Our neighbourhood in 1900-1906 and 2012
Here are some pictures from our area taken more than a hundred years ago, with the same views in June 2012 for comparison. They show that the houses in Brunswick Gardens and Palace Gardens Terrace haven't always been as white as they are today. There were also no cherry trees or parked cars lining the streets in 1900-1906, which makes them seem much wider than today.
Brunswick Gardens in 1900
This is what the eastern side of Brunswick Gardens looked like in 1900. Some houses were white, while others were red or yellow brick. And as there were no cherry trees or cars lining the street, it seems very wide.
Brunswick Gardens in 2012
The same view 112 years later. All the houses are now white, and cherry trees have lined the street for many generations. And the once so wide street now seems narrow, because of the parked cars on both sides.
Lower Palace Gardens Terrace in 1906
In 1906, Palace Gardens Terrace must have seemed very wide, due to the lack of parked cars and cherry trees. At the end of the street was the large St Pauls Church, which was bombed during World War II and then replaced by the nursing home. A policeman by the lamp post makes sure that nobody disturbs the photographer.
Lower Palace Gardens Terrace in 2012
In 2012, cherry trees and cars (and a big builders' box outside no. 42) had totally transformed the view, although the houses look much the same. Straight ahead, the far away Hamilton House is suddenly visible, as the nursing home had been demolished in December 2011, to eventually be replaced by luxurious Vicarage House.
Upper Vicarage Gate in 1906
In 1906, Inverness Gardens and the upper part of Vicarage Gate seemed very open, as the trees in Inverness Garden were still very young. But the red pillar postbox was already in place – and in the Vicarage Gate corner a policeman is watching the photographer.
Upper Vicarage Gate in 2012
By 2012, the trees in the Inverness Gardens garden have become enormous, and together with the cherry trees on the pavements they hide the houses in Inverness Gardens completely. But the red postbox is still there, and it’s the same one as in 1906!
The Kensington Church Street bend in 1904
Looking down Kensington Church Street towards the bend in 1904, we see a policeman watching the photographer and a crowded bus going up the hill, using only one horsepower.
The Kensington Church Street bend in 2012
The policeman has left, but the bus is still going up the hill, although now with many more horsepowers. The houses on the right are still there, but the rest have all been replaced.
Lower Kensington Church Street in 1900
In 1900, much of the eastern side of the street was a building area, as Maitland House and York House from the 1760s had just been demolished. They were to be replaced by Church Close, the Gas Light & Coke Co building and the new York House complex.
Lower Kensington Church Street in 2012
On the left we see the Gas Light & Coke Co building, which today is the HQ for Mulberry. The houses on the right side, between Duke Street and the church, are still there, although their ground floor shops have changed purpose and owners many times.
The Winchester Court corner in 1900
In 1900, Winchester Court was more than 30 years away from being built. On that site was a building from the mid 1850s, which had started as a convent and later became the Orphanage of St. Vincent de Paul. Incidentally, this part of Kensington Church Street was known as Love Lane once upon a time.
The Winchester Court corner in 2012
In 1935, the imposing Winchester Court was built. It was described at the time as 'decidedly the most meritorious building to appear in this district for a long time'. With eight floors it was twice as high as the 1850s building it replaced. At the time, it was actually one of the highest buildings in central Kensington.
The Cherry Trees Residents' Amenities Association 2026