site. As soon as the Council has completed the review, it will place the item for decision onto the Council’s Forward Plan and seek Cabinet’s consideration of the same.’

 

This is a Council-owned site, which has been vacant since early 2022 (apart from six months when it was occupied by Live-in Guardians). At least they were providing some security for the building, but ever since they left, nearly two and a half years ago, Brent Council has been paying a security firm to guard the empty building. 

 

Notice on the security fence around 1 Morland Gardens. (Photo by Margaret Pratt, May 2023)

 

 

As part of their long-running review, Brent have been given plenty of evidence of the high historic and architectural value of the Victorian villa, and how retaining this locally-listed heritage asset as part of their redevelopment plans is both a practical proposition and in line with the Council’s adopted planning policy and historic environment strategy. How can Officers not yet recommend to Cabinet that this landmark building, part of the original estate that gave Stonebridge Park its name 150 years ago, should be retained? I expressed that view in my “open email” reply to the Lead Member for Regeneration:

 

‘Dear Councillor Benea,

 

Thank you for your email, and for updating me on what will be put to Cabinet on 16 June in respect of Morland Gardens.

 

I have to say that I am surprised that 'Cabinet will only be asked to consider the proposed site use(s) for Morland Gardens.'

 

Council Officers started to consider proposals for the future of the former Brent Start college site at 1 Morland Gardens in November 2023. I understood then that they expected to put their recommendations to Cabinet by around this time in 2024.

 

By November 2024, they had already decided to recommend that the site should be used for new Council homes and community facilities, and they put this out for consultation then, as part of the Bridge Park and Hillside Corridor exercise:

 

 

By March this year, as a result of that consultation, the proposal had been refined to be 'new Council homes and youth facilities'. I find it hard to believe that all Brent's Officers can submit to Cabinet, another three months further on, and more than eighteen months after they started their review, is a recommendation to confirm that the proposed site use should be new Council homes and youth facilities!

 

Given all of the information and views put forward since November 2023, including as part of the December 2024 consultation exercise, where there was clear support from community members for the heritage Victorian villa at 1 Morland Gardens to be retained, I would hope that Council Officers could also recommend that the future redevelopment plans for this Council-owned site should include retaining the locally-listed building.

 

A decision on such a recommendation, by Cabinet on 16 June, would give Officers clearer guidance to progress their Hillside Corridor plans as they move forward. I hope that you, as Cabinet Member for Regeneration, will ask Officers to include that in their Report. Thank you.

 

I am copying this email to Kim Wright, Chief Executive, who could also ask the relevant Officers to do that, in order to help avoid further unnecessary delay over this site. Best wishes,

 

Philip Grant.’

 

If you agree that the Victorian villa, “Altamira”, should be retained, there is still time (until 26 May 2025) to sign the Willesden Local History Society petition calling on Brent Council and its Cabinet to do that. You can add your signature, if you have not already done that, HERE. Thank you!

Philip Grant.

Uncovering Kilburn’s History – Part 2

Welcome back to this second instalment of Kilburn’s story. If you missed Part 1, please “click” on the link.

 

1. The location of several Kilburn pubs on a map from 1800. (From Google Maps World, on the internet)

 

Modern Kilburn is well known for its many public houses, but these only continue a long tradition. The position of Kilburn on a major route facilitated the establishment of several inns from the 15th century onwards. The “Red Lion” claims to have been established in 1444, and “The Cock” was probably around by the early 1500s. The “Black Lion” may date from 1666, but it is the story of “The Bell”, which existed by 1600, that we will look at here.

 

 

2. The Red Lion in 1789, and the frieze on the later building, with 1444 date. (Brent Archives image 2024)

 

A spring of water with medicinal properties (it was impregnated with iron) in Abbey Fields gave rise to Kilburn’s reputation as an 18^th century pleasure resort. It was in the grounds of The Bell. In 1714 the spring was enclosed in a brick reservoir. By 1733, The Bell’s proprietor promoted the water as a cure for stomach ailments, in imitation of the nearby Hampstead Wells.

 

3. The Bell Inn, 1750, an illustration from Walford’s 1878 book. (From the Kilburn & Willesden History blog)

 

Joseph Errington became the landlord of the pub, which came to be called “Kilburn Wells”, in the 1770s. He placed an advert in The Public Advertiser in July 1773 which lists its many attractions:

 

 

‘Kilburn Wells, near Paddington. The waters now are in the utmost perfection: the gardens enlarged and greatly improved; the house and offices re-painted and beautiful in the most elegant manner. The whole is now open for the reception of the public, the great room being particularly adapted to the use and amusement of the politest companies. 

 

Fit either for music, dancing or entertainments. This happy spot is equally celebrated for its rural situation, extensive prospects, and the acknowledged efficacy of its waters; it is most delightfully situated near the site of the once famous Abbey of Kilburn, on the Edgware Road, at an easy distance, being but a morning’s walk, from the metropolis, two miles from Oxford Street; the foot-way from the Mary-bone across the fields is still nearer. A plentiful larder is always provided, together with the best of wines and other liquors. Breakfasting and hot loaves.’

 

 

 

4. A late 18th century engraving of Kilbourn Wells. (Brent Archives online image 2026)

 

Despite seeking to welcome ‘the politest companies’, Kilburn Wells soon acquired a notorious reputation, as it attracted visitors from the nearby Belsize House, an immoral place of entertainment!  

 

In 1801 Dr John Bliss, a famous physician who specialised in treating gout, carried out a series of experiments and analysed the water from both Kilburn and Hampstead. He wrote about Kilburn – 

 

“The spring rises about 12 feet below the surface and is enclosed in a large brick reservoir, which bears the date of 1714 on the key stone of the arch over the door. The water collected in the well is usually of the depth of 5 or 6 feet but in a dry summer it is from 3-4, at which time its effect as a purgative is increased…. When taken fresh from the well a few inches under the surface it is tolerably clear, but not of a crystal transparency – at first it is insipid, but leaves and evident saline taste on the tongue. At rest, and even on alight agitation, no smell is produced but on stirring the water forcibly from the bottom of the reservoir, it becomes turbid from impurities which have been collected in it, and a considerable odour is emitted like that from the scouring of a foul gun barrel.” 

 

Bliss said that when between one and three pints were taken at very short intervals, the purgative operation was slow and gentle. He recommended it for indigestion and various other problems.  

 

Until 1819, when duelling was outlawed, Kilburn Wells was also a favourite spot for duels, being suitably secluded. A particularly infamous duel was fought here on 2 July 1792, between James Maitland, the 8th Earl of Lauderdale and General Benedict Arnold, ‘America’s first traitor.’ Arnold was an officer in the American Army, and when in command of the garrison at West Point, he secretly negotiated to be paid for surrendering his garrison to the British. He later defected and lived comfortably in Britain.

 

5. 8th Earl of Lauderdale, by Gainsborough, and a contemporary illustration of a duel. (From the internet)

 

During a speech in the House of Lords, Lauderdale had insulted Arnold, who challenged him to a duel at Kilburn Wells. Thankfully, unlike in the illustration above, neither participant was hurt. In fact, only days before, Lauderdale had ‘duelled’ on the same spot with the Duke of Richmond, but their argument was settled with a shake of hands!

 

The Bell was also the scene for dog fighting and pugilism - bare-knuckle fighting, the original form of boxing. Bare-knuckle fighting was very popular in the 18^th and 19^thcenturies and attracted big crowds. In 1783, one of its most celebrated figures, Daniel Mendoza, beat John Matthews here in a fight that lasted 2 hours. 

 

 

6. Two engravings, by Gillray (1790s) and Kinsbury (1789), of the boxer Daniel Mendoza. (From the internet)

 

Mendoza, from Whitechapel, was the first Jewish champion fighter, and was Heavyweight Champion of England from 1792 to 1795. He developed his own concept of fighting. His popularity, and acceptance by British royalty (his patron was the Prince of Wales, and he was the first Jew ever to speak to King George III) helped elevate the reputation of Jews in English society, which was deeply anti-Semitic at the time. 

 

Despite the fact that at the height of its popularity Kilburn Wells could rival the nearby Hampstead Wells, some of its owners went bankrupt. In 1837, the line of Robert Stephenson’s London & Birmingham Railway (later the London & North Western) went through Abbey Farm fields, cutting the Kilburn Wells gardens in two. The part next to the pub became a tea garden, and that on the other side of the railway, which contained the well, became a kitchen garden.

 

7. The Old Bell (left) and new railway line, c. 1840. (Image from Allan Russel, on Twitter)

 

The wells were in decline, but under its original name, The Bell remained popular as a tea garden and a tavern. The Old Bell pub was demolished and rebuilt in 1863. The well disappeared in the Victorian building boom.

 

8. "The Old Bell", in its Victorian building on Kilburn High Road, 2010. (From the internet – pubwiki)

 

The memory of Kilburn Wells lives on in the name of the Wells Spa House (1a West End Lane), and a stone plaque on No.42 Kilburn High Road at the junction with Belsize Road, which says that this was the site of Kilburn Wells. There is also a black stone square on the ground in front of the building.

 

9. The plaque marking the site of the Kilburn Wells, 2007. (Brent Archives online image 5867)

 

Eventually, Kilburn developed to be more than just a place of pubs and farms, and we will explore that side of its history next week. I look forward to sharing that with you.

Irina Porter, Willesden Local History Society.

 

A special thank you to local historian Dick Weindling, co-author of 'Kilburn and West Hampstead Past' and History of Kilburn and West Hampstead blog

Uncovering Kilburn’s History

 By popular demand we are pleased to publish a new local history series about Kilburn by Irina Porter of Willesden Local History Society.

 

 1. A postcard of Kilburn, c. 1930s. (From the internet - www.images-of-London.co.uk)

Kilburn is an area in Brent, which grew around the intersection of the Roman road known as Watling Street (Edgware Road) and a local river of the same name. Kilburn lies south west of this stretch of the ancient thoroughfare, here called Kilburn High Road, between West End Lane and Queen’s Park. Kilburn has never been an administrative unit, and its boundaries are not defined. However, it has given us a rich and colourful history, which we will uncover here.

 

2. Kilburn, at the edge of a 1930s pictorial map of London and suburbs. (From the first AtoZ atlas and guide)

As with many a historic name, ‘Kilburn’ could have several origins. Some say it comes from a stream (Anglo-Saxon Kelebourne, which could have been ‘cold bourne’ (river), ‘cow’s bourne’ or ‘King’s bourne’). The stream used to run into the River Westbourne, which flows from Hampstead to the Serpentine in Hyde Park. Or it could be named after a Saxon called Cylla, used c. 1134 as Cuneburna). A variation of Kilnbourn could come from tile making industry in the area.

 

3. The course of the River Westbourne, marked on a modern street map. (Courtesy of John & Anne Hill)

The Kilburn Stream originated in Hampstead and went through what is now West Hampstead southwards. It ran parallel to the High Road along what is today’s Kingsgate Rd, then it passed under the Edgware Road at Kilburn Bridge. It joined the Westbourne near today’s Shirland Road, which flowed into the Serpentine and eventually into the Thames. In the 1860s the stream was culverted and became part of the sewage system.

 

4. The Kilburn area in 1790. (From an article by John & Anne Hill, in W.L.H.S. Journal No.49)

5. The bridge over the Kilbourne on West End Lane, as seen from the High Road, around 200 years ago.
    (From “Kilburn and West Hampstead Past” by Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms)

Here is an interesting fact, uncovered by Willesden Local History Society members John and Anne Hill, from an article they wrote in Volume 49 of our Journal: “Springfield Walk (near Belsize Road) has a set of very old steps that give access to Kilburn Priory.  We climbed the steps and, whilst we were taking photos of the house, we noticed the sound of rushing water.  In the middle of Kilburn Priory Road there is a drain cover – and beneath this drain cover flows the River Westbourne, Kilburn’s ‘lost river’ making its way to the River Thames.” 

 

 6. The River Westbourne drain cover, and its Springfield Walk location. (Photos by John and Anne Hill)

The area of Kilburn grew around where the Kilburn Brook crossed the Watling Street (now Edgware Road), which was an important route to the north since the Roman Times. Even before them, this was an ancient trackway used by the Britons (although the route may have followed Willesden Lane, Neasden Lane and Honeypot Lane to avoid the marshy valley of the River Brent at what is now Staples Corner). Soon after the Romans landed in Kent in AD43, they paved and straightened this road as their major route to the north west, via St.Albans, which they called Verulamium. They needed a fast route to take their legions towards North Wales, where the local tribes were resisting Roman rule. Some flint blocks from the Roman road were found in Kilburn in 1923, at a depth of about six feet.

 

7. A map of Watling Street, overlaid on the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica map of Roman Britain.

As well as enabling quick movement of troops and resources within the Roman province of Britannia, Watling Street has also served as a boundary. In 878, King Alfred of Wessex signed a treaty with Danish invaders, under which Alfred kept the southern side, and the Danes established Danelaw to the north. In 1599 Watling Street is mentioned as London Way, and later the Edgware Road. Our stretch of it has become the traditional boundary between Willesden, now in Brent, and Hampstead, now in Camden.

 

8. The Priory, Kilburn, 1750, as shown in a book illustration from 1878. (Internet – British History Online)

A community of Augustinian canonesses, Kilburn Priory was set up where the Watling Road crossed the Kilburn brook in the 12^thcentury. Now Belsize Road meets Kilburn High Road here. Around 1130 a hermit called Godwyn set up a small cell (hermitage) near a holy well (medicinal spring) here. In 1134 he gave his place to Westminster Abbey. Three nuns – Emma, Gunhilda and Christina – established a Benedictine (later referred to as Augustinian) nunnery. They were probably former maids of honour to Queen Matilda of Scotland, the wife of Henry I of England, who became nuns after the Queen died.

Godwyn remained the warden until he died, and a Chaplain would be appointed to oversee the nuns. They worshipped in the church dedicated to St. John the Baptist and prayed for the soul of the brethren who once belonged to Westminster. The priory was endowed with lands in Kensington, Kent, Southwark, Tottenham and Hendon. It also owned ‘the manor of Wymbley’. 

 

9. The seal of Kilburn Priory in 1536, and Emma de Sancto Omero, Prioress of Kilburn c.1400.
    (Images from “Kilburn and West Hampstead Past” by Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms)

The Priory was a stopping place for pilgrims on their way to the shrines at St. Albans, and later Willesden also. According to the customs of the time, it provided food and shelter to travellers, both rich and poor. Pilgrims had to travel through woods, which afforded hiding places for robbers, particularly at the foot of the nearby Shoot-up Hill, and a safe resting place was very helpful for pilgrims to form groups, so they could travel together for protection. This hospitality proved a burden on the Priory, and by the middle of 14^th century it was found in financial trouble by the Bishop of London and in 1352 was exempt from taxes. By the end of the century its buildings were in decay.

The Priory continued to support travellers for 400 years, so it never became wealthy. In 1536, Henry VIII dissolved the Priory, whose seal at the time, showing John the Baptist wearing a camel-hair garment, is seen above. The inventory details the rooms and furniture for the church, house, brewhouse and bakehouse, as well as some wall hangings, candesticks, two silver chalices and goblets. There was also ‘one horse of the coller of blacke’, valued at 5s.

Henry VIII gave Kilburn Priory to the Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem in exchange for a piece of land in Southwark. That Order was also dissolved, four years later, and the Kilburn estate reverted to the crown. It was given to the King’s courtier, the Earl of Warwick, then passed through the hands of various landowners. The Uptons, who owned the land in the 19^th century, built the Church of St. Mary on a site adjoining the ancient chapel. By then the main house and surrounding land was known as Abbey Farm, comprising about 45 acres. However, nothing remained of the original priory, except a ‘rising bank… and ruined walls’.

 10. The Remains of Kilburn Priory, from a book published in 1814. (Image from the internet)

Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms write in their book ‘Kilburn and West Hampstead Past’: “When the railway was cut through in the autumn of 1852, some pottery, a few coins and a bronze vessel, all medieval, were found at the Priory site and these were put on display at the Archaeological Institute.” A sad epitaph for a historic local building!

I hope you will join me next week, as we explore why Kilburn became a visitor attraction.

Irina Porter,
Willesden Local History Society.

 

Note: 

Special thank you to local historian Dick Weindling, author of 'Kilburn and West Hampstead Past' and History of Kilburn and West Hampstead blog (http://kilburnwesthampstead.blogspot.com/).