Old London: Belgravia, Chelsea and Kensington - Edward Walford

This volume in the "Old London" series has chapters on the districts in the title, plus Pimlico, Notting Hill Gate, Bayswater, Kensington Gardens and Palace, West Brompton, the Cremorne Gardens and Holland House. The history of these fashionable suburbs, since the days when Chelsea was no more than farmland, is recounted.;Kensington has long been a Royal suburb and there are anecdotes of the occupants of Kensington Palace, down to the first Council of Queen Victoria on her accession and afterwards. Holland House has many literary and theatrical connections. Addison, Fox, Rogers and Sheridan all stayed there as did Lord Macaulay. Another chapter relates the history of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the Albert Memorial. The latter took about twenty years to build and cost over #130,000. The Royal Hospital also has a chapter devoted to it with its tales of Nell Gwynne and many others involved in the founding and history of this establishment.;This volume ends with the story of Tyburn and Tyburnia. For many years a place of public execution - highwaymen, poisoners, persecuted Catholics and rebels met their end here.;When London started expanding in the early 19th century, Belgravia, Kensington and Chelsea were amongst the first areas to be developed, evidenced by the many Georgian terraces and houses standing today.