Paddington Green, London

Paddington Green is a green space and conservation area in the City of Westminster located off Edgware Road and adjacent to the Westway. It is the oldest part of Paddington and became a separate conservation area in 1988, having previously formed part of Maida Vale conservation area.^[1] At one time, the Green was surrounded by large Georgian houses, but now only two remain on the east side of the Green.^[2]

Paddington Green
Paddington Green Location within Greater London
London borough	Westminster
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	W2
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
UK Parliament	Westminster North
London Assembly	West Central
List of places UK England London 51°31′13″N 0°10′31″W / 51.52040°N 0.17525°W / 51.52040; -0.17525

Paddington Green conservation area, showing view to the Westway

History and notable buildings

Paddington Green contains part of the ancient Paddington and Lilestone villages which became fashionable at the end of the 18th century because of its village setting and proximity to the West End of London.^[1] An omnibus service to the City of London was introduced in 1829 by George Shillibeer.^[3]

St Mary on Paddington Green Church is part of the Parish of Little Venice and is the third church on this site. The church was built in 1791 by John Plaw.^[4] Its graveyard – known as St Mary's Gardens (or St Mary's Churchyard) – contains monuments to notable local residents, including actress Sarah Siddons (also buried there), sculptor Joseph Nollekens and lexicographer Peter Mark Roget.^[5] The southern part of the graveyard was removed to make way for the flyover. Exhumed graves were re-interred in Mill Hill Cemetery.^[6]

The former Paddington Green Children's Hospital (1883–1987), now an apartment block, stands on the north-east corner of the Green on Church Street. It is a Grade II listed building.^[7] The Schmidt Hammer Lassen-designed City of Westminster College is located at 25 Paddington Green.

In popular culture

• Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green, the music hall number by Harry Clifton, is described as living: "in a gentleman's family near Paddington Green".
• The TV series Paddington Green aired in the late 1990s and explored the lives of residents of the local area.

 

View from the Green to City of Westminster College

• The Broadway musical Oliver! has Oliver Twist meeting the Artful Dodger at Paddington Green.

References

1. . Westminster.gov.uk. 15 August 2007. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
2. Ben Weinreb and Christopher Hibbert, The London Encyclopaedia, Papermac, 1987, p. 573
3. Ben Weinreb and Christopher Hibbert, The London Encyclopaedia, Papermac, 1987, p. 574
4. "Historic Properties Online: John Plaw". Gov.pe.ca. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
5. "The Parish of Little Venice". The Parish of Little Venice. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
6. . Westminster.gov.uk. 8 January 2009. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
7. "Lost_Hospitals_of_London". Ezitis.myzen.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2014.

External links

• Lyrics to Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green
• British History Online description
• Paddington Green Borough Control BUNKER
• Westminster City Council description and map