S T Q U I N T I N E S TAT EN O R T H K E N S I N G T O N W 1 0

S T Q U I N T I N E S TAT EN O R T H K E N S I N G T O N W 1 0

North Kensington has long had strong connections to the arts and is one of the most sought after areas in West London. The neighbourhood boasts high fashion boutiques, Michelin starred restaurants and the world famous Portobello Market attracting people from across the capital and around the globe. The majority of the district is occupied by the St Quintin Estate Conservation Area consisting of a number of very sought after residential streets each demonstrating a rich tapestry of building styles and a fine example of Edwardian and Victorian architecture. Steeped in history and with much to offer, this thriving pocket of West London is the home of the modern Londoner.

EARLY BEGINNINGS

In the early 1800s, North Kensington was occupied by two farms: Portobello Farm and Notting Barns. Notting Barns, the largest of these two farms originally comprised of 225 acres with a farm house located at the junction of the now St Quintin Avenue and

Chesterton Road. The house and the land were eventually passed from Thomas Darby of Sunbury into the St. Quintin family who owned extensive estates and properties across the country.

It was not until the mid 1800s when North Kensington witnessed substantial growth which allowed more residential building to commence. Leading the efforts was Colonel St. Quintin who lived in Yorkshire. He subsequently appointed English architect Henry Currey to supervise the estate development. Currey, known for his ‘pavilion style’ began to lay out his plans for long, straight, parallel streets leading westward from Ladbroke Grove.

Cambridge Gardens, Oxford Gardens and Bassett Road were the first streets to be designed and 60-68 Cambridge Gardens the first to be built. These prime streets featured four storey terraced houses with centrally placed doorways flanked by columns and bay windows. Situated on tree-lined streets, the harmonious terraces boast ornate cornice lines, period detailing and decorative brickwork.

From 1905 onwards, the houses leading further west were built grouped in either pairs or terraces. The streets included Finstock Road, Highlever Road, St Quintin Avenue, Kellfield Gardens and Kingsbridge Road. These streets differ quite drastically from Cambridge Gardens and Bassett Road due to their Edwardian nature and red brick qualities.

S T Q U I N T I N AV E N U EN O R T H K E N S I N G T O N W 1 0

Once in a while a house comes along that sets new standards.This five storey Victorian red brick property is such a home.

Wide and spacious, the house offers fantastic family accommodation.

On the ground floor there is a grand double reception room which leads on to the large kitchen / breakfast room with views over the garden.

The lower ground floor offers excellent ceiling heights in the family room along with direct garden access. Of particular note is the beautiful glass fronted wine store and the cinema room with surround sound and 3D projector. There is also separate staff accommodation and utility area.

The three upstairs floors include a grand master suite with walk-in wardrobes and bathroom. There are five further bedrooms, three bathrooms and a wonderful study. Outside is a lovely garden with separate street access.

The house has been refurbished to a very high standard incorporating zoned underfloor heating and an integrated sound and light system that can be controlled remotely by either a tablet or smartphone device.

St Quintin Avenue is in the heart of North Kensington village within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. North Kensington boasts many famous residents within media, finance and politics as well as the world famous Portobello Road.

They are also shorter in appearance consisting of only two storeys, yet extend backwards to provide exceptional space. In most cases they include both front and rear gardens.

There are two dominant brick types used throughout the St. Quintin Estate. London stock brick, a soft handmade brick made from yellow local clay, was used predominantly for the back portion of buildings and a more expensive brick was used for the houses façades for a bolder, more distinguished appearance. Coupled with the ornate gables, cornice lines, stucco frontages and bay windows, the St Quintin Estate continues to be an especially desirable patch of West London.

In just twenty years, over 200 houses were built proving that demand in the area was consistently high and developers expected this trend to continue. The quality and grandeur of the buildings are even reminiscent of the somewhat earlier mansions in the prestigious Pembridge Square in Notting Hill and the opulent houses associated with Holland Park, implying the target buyer for the area was, and still is, very much affluent.

ONE OF A KIND

Although a popular area for young professionals seeking to absorb all aspects of London life, the St Quintin Estate is especially favoured by families boasting an array of activities and leisure facilities. It is

also home to many top London schools such as Notting Hill Preparatory and Bassett House School.

The St Quintin Estate is marked as one of the Royal Borough’s Conservation Areas due to its architectural and historical significance. It was stated by the Greater London Council that ‘the special nature of the St. Quintin Estate appears to lie in the homogenous nature of a number of different housing concepts rather than any specific focal point’ making it the only conservation area in the capital of its kind.

THE HAMMERSMITH AND CITY RAILWAY

The Metropolitan Railway and the branch line from Paddington to Hammersmith, built in the 1860s, was the world’s first underground railway. Developers of the St. Quintin Estate hoped the introduction of this new concept would aid in attracting a new clientele of city workers to the area. With great accessible links to the city’s financial heart, suburban living had for the first time become possible and this feature still stands strong today, attracting many to live in the fashionable west of London, yet commuting to the City daily for work.

FASHIONABLE, FAMOUS AND FLAMBOYANT

This prosperous neighbourhood offers something for everyone, catering to all tastes and ages. There is a great eclectic mix of people and diverse cuisines and activities. As a result, demand for properties,

both to rent and to buy in the area, continue to grow, with sellers and landlords enjoying all the benefits of the ever increasing prices.

Portobello Market is one of London’s most famous street markets. This cosmopolitan and vibrant hub is a major draw to the area boasting everything from first edition books and organic produce, vintage fashions and up-and-coming designers, all set within the charming backdrop of Notting Hill’s pastel painted Victorian architecture.

Combining Parisian Chic with a village type feel, Westbourne Grove is known in the Royal Borough for its plethora of designer stores, bespoke boutiques and exclusive and high-end eateries. It rivals the very best of the West End yet remains a peaceful pocket of London far from the hum of the city centre.

Just a stone’s throw away at White City, Westfield provides 150,000m² of retail indulgence, and is one of London’s largest shopping centres. Home to an array of high street shops alongside a vast collection of designer brands such as Burberry and Louis Vuitton, it caters for every taste and even boasts a cinema and an assortment of restaurants and bars on site.

The famous Whiteleys, in the neighbouring Bayswater is another sought after shopping destination presenting popular brands and an impressive food hall. It houses a state-of-the-art cinema along with the award winning restaurant ‘Le Café Anglais.’

Culture abounds the area also, with a firm emphasis on the arts. The Gate, the Lexi and the iconic Electric Cinema screen some of the world’s finest mainstream and independent films. These historic cinemas are a major draw for thousands of people every year and coincide perfectly with the creative feel of the area.

MUSICAL CONNECTIONS

The neighbourhood has a rich music history. The Clash, a famous UK punk band from the 1970s, was formed here and Bob Marley, a renowned Jamaican musician, recorded his most popular album named “Exodus” just a few streets away. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, of the Rolling Stones, also owned homes in the area.

The front-man and primary songwriter of the famous British band Blur, Damon Albarn, owns a recording studio in this thriving community. It is here where he recorded Blur’s personal response to London 2012 and his metaphor for home ‘Under the Westway,’ referring to the main road artery in West London linking Paddington with Central London.

USEFUL CONTACTS

SCHOOLS:

Notting Hill Preparatory

020 7221 0727

Chepstow House

020 7243 0243

Bassett House

020 8969 0313

Pembridge Hall

020 7229 0121

Norland Place

020 7603 9103

Lansdowne College

020 7616 4400

Ashbourne Independent

020 7937 3858

Instituto Espanol Canada Blanch

020 8969 2664

St Charles Sixth Form College

020 8968 7755

SHOPS:

Whiteleys

020 7229 8844

Westfields

020 3371 2300

Golborne Deli

020 8969 6907

Mr Christian’s Delicatessen

020 7229 0501

The Grocer

020 7221 3844

RESTAURANTS

AND PUBS:

Portobello House

0203 181 0920

Pizza East

020 8969 4500

E & O

020 7229 5454

Electric Diner

020 7908 9696

Portobello Organic Kitchen

020 7792 7999

Granger & Co

020 7229 9111

202 Westbourne Grove

020 7727 2722

The Ledbury

020 7792 9090

ENTERTAINMENT:

Electric Cinema

020 7908 9696

The Gate Theatre

020 7229 0706

Leighton House Museum

020 7602 3316

Kensington Palace

0844 482 7777

Serpentine Gallery

020 7402 6075

The Tabernacle

020 7221 9700

LIBRARIES:

Paddington Library

020 7641 6200

North Kensington Library

020 7361 3010

SPORTS AND FITNESS:

Virgin Active

020 7243 4141

Westway Sports

& Fitness Centre

020 8960 2221

Holland Park Lawn

Tennis Club

020 7603 3928

Ten Pilates

020 8969 9677

POLICE AND FIRE SAFETY:

Notting Hill Police Station

101 Ladbroke Road

Notting Hill

W11 3PL

Tel: 020 7221 1212

Paddington Green

Police Station

24 Harrow Road

Paddington

W2 1XJ

Tel: 020 7321 8517

North Kensington Fire

Brigade

242 Ladbroke Grove

W10 5LP

Tel: 020 8555 1200

L A D B R O K E G R O V ET 0 2 0 7 2 2 1 0 3 3 0 1 2 6 L A D B R O K E G R O V E , L O N D O N W 1 0 5 N E E L A D B R O K E G R O V E @ B E C T I V E . C O . U K

W W W . B E C T I V E . C O . U K

M I S R E P R E S E N T A T I O N A C T 1 9 6 7. T H I S B R O C H U R E A N D T H E D E S C R I P T I O N S A N D M E A S U R E M E N T S H E R E I N D O N O T C O N S T I T U T E R E P R E S E N T A T I O N A N D W H I L S T E V E R Y E F F O R T H A S B E E N M A D E T O E N S U R E A C C U R A C Y , T H I S C A N N O T B E G U A R A N T E E D .S T Q U I N T I N E S TAT E

N O R T H K E N S I N G T O N W 1 0