Kensington Hippodrome
Encyclopedia
The Kensington Hippodrome was a racecourse built in Notting Hill
, London
, in 1837, by entrepreneur John Whyte
. Whyte leased 140 acre (0.5665604 km²) of land from James Weller Ladbroke
, owner of the Ladbroke Estate
, and proceeded to enclose "the slopes of Notting Hill and the meadows west of Westbourne Grove
" with a 7 feet (2.1 m) high wooden paling. Unfortunately, the race course was not a financial success and it closed in 1842, the land being developed soon afterwards, as Ladbroke began building crescents of houses on Whyte's former race course.
and Ascot
. On its opening, The Times
described it as a "disgusting...petty botheration" and cried "shame upon the people of Kensington" for permitting it. Sporting magazine was however more charitable, its correspondent describing the venture as "the most perfect race-course I have ever seen", and as "an emporium even more extensive and attractive than Ascot or Epsom."
. The Notting Hill grassy knoll (now surmounted by St John's
church) was railed in as a "natural grandstand", from which spectators could watch the races.
Unfortunately, because the racetrack bordered on the "Potteries and Piggeries" of Pottery Lane
, (then a notorious slum known as "cut-throat lane") the race meetings were easily accessed by some of the poorer inhabitants of the neighbourhood. These were not the sort of customers that Whyte had in mind, and The Times correspondent complained of "the dirty and dissolute vagabonds of London, a more filthy and disgusting crew ...we have seldom had the misfortune to encounter." A public footpath traversing the land enclosed by Whyte's fences made it difficult to eject these less than appealing visitors, whose "villainous activities" were a continual source of trouble.
Another serious problem was the heavy clay soil characteristic of the neighbourhood (high quality clay was dug for brick making at nearby Pottery Lane
), making for poor drainage, as a consequence of which the training ground became waterlogged and was unusable for long periods. From 1837 to 1842 just 13 meetings were held, with many jockeys refusing to take part, claiming that the heavy clay ground made riding too dangerous.
Whyte eventually moved the entry of the racecourse to comply with the right of way, and promised free entry to the public on Sundays and "special holidays". However, his financial position continued to deteriorate and in 1842 he gave up the struggle, and relinquished his lease back to James Weller Ladbroke, who shortly thereafter resumed the development of the Ladbroke Estate
, building crescents of houses on Whyte's circular race track.
, serves as a memorial to Whyte's bold venture.
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in 1837, by entrepreneur John Whyte
John Whyte
John Whyte may refer to:*John Whyte , former merchant and politician in Quebec*Jock Whyte, Scottish former footballer*John Henry Whyte, Irish historian and political scientist-See also:* John Whyte-Melville-Skeffington, 13th Viscount Massereene...
. Whyte leased 140 acre (0.5665604 km²) of land from James Weller Ladbroke
James Weller Ladbroke
James Weller Ladbroke was a Nineteenth century landowner and the principal developer of the Ladbroke Estate, a substantial parcel of land in Notting Hill, London, England.Many streets in Notting Hill still bear the Ladbroke name today, including Ladbroke Grove and Ladbroke Square, and the former...
, owner of the Ladbroke Estate
Ladbroke Estate
The Ladbroke Estate was a substantial estate of land owned by the Ladbroke family in Notting Hill, London, England, in the early 19th century that was gradually developed and turned into housing during the middle years of the century, as London expanded...
, and proceeded to enclose "the slopes of Notting Hill and the meadows west of Westbourne Grove
Westbourne Grove
Westbourne Grove is a retail road running across Notting Hill, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, a section of west London, England. It runs from Kensington Park Road in the west to Queensway in the east, crossing over Portobello Road...
" with a 7 feet (2.1 m) high wooden paling. Unfortunately, the race course was not a financial success and it closed in 1842, the land being developed soon afterwards, as Ladbroke began building crescents of houses on Whyte's former race course.
Beginnings
Whyte's race course was an ambitious venture, his intention being to build a rival to the well established race courses of EpsomEpsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
and Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
. On its opening, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
described it as a "disgusting...petty botheration" and cried "shame upon the people of Kensington" for permitting it. Sporting magazine was however more charitable, its correspondent describing the venture as "the most perfect race-course I have ever seen", and as "an emporium even more extensive and attractive than Ascot or Epsom."
Pottery Lane
The stables and paddocks were situated alongside Pottery LanePottery Lane
Pottery Lane is a street in Notting Hill, west London. Today it forms part of one of London's most fashionable and expensive neighbourhoods, but in the mid-19th century it lay at the heart of a wretched and notorious slum known as the "Potteries and the Piggeries". The slum came to the attention of...
. The Notting Hill grassy knoll (now surmounted by St John's
St John's Notting Hill
St John's Notting Hill is a Victorian Anglican church built in 1845 in Lansdowne Crescent, Notting Hill, London,designed by the architects John Hargrave Stevens and George Alexander , and built in the Victorian Gothic style...
church) was railed in as a "natural grandstand", from which spectators could watch the races.
Unfortunately, because the racetrack bordered on the "Potteries and Piggeries" of Pottery Lane
Pottery Lane
Pottery Lane is a street in Notting Hill, west London. Today it forms part of one of London's most fashionable and expensive neighbourhoods, but in the mid-19th century it lay at the heart of a wretched and notorious slum known as the "Potteries and the Piggeries". The slum came to the attention of...
, (then a notorious slum known as "cut-throat lane") the race meetings were easily accessed by some of the poorer inhabitants of the neighbourhood. These were not the sort of customers that Whyte had in mind, and The Times correspondent complained of "the dirty and dissolute vagabonds of London, a more filthy and disgusting crew ...we have seldom had the misfortune to encounter." A public footpath traversing the land enclosed by Whyte's fences made it difficult to eject these less than appealing visitors, whose "villainous activities" were a continual source of trouble.
Another serious problem was the heavy clay soil characteristic of the neighbourhood (high quality clay was dug for brick making at nearby Pottery Lane
Pottery Lane
Pottery Lane is a street in Notting Hill, west London. Today it forms part of one of London's most fashionable and expensive neighbourhoods, but in the mid-19th century it lay at the heart of a wretched and notorious slum known as the "Potteries and the Piggeries". The slum came to the attention of...
), making for poor drainage, as a consequence of which the training ground became waterlogged and was unusable for long periods. From 1837 to 1842 just 13 meetings were held, with many jockeys refusing to take part, claiming that the heavy clay ground made riding too dangerous.
Decline and closure
Two stewards of the Hippodrome, Lord Chesterfield and Count D'Orsay, attempted to improve the deteriorating image of the racecourse by changing its name to "Victoria Park, Bayswater", but to no avail. The Kensington Vestry was unimpressed, and petitioned Parliament for the closure of the racecourse.Whyte eventually moved the entry of the racecourse to comply with the right of way, and promised free entry to the public on Sundays and "special holidays". However, his financial position continued to deteriorate and in 1842 he gave up the struggle, and relinquished his lease back to James Weller Ladbroke, who shortly thereafter resumed the development of the Ladbroke Estate
Ladbroke Estate
The Ladbroke Estate was a substantial estate of land owned by the Ladbroke family in Notting Hill, London, England, in the early 19th century that was gradually developed and turned into housing during the middle years of the century, as London expanded...
, building crescents of houses on Whyte's circular race track.
Legacy
Little trace of the racecourse remains today. Only Hippodrome Place, a small street off Pottery LanePottery Lane
Pottery Lane is a street in Notting Hill, west London. Today it forms part of one of London's most fashionable and expensive neighbourhoods, but in the mid-19th century it lay at the heart of a wretched and notorious slum known as the "Potteries and the Piggeries". The slum came to the attention of...
, serves as a memorial to Whyte's bold venture.
External links
- History of the Kensington Hippodrome Retrieved Feb 5 2010
- map of Notting Hill in 1841 showing the location of the Kensington Hippodrome Retrieved Feb 5 2010
- The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales: Volume 2 Retrieved Feb 5 2010
- British History Online Retrieved August 2011
