Notting Hill Living
Elgin Crescent
The north side east of Ladbroke Grove was land owned by Dr Samuel Walker, which he later sold to Charles Blake. Walker entered into a building agreement for most of this area with Henry Malcolm Ramsay in 1852. Ramsay constructed Nos. 58-120, which were completed in 1858. There was a small area left bordering Ladbroke Grove which Blake allocated to Edwin Ware, a builder from Paddington, who built Nos. 50-56 there in 1862.
On the south of Elgin Crescent, work began in 1851 on Blake’s land, which was the western-most section of the crescent. Nos. 117-145 (odd) were built by David Ramsay, a nurseryman from Brompton. Nos. 149-153 (odd) were taken by H W Smith, a builder. For some reason, Blake allocated the single house at No. 147 to a different builder, Charles Preedy of Islington. It is believed that most of these houses were designed by William Sim, except for Nos. 149-153 which may have been designed by Thomas Allom.
Dr Walker’s property contained the range next to Ladbroke Road, and work began there slightly later. He allotted Nos. 17-47 to Robert Russell, a builder, in 1852. Nos. 63-67 (odd) were built by J D Cowland, in about 1863. Nos. 69-115 (odd) were built by William Sim between 1852 and 1860.
