The names of a few of the old church members are still to be found on the
register of the church books at Westbourne Grove Chapel, but the majority
have found a better, more enduring home. “They rest from their labours,
and their works do follow them.”
Campden Hill Road, at this time called “Plough Lane,” was a private road
leading to large houses, one of which had been occupied by Sir I. Newton.
The high Water Tower which may now be seen as a land mark for many miles
was not then erected.
At the corner of Plough Lane (the east side now covered with houses and
the north side by shops) stood a mansion surrounded by a wall. This was
occupied by a Captain Coote, a German. I believe both he and his wife
had in former time had something to do with the trial of Queen Caroline
as witnesses for the Queen.
About 1846 building commenced in earnest. The beautiful Portobello Lane
was denuded of its hedges near Notting Hill, and a roadway cut through to
where Horbury Chapel now stands. Beyond this, in that which is now
Kensington Park Road the first new buildings were erected known at that
time as the Swiss and Italian Villas. Ladbroke Square and other houses
in that locality soon followed.
On the top of the hill, where once stood Notting Hill Farm and the grand
stand of the Hippodrome Race Ground, the foundation stone of a new
church, St. John’s, was laid about 1846. The last owner of this farm
seems to have been a man highly respected. A tablet was erected to his
memory in the old church at Kensington, from which I make a short
extract:
“IN MEMORY
Of John Hall, &c., &c., and of Notting Hill. For those who remember
him that name were his best epitaph. To others it may be useful to
record that John Hall was one who in life, by his good works, and by
fervent faith in death proved that the source of virtue is in the
love of God.
&c., &c.
He died August 10, 1816, aged 54.”
The first minister of St. John’s Church was not so highly esteemed as the
old owner of the Hill had been. It was stated that in asking for
signatures to a petition that the Church should be a District Church, he
misled those who were asked to sign by saying it would make no
difference, but directly the object was attained a church rate was called
for. He became very unpopular, and the last I heard of him was that he
headed a strange procession. Walking through the street he was met by a
crowd following a broker, who had seized a large clock for church rates.
He was immediately surrounded, and compelled to follow the broker to his
house. Some hundreds of people joined in the procession. He soon after
obtained a fresh living, and the church has always since had ministers
who were respected.