Dave Walker from RBK&C Local Studies recently put a posting on his excellent blog that he called The Science District of North Kensington. These were the streets, named after eminent Victorian scientists and engineers, that used to run between Ladbroke Grove and Wornington Road. This was when Wornington Road and Portobello Road continued all the way northwest to join Ladbroke Grove near the junction with Barlby Road.
Have a look at the photos and map on his blog – all from 1969 and 1970, just before over half the area was demolished to make way for the Wornington Estate. Paradoxically, that estate is now in the process of being redeveloped again and the original street layout reinstated to make way for Portobello Square.
Dave’s blog………………….
So the photos and stories here are to supplement those that you can see on Dave’s blog.
Ordnance Survey Map 1894-96
The map above shows the original layout of the roads. Running from the bottom left of the map in a north west direction are Ladbroke Grove, then Portobello Road and finally Wornington Road. Wornington School (the first building) is clearly marked and on the corner of Wornington Road and Telford Road is Christ Church, with th Vicarage and Church Hall on Farady Road. By the time the photos on Dave’s blog were taken for the borough in 1969, the Church and Vicarage are gone. Only the Church Hall remains and an adventure playground takes its place in the vacant plot.
On the map at the other end of Faraday Road where it meets Ladbroke Grove is the Fire station seen below, fronting Faraday Road not Ladbroke Grove as it does now.
Fire Station on Faraday Road (with the tower). The building on the left, on the corner of Ladbroke Grove was Raymede Clinic, later pulled down and moved to Telford Road. Photo: RBK&C Local Studies
Brian Haynes sent me some photos he took on Faraday Road and included a few memories.
“I was born in November 1937 in Hammersmith Hospital, and apart from a few weeks when we lived in Ladbroke Grove with my maternal grandparents (close to Barlby Rd). I was resident with my folks at 14 Faraday Rd. until the houses were demolished during the slum clearances of the early ’70s.
Wornington Road School
I was about 5 years old when I started at Wornington Rd School, and left when about 8 to go to Bevington, so early memories are rather thin. The school was only about 150 yards from home at 14 Faraday Road. It accommodated mixed infants on the ground floor, and ‘secondary’ level girls-only in the rest of the building. The rear of the building backed onto the GWR lines, and the playground was at the front and was divided to ‘segregate’ the senior and infant pupils. Nobody had cars then, so there was no need for the car-park which now occupies part of the old playground. At the far right of the building was a very small sweet shop which we called ‘the Cabin’ and opposite this, between the Mitre pub and the mews, was another sweet-shop of sorts, run by a friendly but rather strange old fella who we called Bert. Inside there were 2 pin-tables, a few large jars of sweets on otherwise empty shelves, and a couple of chairs. Bert’s main income seemed to be from selling ‘penny drinks’ to us school children. He always wore an Arkwright’ type brown shop coat, and invariably had an unlit roll-up ciggie in his mouth or behind an ear.
My photos:
I had just bought my Ensign Selfix camera (my pride and joy) when I took this ‘experimental’ shot through the front-room window on a wet and miserable day…the rain on the windows blurred the shot ( that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!). It shows the ‘high’ end of the ‘odd’ numbers, some of the plane trees, and one of the old gas-lamps. We had great fun on these by tying a washing line into a large loop, hooking the loop over one of the cross-bars, and swinging round. During the war, roughly alongside the first tree, was an air-raid shelter, and another one was further down on the right-hand side. Portobello Road is seen crossing at the far right, and the corner shop still remains, as does the rest of Faraday which is out of shot.
This colour shot shows the bomb-site adjacent to the ‘old’ Fire Station, one of the many that we played in and had ‘raids’ with ‘gangs’ from other streets….bloody, but great fun, and all friends afterwards !”
(Not sure about this particular ‘bomb-site’. Maybe it is the Clinic site after it was demolished and not a ‘bomb-site’ as here is the Clinic still there in the RBKC photo of 1969).
More of Brian’s photos of ‘wheels’ on Faraday Road
“That is me on my bike. Below is my 3-wheel Morgan, a very famous, and nowadays, a very valuable and sought after motor vehicle. This particular car had a JAP V-twin engine, and was built in 1932. I bought it because I already had a motor-bike licence, and by ‘blanking-off’ reverse I was legally entitled to drive it. I called her “Moggie”. I bought her with the birthday money my Mother gave me when I was 21, in 1958/9. It cost £100. Later, I got £90 for it in part exchange for a beautiful 1949 Alvis TA14.
Above is my lovely Alvis (1949, 2-tone green with leather and corduroy upholstery), and the ‘Beetle’ which replaced it.”
Brian Haynes 2015
In 1969 at the other end of Faraday Road where it meets Wornington Road there was an Adventure Playground. This was on the site of Christ Church and its Vicarage which according to some notes on a photograph of the interior shown below, was demolished 1n 1949, perhaps because of bomb damage incurred earlier during the war?
Christ Church and its vicarage viewed from Wornington Road. The Church Hall on the left on Faraday Road remained until the early 1970s.
Geoff Davis sent in some photos and memories relating to the Church.
“My father, Herbert William Davis was born in 1901; his parents were James and Ellen with brothers Alfred and James. On the 1911 census the family are living at 2 Branstone Street, later moving to number 11. No longer there, Branstone St was close to the junction of Ladbroke Grove and Barlby Road.
I know that my father was an active member of Christ Church that was in Telford Road until about 1941. Herbert sang in the choir – boy and man – played football and cricket, was a scoutmaster and in 1931, was married there to another member of the church, who came from a family in Wornington Road.”The Football team, 1915/1916. Herbert, aged 14 is in the centre with the ball.
The Choir of Christ Church Telford Road about the time of the First World War
Christ Church Cricket team, early 1920s.
Geoff Davis 2015
Wheatstone Road
Wheatstone Road looking west ,1970. (RBKC Local Studies)
The school/college building on Wornington Road is at the end and Trellick Tower is under construction.
Wheatstone Road, southern side 1970, (RBKC Local Studies)
In the 1920s, my mother lived in one of the houses above on the southern side backing on to Munro Mews.
“As a child, I lived in Wheatstone Road, no 20. The house was owned by a Mr Clayton who lived on the ground floor with his daughter and wife. His father had bought the house soon after it was built. All the houses were 3 or 4 storeys but only one at that time – right opposite us was not let out as rooms or flats. We considered them to be ‘toffs’, having the whole house for one family. There was a lot of poverty on the street as most people had bigger families than at our house. I lived on the first floor with my mother, and my grandma lived on the top floor with my aunt. No bathroom of course, just a sink, a cold water tap and a toilet on the middle landing. We all had to use the same toilet which was just outside our kitchen/dining room.
There was a long backyard, concreted over. Attached to the house was a Laundry Room with a copper for heating the water (we cooked the Christmas puddings in the copper). Alongside the wall of the yard were outhouses for Mr Claytons ‘tools of the trade’ as he was a chimney sweep.”
Many of the conditions she described in the 1920s did not change and houses remained without bathrooms and hot water until they were pulled down in the 1970s.
Finally a couple of photos of the Wornington Estate that replaced these streets, taken I think in the 1980s.
So, if anyone has any more information regarding TelfordRoad, Faraday Road, Wheatstone Road and Murchison Street, please send it to me, Sue at the website.
northkenstories@yahoo.co.uk
Or add your own comment directly below.
North Kensington Histories 
This is wholly interesting and thank you so much for your research and keeping us anchored in our local history. Audrey Counsell.
I lived in 65 Faraday road 1941-1952 I went to St Charles school in St Charles Square
Has any one any photo of our school days?
I love reading your history thank you.
Great pictures and history. My then fiancée’s family had a whole house in Wheatstone. They were the Knapps and their house is shown in your picture. I lived in Ladbroke Grove and have been pulling my hair out trying to remember the name of the road opposite Chesterton Road which faced me. It ran up to Portobello Road. Any idea?
Hi Doreen,
I remember Bob Knapp who lived in Wheatstone Rd, he was good friends with my dad, we lived in no 34 Wheatstone Rd. Is the road you are thinking of Bonchurch Road?
Kind regards,
John Stacey
Hello John Stacey
My family lived at 32 Wheatstone Rd, it was shared with my uncle and aunt on the top two floors and an elderly couple on the ground floor (Brickles and we are Knight) As far as I can remember we lived there from 1953 until we left for Australia in January 1963. My name is Carole Knight born 1954 at Hammersmith, my brother Robert 1955. My parents are Ronald and Ellen (Lyn) maybe you knew them. My daughter is married to a Stacey here in Australia, his family are originally from Cornwell. Anyway it’s a small world now with the Internet, would be extraordinary if our families meet in the past.
Regards Carole Knight
My Great Grandma Annie Louisa Fisher lived at 33 Wheatstone road, she was 18 when she married John Bertrum Morgan, unsure of what other members of her family lived in the property with her. If anyone remembers the family please can you share with me. thak you so much best wishes Suzanne
Your last picture is Pepler House, Wornington Road where my parents moved to. They were the Merretts and lived at 68. You had first choice of these places if you lived in the original Wornington Road at any time in your life.
I was born 1956 actually in 95 Wornington Road about 50 yds from old Berts shop which my sister’s and myself often frequented. My nan and grandad Rose lived there also on the ground floor. They were greengrocers and often they sold fruit and veg to the locals from their lorry outside the house. We eventually moved to 127 Wornington Rd and actually witnessed Pepler House being built. The first residents to move in there were the Stanley’s – John and his dad. I remember feeling so jealous. It was like a palace so new and bright and right opposite the adventure playground. I also remember being a bridesmaid for my aunty Jessy and they had their reception in that church hall on Faraday Road. So many great memories keep up the good work.
Must be a relative,my uncle Bill and Aunt Jessie lived in wornington road,my nan lived in Munro mews and we lived in Bevington Road,my mum was Ethel Rose
Any Relation to Christine Rose ?
What an interesting website, shall be saving this and reading again when I have a little more free time. I now live at Didcot in Oxfordshire but grew up living at 8 Pickwick house, Henry Dickens Court W11. My dad was quite well known on the estate taking our boxer dog our for walk’s with my dad smoking his pipe. I went to Isaac Newton school, Wornington road in the early 1960s and I remember I used to go to the sweet shop you mentioned and there was also a cake shop nearby I recall. There was a shop that had a mynah bird behind the counter which used to talk, may have been the cake shop? My best friends were Geoffrey Cobb, Colin Hill and Ray Stockwell who I lost touch with when I moved away. I notice now on Rightmove that the private two bed flats at Henry Dickens now sell for about 400k circa!!! Maybe I should have stayed and bought my mum’s flat!! Which was council. I would have been well off now! Haha. Can still remember the caretaker at those flats when I lived there! Joe Langham. Anyway many thanks for an extremely intresting article.
Brian Haynes lived close to my brother in law Tony Smith who lived at 2 Faraday Rd. My gran lived on the corner, Kate Swan ( Daly). My cousins also lived there, Alfie and Tommy Swan. Tony Smith remembers Brian well.
Where could I send photos to?
If you have any photos that were taken on the streets that show the houses and how they were, you can email then as jpegs to the website at
northkenstories@yahoo.co.uk
Please include details, time, place and who is in the photos.
Sue
Does anyone know why many of the buildings on Bassett Road have a Poseidon figure set above the windows on the first floor.
Thanks,
Rupert
Hello, my grandmother, Christina Russell (nee Smurthwaite, previously Jones & Duncan) lived at 45 Wheatstone Road from the 1930’s, also at no 33 Wheatstone. She had connections with Sutton Row as well. She lived in Wheatstone Road until she died in the 1980’s.
She had a child Mavis (born 1930) then 4 others.
My Great Grandma Annie Louisa Fisher lived at 33 Wheatstone road, she was 18 [1925] when she married John Bertrum Morgan, unsure of what other members of her family lived in the property with her. If anyone remembers the family please can you share with me. thak you so much best wishes Suzanne
Hi Viv my name is Arthur Allum. My mother was Catherine Smurthwaite. Your grandmother was my gran aunt. My grandmother’s name was Catherine Smurthwaite from Hartlepool. Your grandmother Christina we called ‘Tini’ was very kind to us as kids. I was born in Wheatstone road and I Still work in the area. I just found your North Kensington blog. Would love to hear from you
Hi Arthur, would love to exchange information, please e-mail me at my temporary e-mail address (height-offset.0o@icloud.com)
I wonder if your grandmother was the ‘Aunt Kitty” my mum talked about? I have a photo!
Hi your Grandma just have known mine,as she lived at no 43 Wheatstone for years until the 1960s.
Her name was Nell Skingle. I also lived at no 39 Wheatstone in the 1950s, my mum and dad name were Fred and Freda Skingle I remember the cabin sweet shop
. At the other end on the corners were a bakers and a chemist.
I can also remember going round the mews to a stable to feed a horse called Dolly I think she belonged to the Fays. I have a picture of the Queens Coronation street Party 1953? In Wheatstone rd.
Yes that was my Grandads horse. The surname was Fahey.
My Nan Annie Higgins (nee Nicholson) and lived at 36 Wheatstone Road. I was born on the 3rd June 1944 at17 West Row, North Kensington. Every Saturday we visited Nan and shopped in Portobello. I remember street games swinging on a rope attached to lamposts. I became an artist and a poet and a poem about Nan and her attic flat is published in an anthology tiltled Lodestones. Nans flat had an outside tap through a window and groundfloor toilet used by all at 36.
I’ve discovered that in 1911 my great-grandfather was living with his wife and 7 of his 13 children at 17 Wheatstone Road. I imagine it was quite a squeeze!
What a lovely site this is, Im currently doing my family history and dont know much about my Great Grandmothers family “Fishers” but they lived at 33 Wheatstone road before and during 1925.
I was born in 1950 and also lived in Wheatstone road. Me mum and dad lived at number 34. My nan Uncle aunt and cousin lived at number 14. And mum and dad best friends lived at number 31. I also went Wornington road school. Then Bevington school. Then onto Ladbroke girls. Lots of us kids from the street used to go to st. Marks park. Good times x
Hi Val,
This is John Stacey, we lived above you in 34 Wheatstone Road, now down in Hythe Kent.
Hope you are keeping well and still remember the good times in Wheatstone 😉
Hi Val, it’s John Stacey from no 34, hope that you are keeping well I have some photos of you and your mum and dad which I must find. Retired now and living in Hythe Kent
Best wishes John
The bakers on the corner of Wheatstone was called. Lambs. X
Anyone Remember the Cook family on Wheatstone road ?? Steve cook & Gail cook !
I was born in Rendle Road on kitchen table in 1961and I would love to find pictures of this road. My place of birth having never seen one before. Lived in many places in Ladbroke Grove such as the old and the new Wornington Road. Princess Alice House, Dalgono gardens. Bassett Road. Colville Gardens and a few more really run down places when Margaret Thatcher was like a Death star to this country. My own view of course. If anyone could help with a picture, I’d be so grateful…..