Paddington Green is a green space and conservation area in the

City of Westminster The City of Westminster is a city and borough in Inner London. It is the site of the United Kingdom's Houses of Parliament and much of the British government. It occupies a large area of central Greater London, including most of the West En ...

located off

Edgware Road Edgware Road is a major road in London, England. The route originated as part of Roman Watling Street and, unusually in London, it runs for 10 miles in an almost perfectly straight line. Forming part of the modern A5 road, Edgware Road undergoes ...

and adjacent to the Westway. It is the oldest part of

Paddington Paddington is an area within the City of Westminster, in Central London. First a medieval parish then a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Three important landmarks of the district are Padd ...

and became a separate

conservation area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

in 1988, having previously formed part of

Maida Vale Maida Vale ( ) is an affluent residential district consisting of the northern part of Paddington in West London, west of St John's Wood and south of Kilburn. It is also the name of its main road, on the continuous Edgware Road. Maida Vale ...

conservation area. At one time, the Green was surrounded by large Georgian houses, but now only two remain on the east side of the Green. Paddington Green, London showing view to Westway

Paddington Green, London showing view to Westway

History and notable buildings

Paddington Green contains part of the ancient Paddington and Lilestone villages which became fashionable at the end of the 18th century because of its village setting and proximity to the

West End of London The West End of London (commonly referred to as the West End) is a district of Central London, west of the City of London and north of the River Thames, in which many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government build ...

. An omnibus service to the

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...

was introduced in 1829 by

George Shillibeer George Shillibeer (11 August 1797 – 21 August 1866) was an English coachbuilder. Biography Shillibeer was born in St Marylebone, London the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Shillibeer. Christened in St Marys Church, Marylebone on 22 October ...

. St Mary on Paddington Green Church is part of the Parish of

Little Venice Little Venice is a district in West London, England, around the junction of the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal, the Regent's Canal, and the entrance to Paddington Basin. The junction forms a triangular shape basin. Many of the build ...

and is the third church on this site. The church was built in 1791 by

John Plaw John Plaw (1745-1820) was an architect who was born in London but later emigrated to the Colony of Prince Edward Island in North America. He is known for favouring circular designs in the classical style. There are two known surviving examples ...

. Its graveyard – known as St Mary's Gardens (or St Mary's Churchyard) – contains monuments to notable local residents, including actress

Sarah Siddons Sarah Siddons (''née'' Kemble; 5 July 1755 – 8 June 1831) was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. Contemporaneous critic William Hazlitt dubbed Siddons as "tragedy personified". She was the elder sister of Joh ...

(also buried there), sculptor Joseph Nollekens and

lexicographer Lexicography is the study of lexicons, and is divided into two separate academic disciplines. It is the art of compiling dictionaries. * Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. * Theoretica ...

Peter Mark Roget Peter Mark Roget ( ; 18 January 1779 – 12 September 1869) was a British physician, natural theologian, lexicographer and founding secretary of The Portico Library. He is best known for publishing, in 1852, the '' Thesaurus of English Word ...

. The southern part of the graveyard was removed to make way for the flyover. Exhumed graves were re-interred in

Mill Hill Mill Hill is a suburb in the London Borough of Barnet, England. It is situated around northwest of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until 1965, when it became part of Greater London. Its population counted 18,4 ...

Cemetery. The former Paddington Green Children's Hospital (1883–1987), now an apartment block, stands on the north-east corner of the Green on Church Street. It is a Grade II

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern I ...

. The Schmidt Hammer Lassen-designed City of Westminster College is located at 25 Paddington Green.

In popular culture

Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green "Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green" is the title of an English song, composed by the London music hall and broadside songwriter Harry Clifton (1832–1872), and first published in 1864. It is catalogued as Roud Folk Song Index No. 430. ...

, the music hall number by Harry Clifton, is described as living: "in a gentleman's family near Paddington Green". * The TV series '' Paddington Green'' aired in the late 1990s and explored the lives of residents of the local area. Paddington Green London view to City of Westminster College

Paddington Green London view to City of Westminster College

* The Broadway musical ''

Oliver! ''Oliver!'' is a Coming-of-age story, coming-of-age Musical theatre, stage musical, with book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the 1838 novel ''Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens. It premiered at the Wimbledon Theatre ...

'' has

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...

meeting the

Artful Dodger Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger, is a character in Charles Dickens's 1838 novel '' Oliver Twist''. The Dodger is a pickpocket, so called for his skill and cunning in that occupation. He is the leader of the gang of child criminal ...

at Paddington Green.

References

External links

* Lyrics to ''Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green''
British History Online descriptionPaddington Green Borough Control BUNKERWestminster City Council description and map
{{City of Westminster Parks and open spaces in the City of Westminster Districts of the City of Westminster Areas of London Conservation areas in London Paddington