Thomas Pocock was a lawyer in the City. But he turns up as a builder or developer in the Ladbroke estate over almost the whole period of development there. He was often acting on behalf of wealthier clients, although he did take on some houses for his own account. His involvement started in 1846 when Felix Ladbroke agreed to sell him 30 acres. This block of land was between Ladbroke Grove and Portobello Road, from Ladbroke Gardens in the South to Westbourne Park Road in the north.
Either Pocock could not afford it, or he was always acting as an agent, but he immediately sold most of the land on to the Reverend Brooke Edward Bridges, a parson in Bedfordshire, and kept only 4 acres for himself, most of which was between Kensington Park Road and Portobello Road.
The land had already been leased by J W Ladbroke to George Penson, a Newgate St cheesemonger. It seems that Pocock represented Penson as well. He appeared at a hearing before the Commissioners For Sewers as his solicitor. From 1847 onwards it seems that Pocock took over the active management of the development on behalf of himself Bridges and Penson. (By 1855, Bridges sold off most of his land to Dr Walker, presumably at an attractive profit since Walker was no businessman.)
Pocock bought more land for himself between Kensington Park Road and Portobello Road. He either granted leases to building speculators or built houses himself using contractors.
In 1846 Pocock agreed to buy 33 acres north of Lansdowne Rise from Richard Roy, but in the end bought five acres which he later sold on to Charles Blake.
Pocock also took leases from other land owners in the area. He leased 30 plots on Clarendon Road from Stephen Phillips, and Nos. 61-75 (odd) Lansdowne Road from Walker. When Walker's business failed, he took over the half-finished houses in Lansdowne Road and Elgin Crescent from Walker's trustees and completed them.
Pocock's main source of finance was Penson, who took mortgages on many of his properties.
Pocock lived on the estate. His home was No. 30 Ladbroke Square for many years, before he moved to No. 24 Ladbroke Gardens where he died in 1869. Penson died in 1879.