The St Quintin Estate NORTH W10 Early Beginnings Situated in W10 just north of and south of the Harrow Road is North Kensington. A large section of the neighbourhood is occupied by the St Quintin Estate Conservation Area, which is made up of a number of highly sought after residential streets. The area is steeped in a colourful history from its early beginnings as a sleepy farm in the eighteenth century to what it has become today – a rich tapestry of streets with wonderful examples of Edwardian and Victorian architecture.

Prior to the early 1790s the area now known as the St Quintin Estate was home to Notting Hill Barns, which belonged to a Thomas Darby of Sunbury and was the earliest record of occupation on the site. The land was conveyed to William St Quintin in 1796 and a beautiful manor house was built, which is believed to have stood on the site now occupied by St Helen’s Church. The church was built in 1884 to facilitate the growing population in the area but part of it was destroyed during wartime bombing in June 1944 and rebuilt in 1956. Local residents claimed the bricks of the bombed church to rebuild their houses which still stand today.

The first major residential building work in the area commenced between 1860 and 1879 when the design for Cambridge Gardens, Oxford Gardens and Bassett Road was laid out and the houses built. The very first houses to be built on the estate were 60 to 68 Cambridge Gardens which were four stories in height, with centrally placed doorways flanked by columns and bay windows.

From 1905 onwards, in the area west of St Mark’s Road, the vast majority of the several hundred two storey red brick family houses, built in pairs or terraces on Finstock, Balliol, Highlever, Kingsbridge Roads, Kelfield Gardens and St Quintin Avenue were built. These newly built properties were aimed at middle class Londoners. The houses on these streets have twenty foot wide frontages, with the plots extending to a hundred feet in depth, with sizable gardens both at the front and back of the property. There were two types of bricks used in the building of the houses on the estate - ‘ brick’ for the back portion and a more expensive brick which was used for the facade.

St Helens Garden’s was known as “The Village” during the 60’s and 70’s. There were countless amenities so local residents did not have to leave the area to do their shopping. Amongst the local merchants were William Grigg the grocer, Stone’s the ironmonger, Fred’s fruit and veg stand, independent children’s clothes shops and a delicatessen which had sawdust on the floors, ham hanging from the ceilings and milk in churns up until the late 70’s. Modern Times In 1965 the residents fought against the construction of an offshoot of Park Rangers moved into the area and the players changed at the pub the A40 which was to be built through the heart of the estate taking before training. “Because of poor finances, QPR had to move to St. out Balliol Road altogether. Their efforts paid off and in 1967 the Quintin’s Avenue in 1901. Players had to change in a public house plans were scrapped, but this was not the end of potentially harmful and walk to the pitch. The inhabitants of the area complained that plans for the area. QPR were lowering the tone of the neighbourhood and in 1902 QPR moved back to Kensal Rise!” – www.qpr.co.uk On the 24th February 1974 Kensington and Chelsea Council received an application from the St Quintin estate residents association Today the St Quintin Estate is more popular than it has ever been requesting that the area be deemed a designated Conservation Area. with its attractive architecture, good educational facilities and strong The request was initially put forward to protect the site from the sense of community spirit. The area holds onto its unique personality potentially harmful influences of the Channel Tunnel Terminal which by being the home to a number of high profile business leaders and at that time was planned for White City. celebrities, as well as our new Prime Minister, David Cameron. The estate, being in RBK&C, qualifies for a Resident’s Parking Permit The estate is unusual as it does not have listed buildings within its which fortuitously covers the whole borough. boundaries, although some buildings are referred to in the Survey of London. With its submission it was stated by the There are excellent schools in and around the St Quintin Estate which Council that, “The special nature of the St Quintin Estate appears attract large numbers of families from the surrounding area to. Some to lie in the homogenous nature of the number of different housing of the most popular schools include The New Studio pre school concepts rather than any specific focal point.” tucked behind Kelfield Gardens for 2 ½ to 5 years olds and Bassett House, a preparatory school on Oxford Gardens which is the sister The town planning committee agreed to ring fence the greater part school of the popular Prospect House in Putney and Orchard House in of the estate as part of the Conservation Area, excluding the area Chiswick. The independent French school, La Petite Ecole Française around Latimer Road. The key streets of interest to the council for is located on Oxford Gardens and follows the French national preservation were Oxford Gardens, Cambridge Gardens and Bassett education system. The presence of so many reputable schools greatly Road due to the exceptional quality of architecture and layout and enhances the feeling of community. design of the estate. The area was officially deemed a Conservation Area on 30th April 1975. One of London’s most popular landmark streets is a short walk away from the St Quintin estate and remains ever-popular The area is predominantly residential, although there is no shortage with tourists and locals alike. The road is home to an abundance of recreational facilities. The West London Bowling Club lies behind of quirky independent cafés, shops and restaurants and the local Pangbourne Avenue, The North Kensington Squash Rackets Club can authority try to maintain this independent spirit through the planning be found in the Barlby Road triangle and the Memorial Recreation system. Portobello Road remains Notting Hill’s most famous street Ground covers five acres and within its boundaries are the facilities and main cultural artery. for netball, tennis and football. Current residents number a high proportion of people who have lived The only public houses can be found on the periphery of the and “upsized” in the area for many years and the estate is very much Conservation Area, as they were not included in the original seen as part of “greater Notting Hill”. It is a quieter, more family architectural plans and therefore not built into the original design orientated part of the neighbourhood, whilst still being close the more of the site. This was due to the covenant put in place by William St vibrant streets such as Portobello and Golborne Roads. Quintin to have no licensed premises on the estate; this is still the case today. The Earl Percy can be found on the corner of Chesterton Road This unique set of factors and attributes bodes well for the St Quintin and marking the eastern boundary of the estate. At Estate’s continuing success as a community and a sound property the turn of the twentieth century the North Pole pub, which marks investment. the western boundary, took on a new role as the football club Queens The St Quintin Estate Conservation Area

Local Contacts: Parking Permit information - 020 7361 4381 St Charles Medical Centre - 020 8969 2488 Local Police Station - 020 7289 5030 Bassett House - 020 8969 0313 The New Studio School - 020 8969 5805 La Petit Ecole Francaise - 020 8960 1278 West London Bowling Club - 0208 969 1929 North Kensington Library - 020 7727 6583 Westminster Planning office - 020 7641 6000 Sports Centre - 020 8969 0992

With special thanks to: Audrey Jones Kensington Library – Local Studies Department Mr. & Mrs. Michael Searles

020 7221 0330 126 Ladbroke Grove London W10 5NE www.bectivelesliemarsh.co.uk [email protected]

Misrepresentation Act 1967. This brochure and the descriptions and measurements herein do not constitute representation and whilst ever effort has been made to ensure accuracy, this cannot be guaranteed. December 2006. 199342.