History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

Kilburn House was a large house in its own grounds facing the main road, a short distance north of today’s Victoria Road. For most of its history it was leased by the various owners to a series of wealthy and upper-class tenants.   Kilburn House, 1874 Lady Elizabeth Conyngham In 1838 Lady Elizabeth Conyngham was living at Kilburn House. Born in 1769, she was the daughter of Joseph Denison, who from humble beginnings had worked his way up to become a very wealthy banker and landowner. In 1794 she married Henry the 1st Marquis of Conyngham, who lived at Slane Castle in County Meath, Ireland. The young Elizabeth was very beautiful and she had a number of affairs, including one with the young Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. In 1820 she became the last mistress of George, the Prince of Wales, known as ‘Prinny’.   Lady Conyngham, by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1801) In 1795 Prinny was in huge debt. His father only agreed to pay his creditors if George married Princess Caro...

The Queen’s Arms Back in the nineteenth century, the Queen’s Arms was the first public house a traveller encountered on the Edgware Road before entering the village of Kilburn. In 1843 the pub was trading as the Queen’s Arms Tavern, owned and possibly built by Robert Blore. He was in the horse omnibus business, part owner of the London Conveyance Company, and a bus yard was created at the back of the pub.   Queen's Arms (Marianne Colloms) At the time, the Queen’s Arms was one of many venues popular with Londoners for a day trip into the country. Its pleasure gardens sloped down to the Kilbourne stream after it had passed under the High Road at Kilburn Bridge. On holidays the publican put on special events and shows. One Easter advert promoted (among many other attractions over three days), a grand military band, balloon ascents and a fancy fair, all culminating in a grand ball. In 1911, the public house had a loyal band of locals who came for a drink most eve...