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...