Melbury Road, W14

Road in/near Holland Park, existing between 1875 and now

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(51.49929 -0.20197, 51.499 -0.201) 
MAP YEAR:18001810182018301860190019502024 
 
Road · * · W14 ·
August
30
2022
Melbury Road is a grand, sweeping avenue, laid out from 1875 onwards.

Melbury Road runs between Addison Road and Kensington High Street. It is named after the original home of the Earls of Ilchester in Dorset.

Edward Fox-Strangways, the Fifth Earl of Ilchester, bought the estate from Lady Holland in the late 19th century. Lady Holland was allowed to continue living there. When she died, the Earl of Ilcester decided to use the land of Little Holland House to create an estate of individual, architect-designed, houses called Melbury Road.

It consists of some magnificent artist-studio houses designed by Norman Shaw and Halsey Ricardo. The south side formed a 19th century artists’ quarter.

Along the street, Tower House is an example of a magnificent and unique medieval design. Constructed between 1876 and 1881, it was developed with a fifteenth-century French Gothic design by architect William Burges.

Every room was originally decorated in accordance with a unique theme drawn from nature - there were rooms dedicated to themes such as the Sea, Animals, astronomy and astrology. Some of Holland Park’s trees still adorn the garden today, as a part of the incomplete yet remarkable legacy of William Burges. Although he passed away just three years after taking residence in 1881, his ambitious project left behind an architectural legacy.

In 1969, Richard Harris acquired the house and then in 1973 Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin outbid David Bowie and purchased it for £350 000. Page welcomed the cult filmmaker Kenneth Anger to move into his basement and complete the post-production of his movie Lucifer Rising. However, Anger soon grew weary of living in what he described as Page’s "evil fantasy house".

6 Melbury Road was built for George Frederick Watts who had been living at Little Holland House before it was pulled down so he gave that name to his new house. It was replaced by a block of flats, called Kingfisher House, in 1965.

8 Melbury Road meanwhile was built in the Queen Anne style during 1875–6 by architect Norman Shaw for the illustrator Marcus Stone. Stone upset his neighbours by installing three entrance gates – one for models, one for servants and a last for family members and friends. The film director Michael Powell later lived in the house for twenty years from 1951 to 1971 and shot scenes for his film Peeping Tom here.

In 1923, the MI6 spy agency - short of funds - moved to 18 Melbury Road. Within a year, they had raised the money needed to move back to Westminster.

Benjamin Britten lived in 22 Melbury Road between 1948 and 1853, writing The Little Sweep, Spring Symphony, Billy Budd and Gloriana here.

Woodside at No. 31 was described by Ed Glinert as “an English country mansion stranded in deepest West Kensington”. It was a 1875 house built by Norman Shaw - who pioneered the development of the red-brick suburban house - for painter Sir Luke Fildes. Every year Fildes would host ‘Show Sunday’ where the Victorian London art scene would gather. Later it became the home of film director and odd socialite Michael Winner.

Melbury Road also contains the former homes of Val Prinsep, Marcus Stone, Sir Hamo Thornycroft, William Burges, G F Watts and William Holman Hunt.



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Main source: Ladbroke Association
Further citations and sources



NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE
Linley Sambourne House 18 Stafford Terrace, formerly known as Linley Sambourne House, was the home of the Punch illustrator Edward Linley Sambourne and open as a museum.
Olympia Olympia is a vast exhibition centre, originally well-known as the venue for the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition.
St Barnabas’ Church St Barnabas’ Church is a church in Kensington.

NEARBY STREETS
Abbotsbury Close, W14 Abbotsbury Close is a road in the W14 postcode area (Holland Park)
Abbotsbury Road, W14 Abbotsbury Road runs between Melbury Road and the road known as Holland Park. (Holland Park)
Abingdon Court, W8 Abingdon Court is a block of flats on Abingdon Villas (Kensington)
Abingdon Gardens, W8 Abingdon Gardens is a block on Abingdon Villas (Kensington)
Abingdon Mansions, W8 The Abbots of Abingdon were once Lords of the Manor of Abbot’s Kensington (Kensington)
Abingdon Road, W8 Abingdon Road stretches between Stratford Road and Kensington High Street (Kensington)
Adam And Eve Mews, W8 Adam And Eve Mews is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Addison Bridge Place, W14 Addison Bridge Place parallels the railway at the east end of Hammersmith Road and the west end of Kensington High Street (Kensington (Olympia))
Addison Crescent, W14 Addison Crescent consists of north and south sections. (Holland Park)
Allen Street, W8 Allen Street extends south from Kensington High Street (Kensington)
Argyll Road, W8 Argyll Road was built as part of the development of the Phillimore Estate (Kensington)
Ashmore House, W14 Ashmore House is a block on Russell Road (Kensington (Olympia))
Avonmore Place, W14 This is a street in the W14 postcode area (Kensington (Olympia))
Benson House, W14 Benson House is a block on Radnor Terrace (Kensington)
Bridgeman House, W14 Bridgeman House is a building on Radnor Terrace (Kensington)
Campden Hill Court, W8 Campden Hill Court is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Charles House, W14 Charles House is sited on Kensington High Street (Kensington)
Chatsworth Court, W8 Chatsworth Court is a block on Pembroke Road (Kensington)
Cope Place, W8 Cope Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Debenham House, W14 Debenham House is a block on Addison Road (Holland Park)
Duchess of Bedford’s Walk, W8 Lady Georgiana Russell, wife of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford lived at Argyll Lodge, a former house on Campden Hill, near the location of the road (Kensington)
Durrels House, W14 Durrels House is a building on Warwick Gardens (Kensington)
Earl’s Terrace, W8 Earl’s Terrace is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)
Earls Court Road, W8 Earls Court Road runs south from Kensington High Street (Kensington)
Earls Walk, W8 Earls Walk is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Earsby Street, W14 Earsby Street is a street in West Kensington (Kensington (Olympia))
Eden Close, W8 Eden Close is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Edward House, W14 Edward House is a block on Radnor Terrace (Kensington)
Edwardes Place, W8 Edwardes Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Edwardes Square, W8 Edwardes Square is a garden square in Kensington (Kensington)
Essex Villas, W8 Essex Villas is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)
Fairfax Place, W14 Fairfax Place is a street in West Kensington (Kensington (Olympia))
Farley Court, W14 Farley Court is located on Melbury Road (Holland Park)
Holland Gardens, W14 Holland Gardens is a road in the W14 postcode area (Holland Park)
Holland Green, W8 Holland Green is a block - part of the Design Museum (Kensington)
Holland House, W8 Residential block (Holland Park)
Holland Lane, W8 Holland Lane was a small side street next to the Holland Arms (Kensington)
Holland Park Road, W14 Holland Park Road runs between Addison Road and Melbury Road. (Holland Park)
Holland Park, W8 Holland Park is a street in Notting Hill (Holland Park)
Hornton Street, W8 Hornton Street is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Ibberton House, W14 Ibberton House is a building on Russell Road (Kensington (Olympia))
Ilchester Place, W14 Ilchester Place runs between Abbotsbury Road and Melbury Road, immediately adjacent to the southern boundary of Holland Park itself. (Holland Park)
Kenbrook House, W14 Kenbrook House is a block on Kensington High Street (Kensington)
Kensington Crescent, W14 The now-demolished Kensington Crescent was an unsuccessful development in the Warwick Gardens area. (Kensington)
Kensington High Street, W14 Kensington High Street is a street in West Kensington (Kensington)
Kenton Court, W14 Kenton Court is located on Kensington High Street (Kensington)
Leonard Court, W8 Leonard Court is a block on Leonard Court (Kensington)
Lexham Mews, W8 Lexham Mews is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Lord Kensington House, W14 Lord Kensington House is a block on Radnor Terrace (Kensington)
Manston House, W14 Manston House is a block on Russell Road (Kensington (Olympia))
Melbury Court, W8 Melbury Court is a block facing Kensington High Street (Kensington)
Melbury Road, W14 Melbury Road is a grand, sweeping avenue, laid out from 1875 onwards (Holland Park)
Napier Place, W14 Napier Place is a street in West Kensington (Kensington)
Napier Road, W14 Napier Road is a street in West Kensington (Holland Park)
Oakeford House, W14 Oakeford House is a block on Russell Road (Kensington (Olympia))
Oakwood Court, W14 Oakwood Court runs between Abbotsbury Road and Addison Road. (Holland Park)
Olympia Way, W14 Olympia Way is a street in West Kensington (Kensington (Olympia))
Park Close, W14 Park Close is a road in the W14 postcode area (Holland Park)
Pembroke Gardens Close, W8 Pembroke Gardens Close is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)
Pembroke Gardens, W8 Pembroke Gardens is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)
Pembroke Mews, W8 Pembroke Mews is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Pembroke Place, W8 Pembroke Place is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Pembroke Square, W8 Pembroke Square was developed by the Hawks family (Kensington)
Pembroke Studios, W8 Pembroke Studios is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Pembroke Villas, W8 Pembroke Villas is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)
Pembroke Walk, W8 Pembroke Walk is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)
Phillimore Gardens, W8 Phillimore Gardens, in 2022, was the most expensive street in England, with an average house price of £23.8m (Kensington)
Phillimore Place, W8 Phillimore Place was part of the old Phillimore Estate and, at first, named Durham Villas (Kensington)
Phillimore Walk, W8 Phillimore Walk is a street in Kensington (High Street Kensington)
Plane Tree House, W8 Plane Tree House is a block on Phillimore Gardens (Kensington)
Radnor Terrace, W14 Radnor Terrace runs southwest from Warwick Road (Kensington)
Redlynch Court, W14 Redlynch Court is a block on the corner of Addison Crescent and Addison Road (Holland Park)
Rushmore House, W14 Rushmore House is a block on Russell Road (Kensington (Olympia))
Russell Road, W14 Russell Road is a street in West Kensington (Kensington (Olympia))
Scarsdale Villas, W8 Scarsdale Villas was built between 1850 and 1864 (Kensington)
Shillingstone House, W14 Shillingstone House is a block on Russell Road (Kensington (Olympia))
Somerset Square, W14 Somerset Square is a street in West Kensington (Holland Park)
South Edwardes Square, W8 South Edwardes Square derives its name from William Edwardes, 2nd Lord Kensington - the square was built on part of his Holland House Estate. (Kensington)
St Mary Abbot’s Court, W14 St Mary Abbot’s Court is a block on Warwick Gardens (Kensington)
St Mary Abbots Terrace, W14 St Mary Abbots Terrace is a street in West Kensington (Holland Park)
St Mary Abbot’s Place, W8 This is a street in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)
Stable Yard Ilchester Place, W14 Stable Yard Ilchester Place is a street in Kensington (Holland Park)
Stafford Court, W8 Stafford Court can be found on Kensington High Street (Kensington)
Stafford Terrace, W8 Stafford Terrace was built between 1868 and 1874 by builder Joseph Gordon Davis (Kensington)
Strangways Terrace, W14 Strangways Terrace is a road in the W14 postcode area (Holland Park)
Stratford Road, W8 Stratford Road is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Sunningdale Gardens, W8 Sunningdale Gardens is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Trinity House, W14 Trinity House is sited on Kensington High Street (Kensington)
Upper Phillimore Gardens, W8 Upper Phillimore Gardens is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Warwick Chambers, W8 Warwick Chambers is a street in Kensington (Kensington)
Warwick Gardens, W14 Warwick Gardens is a street in West Kensington (Kensington)
Wolfe House, W14 Wolfe House is a building on Kensington High Street (Kensington)
Wynnstay Gardens, W8 Wynnstay Gardens is a road in the W8 postcode area (Kensington)


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