Elgin Avenue
The area was built as part of the rapid expansion of London in the first half of the nineteenth century. It was laid out as part of a plan for the area by the architect George Gutch in 1827, who envisaged a series of long avenues. While isolated villas were built from the 1820s, it was not for several decades that the street was completed. It was known as Elgin Road until 1886, and takes its name from the Lord Elgin Arms public house. Later in the century many of the original villas were replaced by mansion blocks.
In 1915 the new Maida Vale tube station was opened as part of an extension of the Bakerloo Line north from Paddington. It is located on the corner of the junction of Elgin Avenue and Randolph Avenue and is Grade II listed and was designed by Stanley Heaps. It was originally proposed to name the station Elgin Avenue, but Maida Vale was ultimately chosen to reflect the wider area.
The artist Edward Ardizzone lived in the street from 1920 to 1972 and is now commemorated with a blue plaque. Artist and political activist Peter Kennard was born on Elgin Avenue in Maida Vale.
References
- ^ A History of the County of Middlesex p.213
- ^ Bebbington p.121
- ^ "MAIDA VALE UNDERGROUND STATION, Non Civil Parish – 1066834 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk.
- ^ Coysh p.80
- ^ "Edward Ardizzone". English Heritage.
- ^ Elms, Robert (6 March 2017). "Listed Londoner: Peter Kennard". BBC Radio London. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
Bibliography
- Bebbington, Gillian. London Street Names. Batsford, 1972.
- Cockburn, J. S., King, H. P. F. & McDonnell, K. G. T. & A History of the County of Middlesex. Institute of Historical Research, 1989.
- Coysh, Louise. Labyrinth: A Journey Through London's Underground by Mark Wallinger. Art Books Publishing, 6 Oct 2014.
- Cherry, Bridget & Pevsner, Nikolaus. London 3: North West. Yale University Press, 2002.