In 1800, Paddington was simply a large village, sitting on the Edgware Road, to the west of London. It was a rural settlement, situated around a green called Paddington Green.
As London’s canal system was planned, Paddington’s convenient location was spotted. It was connected to London and the area to the south of the village was still fields
The Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal was opened in 1801, with Paddington being chosen as the site of the basin, because of its position near to the New Road, London’s first bypass. The New Road is now known as Marylebone Road and Euston Road and led to the east, providing for onward transport to the City. In its heyday, Paddington Basin was a major shipment facility, and a hive of activity.
The concept of an underground railway linking the City with the mainline termini was first proposed in the 1830s. Charles Pearson, Solicitor to the City, pressed for this solution to London’s traffic woes and in 1853, a route was agreed between Paddington station via Euston and Kings Cross main line stations to Farringdon.
The Euston and Marylebone Roads would be dug up, then the railway laid and covered over. This covered the entire route between Edgware Road station and Kings Cross.
The route at the western end at Paddington was designed to follow the canal basin and then emerge into Paddington station. This part of the plan meant that Great Western Railway engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel put money into the project. Construction began in 1861.
The Metropolitan Railway opened on the 10 January 1863 and was an immediate success, though its construction took nearly two years and caused huge disruption in the streets.
And in this video I walk the route of the world’s first Underground railway from Paddington station. I take in Paddington Basin, emerge onto Praed Street and arrive at Edgware Road station.