The Dolls’ House
This is a scale replica of the actual house at 15 Kensington Park Gardens, at the summit of Notting Hill, London. It is mid- block of a short street running between Ladbroke Grove and Kensington Park Road.
The bay windows at back of the house look South over a private garden and the largest private communal garden in London, Ladbroke Square. The actual house is six stories high and has an elevator.
It was made by doll house maker Hans Norton from the original 19th century plans filed at the borough office of Kensington and Chelsea. It is accurate on the facades except for the front door which is wider here, and the depth of the house in reality is greater as the model excludes a central section which contained bathrooms and the elevator. Only this model exists and it was commissioned by the Fleischer family for their four daughters.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In the early 19th century the Ladbroke family owned a number of substantial parcels of land in Kensington, then a largely suburban area. All were located north of the Uxbridge Road (now Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park Avenue). Development of the land was begun in 1821, and continued until the 1870's. Around six architects and many more property speculators were involved in developing the final layout of the area.
In the late 18th century, the estate had been owned by Richard Ladbroke, esquire, of Tadworth Court, Surrey. He died childless, and around 1821 his land passed to his nephew James Weller, who assumed the name Ladbroke in order to be able to inherit. James Weller Ladbroke held the estate until his death in 1847, though the actual development of the land was carried out by a firm of City solicitors, Smith, Bayley (known as Bayley and Janson after 1836), working in conjunction with the architect, landscaper and surveyor Thomas Allason.
Under the terms of his uncle's will James Weller Ladbroke could only grant leases of up to twenty-one years' duration. However, he and his advisers managed to obtain power by means of a private Act of Parliament of 1821 to grant ninety-nine-year leases, and it was at this point that development began in earnest.
Allason's first task was to prepare a plan for the layout of the main portion of the estate, which was completed by 1823. The 1823 plan marks the genesis of Allason's most enduring idea — the creation of large private communal gardens enclosed by terraces and/or crescents of houses. Eventually around fifteen of these communal gardens would be built, such as Arundel Gardens and Ladbroke Gardens, and they continue to contribute to the unique character of Notting Hill to this day.
Allason's design was inspired by Nash's work at Regent's Park, and his vision was an ambitious one, consisting of a spectacular estate, focused on a large central circus with radiating streets built around central "paddocks" or garden squares. However, the financial crisis of 1825 forced his plans to be greatly scaled down, and Allason's original bold vision would never be fulfilled.
A number of different developers were involved in the eventual piecemeal development of the estate, including Robert Cantwell (who was also responsible for the elegant design ofRoyal Crescent), Joshua Flesher Hanson, Ralph Adams, and John Drew. Many of the more elegant buildings were the work of Thomas Allom, whose work may be seen in Stanley Gardens and Kensington Park Gardens, including St. Peter's Notting Hill.
ALLOM, THOMAS (1804–1872)
Thomas Allom, an architect, born in London on 13 March 1804, was articled to Francis Goodwin, and spent more than seven years in his office. He was as much artist as architect, and, in the employ of Messrs. Virtue & Co. and Messrs. Heath & Co., he furnished the drawings for the series of illustrated works upon which his reputation rests. Amongst these may be named his ‘Cumberland and Westmoreland,’ ‘Devonshire and Cornwall,’ ‘ Scotland,’ ‘ France,’ ‘Constantinople,’ ‘Asia Minor,’ and ‘China.’ He exhibited for many years at the Royal Academy, ‘where his charming pencil usually gained a place of honour.’ ‘He was frequently called upon to assist his professional brethren, and there are few artists who forget the vigor and beauty of the drawings, made for the late Sir Charles Barry, of the new Houses of Parliament, and presented by him to the late Emperor Nicholas.’ He died at Barnes, Surrey, on 21 Oct. 1872.
Ladbroke Square
The gardens form the largest of the 16 communal gardens of the historic Ladbroke Estate. In fact, it is one of the largest private garden squares in London and is Grade II listed by English Heritage. Surrounded by railings, there are mature trees in the gardens and a long straight walk along the north side, together with other curving paths. The three-hectare garden is only open to local residents.
History
The garden square was originally the site of a racecourse, known as the Hippodrome, which was created in 1837 by John Whyte, but it was unsuccessful. The area was laid out and developed in the 1840s. An 1849 plan by the architect Thomas Allason includes the gardens laid out as they are today.
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This is a scale replica of the actual house at 15 Kensington Park Gardens, at the summit of Notting Hill, London. It is mid- block of a short street running between Ladbroke Grove and Kensington Park Road.
The bay windows at back of the house look South over a private garden and the largest private communal garden in London, Ladbroke Square. The actual house is six stories high and has an elevator.
It was made by doll house maker Hans Norton from the original 19th century plans filed at the borough office of Kensington and Chelsea. It is accurate on the facades except for the front door which is wider here, and the depth of the house in reality is greater as the model excludes a central section which contained bathrooms and the elevator. Only this model exists and it was commissioned by the Fleischer family for their four daughters.The architect, Thomas Allom (see below), was well-known in the mid 19th century. The Kensington Park Gardens house dates from c1840. This model took a year to make, was made in London in 1996/7. It cost 9000 sterling to make or about $15000 at the time. It needs a few pieces of window trim and interior ceiling moldings to be repaired. The ceiling moldings are available in the UK. It is very heavy, at least about 200lbs, and quite large. It measures about 44 x 40 x 60 inches.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In the early 19th century the Ladbroke family owned a number of substantial parcels of land in Kensington, then a largely suburban area. All were located north of the Uxbridge Road (now Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park Avenue). Development of the land was begun in 1821, and continued until the 1870's. Around six architects and many more property speculators were involved in developing the final layout of the area.
In the late 18th century, the estate had been owned by Richard Ladbroke, esquire, of Tadworth Court, Surrey. He died childless, and around 1821 his land passed to his nephew James Weller, who assumed the name Ladbroke in order to be able to inherit. James Weller Ladbroke held the estate until his death in 1847, though the actual development of the land was carried out by a firm of City solicitors, Smith, Bayley (known as Bayley and Janson after 1836), working in conjunction with the architect, landscaper and surveyor Thomas Allason.
Under the terms of his uncle's will James Weller Ladbroke could only grant leases of up to twenty-one years' duration. However, he and his advisers managed to obtain power by means of a private Act of Parliament of 1821 to grant ninety-nine-year leases, and it was at this point that development began in earnest.
Allason's first task was to prepare a plan for the layout of the main portion of the estate, which was completed by 1823. The 1823 plan marks the genesis of Allason's most enduring idea — the creation of large private communal gardens enclosed by terraces and/or crescents of houses. Eventually around fifteen of these communal gardens would be built, such as Arundel Gardens and Ladbroke Gardens, and they continue to contribute to the unique character of Notting Hill to this day.
Allason's design was inspired by Nash's work at Regent's Park, and his vision was an ambitious one, consisting of a spectacular estate, focused on a large central circus with radiating streets built around central "paddocks" or garden squares. However, the financial crisis of 1825 forced his plans to be greatly scaled down, and Allason's original bold vision would never be fulfilled.
A number of different developers were involved in the eventual piecemeal development of the estate, including Robert Cantwell (who was also responsible for the elegant design ofRoyal Crescent), Joshua Flesher Hanson, Ralph Adams, and John Drew. Many of the more elegant buildings were the work of Thomas Allom, whose work may be seen in Stanley Gardens and Kensington Park Gardens, including St. Peter's Notting Hill.
ALLOM, THOMAS (1804–1872)
Thomas Allom, an architect, born in London on 13 March 1804, was articled to Francis Goodwin, and spent more than seven years in his office. He was as much artist as architect, and, in the employ of Messrs. Virtue & Co. and Messrs. Heath & Co., he furnished the drawings for the series of illustrated works upon which his reputation rests. Amongst these may be named his ‘Cumberland and Westmoreland,’ ‘Devonshire and Cornwall,’ ‘ Scotland,’ ‘ France,’ ‘Constantinople,’ ‘Asia Minor,’ and ‘China.’ He exhibited for many years at the Royal Academy, ‘where his charming pencil usually gained a place of honour.’ ‘He was frequently called upon to assist his professional brethren, and there are few artists who forget the vigor and beauty of the drawings, made for the late Sir Charles Barry, of the new Houses of Parliament, and presented by him to the late Emperor Nicholas.’ He died at Barnes, Surrey, on 21 Oct. 1872.
Ladbroke Square
The gardens form the largest of the 16 communal gardens of the historic Ladbroke Estate. In fact, it is one of the largest private garden squares in London and is Grade II listed by English Heritage. Surrounded by railings, there are mature trees in the gardens and a long straight walk along the north side, together with other curving paths. The three-hectare garden is only open to local residents.
History
The garden square was originally the site of a racecourse, known as the Hippodrome, which was created in 1837 by John Whyte, but it was unsuccessful. The area was laid out and developed in the 1840s. An 1849 plan by the architect Thomas Allason includes the gardens laid out as they are today.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
BACK TO GALLERY »