In case you’ve missed them, there are signs up in the street with notifications of parking suspensions for a selection of the bays in Morshead Road on Friday 24th January and Monday 27th January. The reason for the suspensions is tree works, which are planned to take place on both days.
If you own a car and park it in the street, make sure that it’s not left in any of the restricted bays after 8.30am on either day while the tree works are taking place. If it is, you’ll risk having it towed away! If you think your car may have been towed, you can find out more by clicking here.
On a seperate note, if you’re new to the street and would like to find out more about how to apply for a parking permit for your car there is a feature on the ‘news’ section of the Morshead Mansions website that tells you everything you need to know. If you’d like to take a look, just click here.
It’s also handy to know that if you have people visiting you or tradespeople working on your flat, you can find out where pay-to-park spaces are located nearby by accessing the MyRingo app here.
With Christmas once again upon us, most residents will be getting into the Christmas spirit and many may be thinking of decorating their flats with a real Christmas tree. Although these trees add a little something special to the festive season, once it’s over there’s always the question of what to do with your tree when it’s no longer needed? Well, if you’re thinking of recycling you Christmas tree then Westminster Council has the perfect answer…
There will be over 25 recycling sites where you can drop your tree off, the closest to Morshead Mansions being on the corner of Grantully Road and Ashworth Road, just a short walk from the block. Only trees taken to recycling points will be recycled and turned into woodchip and soil improver, so please don’t leave them on the street or anywhere else other than the designated sites.
We wish all Morshead residents a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and if you have one, we hope you find recycling your Christmas tree a breeze!
Maida Vale is fortunate to be blessed with a wealth of lovely cafés, where you can relax with a coffee, meet with friends or just take some time for yourself. Below are a small selection that are within walking distance of Morshead Mansions. Most you will probably know but if not, why not give some Maida Vale cafés a try..?
Moored on the canal in Little Venice is the Waterside Café, which opened in 1995. As well as tea and coffee, it’s open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
Nestled down inside Clifton Nurseries is The Café, a peaceful retreat in a beautiful setting. Part inside a glasshouse and part outdoor terrace, this unique cafe is the perfect place to relax.
Primarily a chocolatier, Formosa Flowers and Chocolaterie is also a lovely place to grab a coffee, situated on the iconic Formosa Street. What could be better than enjoying a cup of coffee or tea while being surrounded by chocolates, pastries, flowers and scented candles?
Perhaps not where you’d expect to find exceptional Peruvian coffee beans but the entrance to Maida Vale Station is home to So Café. The intimate setup has a surprising menu that includes freshly brewed coffee, donuts, French pastries, Italian buns, cappuccinos and mochas.
A little closer to home on the corner of Castellain Road is Petit Café, which has seating inside for colder days and an outside terrace. Open during the day for breakfast, lunch and snacks, as well as good coffee you can find Avacado Eggs, Eggs Benedict and a range of tempting deserts.
Last but not least is Le Cochonnet, a bar and café that feels like it’s been a landmark at the end of Morshead Road forever! Featuring Italian menus and open from noon until late, it specialises in freshly cooked pizzas and is open for coffee all day.
A short walk from Morshead Mansions, down past Warwick Avenue tube station and on towards Paddington Basin, is the beautiful and historic area known as Little Venice, where The Regent’s Canal meets The Grand Union Canal and the Paddington Basin tributary. Often described by visitors as one of London’s hidden gems, its history dates back to the early 1800’s.
The area was called London’s Venice for a century before becoming known as Little Venice, the change often attributed to the poet and playwright Robert Browning, who lived nearby in the late 19th century. Browning spent part of his life in Italy and died in Venice. The small bird island in the middle of the triangle between the canals is named after him.
It was more recently thought that it was actually Lord Byron who is responsible for the name, as stated in 1966 in a letter by Lord Kinross. Byron has been featured on the recently added plaques that can be seen on the walls close to the Waterside Café, a popular floating eatery that’s moored close to the Westbourne Terrace Road Bridge.
The exact boundaries of Little Venice aren’t completely clear, however, it’s generally thought to be roughly bounded by Delamere Terrace, Warwick Crescent, Howley Place and Maida Avenue to the south, Maida Vale (Road) to the east, the Lord Hill Road / Formosa Street Bridge to the west and Sutherland Avenue to the north.
Little Venice is at the southern end of Maida Vale, which takes its name from the Italian town of Maida, in Calabria, where in 1806 the British won a battle over Napoleon. A pub called ‘The Maida’, now no longer in existence, was sited on the Edgeware Road and its sign showed a likeness of General Sir John Stuart, who was made Count of Maida by King Ferdinand IV of Naples after the victory at the same battle. More recently, the pub formerly known as The Truscott Arms was renamed The Hero of Maida.
In 1801 Paddington was just a village on the outskirts of London, but the arrival of the canal saw it become an important waterways hub and as a consequence, the area started to flourish. In 1911, architect John Nash produced a masterplan for the Prince Regent to redevelop a large area of central north London. As a result, the Regent’s Canal was included in the scheme, running for part of its distance along the northern edge of Regent’s Park and into Little Venice.
Following this successful development, many of the other houses and mansions in the surrounding area and further along the canal were built in a similar style. These greatly elevated the status of the whole area and set the tone for Little Venice becoming an ‘expensive’ area to buy property, as it is to this day. The character of this neighbourhood is largely defined by the Regency style, with beautiful white stucco buildings on many of the surrounding streets, including Blomfield Road, Warrington Crescent and Randolph Road.
On the eastern side of Paddington Basin is Rembrandt Gardens, which was originally planted in the 1970’s on the 700th anniversary of the founding of Amsterdam, known as the ‘Venice of the North’. Along the canal, as well as The Waterside Café you can find the Canal Café Theatre, The Puppet Theatre Barge, The Summerhouse Restaurant and Café La Ville, which spans the bridge on the eastern end of the canal. The area also hosts the annual Canalway Cavalcade, which you can read more about here.
Close by, the area is blessed with three Grade II Listed pubs with historic facades and interiors, The Prince Alfred on Formosa Street, The Warwick Castle in Warwick Place and The Warrington, on Warrington Crescent. The Colonnade Hotel, also on Warrington Crescent, dates back to 1863 and was originally a pair of houses. The interior still boasts many original features, including mouldings and a continuous 1st floor balustrade, and there are blue plaques on the outside in tribute to historical associations with code-breaker Alan Turing and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.
Today, the area around Paddington Basin is a vibrant tourist spot and a lovely place to go for a stroll. Walking further into Paddington Basin provides a complete change from historic to modern, with huge amounts of redevelopment having taken place in recent years. Here too you will find an array of restaurants, bars and cafes and fascinating places to take a break, including Sheldon Square and Merchant Square, which features the Floating Park and the Fan Bridge. From the Basin, you can take boat trips along The Regent’s Canal to London Zoo and Camden Town.
Morshead Mansions residents are fortunate to live within the City of Westminster, one of the best maintained and probably the best-known boroughs in London. As well as being blessed with some of the most famous residences and landmarks, it’s also a very green borough, being home to the Royal Parks of Hyde Park, Green Park, St. James’s Park, Kensington Gardens and part of Regent’s Park. There’s lots more to living in Westminster…
Westminster offers a host of resources, including transport, shopping, dining, entertainment, leisure, sport, fitness, culture and history. Most of what people living within the borough might need can be found relatively easily and usually not too far from where they live. So all in all, Westminster, with its abundance of tree lined avenues, conservation areas and amenities, is a pretty nice place to live.
The City of Westminster Website
Something that Morshead Mansions residents may not know is that the City of Westminster website is a very useful place to find even more resources. If you’re living in Westminster and need to organise a parking permit, pay a council tax bill, take part in local consultations or find out about rubbish or recycling collections, it has a wealth of information.
Once on the site, if you navigate to ‘All council services’ you’ll find all kinds of useful links. The first section is all about the council and their policies of operation, including the ‘Residents research panel’, which was set up so that residents could provide feedback on ways to improve services, projects and policies.
If you’re planning on getting married in the borough, everything you’ll need to know is here, from choosing a venue, booking registrars, the different types of ceremonies and what certificates you’ll need. They also have planning guides, sample scripts and feature their ‘Venue of the Month’ to give you some inspiration.
For those in business, there is a section on ‘Business support and guidance’, including information on improvements happening in the borough and growth initiatives, plus resources for grants and sources of funding, You can also sign up for the Westminster Business Newsletter, which will keep you up to date with what’s happening.
If you’re looking to do some filming or hold an event in the borough, you’ll find everything you need to know here too, along with information on business rates, parking, planning, commercial waste services, food safety for businesses, trading standards, business information points, health & safety at work and support schemes for businesses.
For those residents with children, there is The Family Information Hub, information on education, school holiday events, activities and support, plus parenting groups and courses. The City Lions initiative gives children from 13 to 16 interested in the creative industry the chance to boost their CV’s by taking part in talks, workshops and work placements.
Perhaps surprisingly, the site also showcases job vacancies, so if you’re looking for a new job or perhaps considering volunteering for a worthwhile cause, why not take a look! In this day and age, most people find resources they’re looking for online, there are still libraries in Westminster though and as well as vast selections of books they also offer club activities, such as craft sessions, podcasts and music events.
If you’re thinking about becoming a little more active, you’ll find info on leisure centres and cycling, including everything you’ll need to know about cycle hire, cycle parking, what to keep in your toolkit, road safety and cycling events. For those who like to walk, there’s an interactive map which shows suggested routes and where to find Westminster’s history, architecture, culture and green spaces.
If there’s something you need to report, such as illegal waste dumping, noise issues, graffiti or potholes, you’ll find all the resources on the site too. So, if there’s pretty much anything you need to know about living in Westminster, take a look at the City of Westminster website where you’ll likely find the answer!
For more info on the Maida Vale area, take a look at our ‘news‘ page.
London mansion blocks are a much-loved historic and iconic feature of London’s residential landscape, and Morshead Mansions is no exception. The History of London’s Mansion Blocks is a fascinating subject, with the first mansion block to be built in London thought to be Albert Hall Mansions in Kensington, which was designed by Richard Norman Shaw and constructed in 1876.
Designed in the ‘Queen Anne Revival’ or ‘Kensington Style’, which was based on the English and Dutch architecture of the early 18th Century, it was very well received and following this success, many more London blocks were built between 1880 and 1920, with Morshead Mansions arriving round 1904.
Known for their red brick facades, detailed stone frontage, decorative balconies and well-proportioned interiors, mansion blocks were originally conceived as a way to offer an option for people of wealth, who perhaps were unable to stretch to the cost of purchasing a grand house, to live in some of London’s most sought-after areas, such as Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Kensington, Regent’s Park, Marylebone, St John’s Wood, Maida Vale, Hampstead, Chelsea, Battersea, Fulham and Chiswick.
Prior to their arrival, higher net worth individuals tended not to live in ‘flats’, however, some developers saw the potential of building the kind of high-density living that would likely appeal to them. In order to reduce the risk of the idea not working, most blocks were built in stages, with further development once the original flats had been sold.
This was certainly the case in Maida Vale, which was developed by a variety of landowners, all adding more to the history of London’s mansion blocks. First to be built was Blomfield Road, north of the canal, and parts of Edgware Road, later renamed Maida Vale. This was followed by areas including Randolph Avenue and parts of Elgin Avenue.
In 1895, Essendine Road was built by William Henry Pearce, followed by Morshead and Grantully Roads. After the completion of these, Widley and Wymering Roads were built, closely followed by the remainder of Elgin Avenue and Lauderdale and Castellain Roads. Delaware, Ashworth and Biddulph Roads were eventually also developed around 1920.
As mansions blocks were designed to appeal to the luxury market, the style they were generally built in meant that the exteriors were usually quite grand, often with intricate ornate details. The interiors tended to have high ceilings and large windows, with generous hallways and wide staircases in the common areas
Many of these features still remain to this day and help to ensure that mansion block flats are still very desirable and sought-after places to live. Many fine examples can be found in and around the Maida Vale area. Considering the grandeur and general location of mansion blocks, it isn’t surprising that they are popular, especially as the blocks are usually well managed and kept in good repair, further preserving their appeal.
With the summer months upon us and temperatures rising, our thoughts often drift towards ways of trying to keep cool in the heat and one great way to do this is to go for a swim. Needless to say, when living in London this can be quite a difficult thing to do, however there are a variety of options available which aren’t too far from the Maida Vale area. So here are some tips to help you find places where you can swim this summer.
One of the closest swimming pools to Morshead Mansions is in the Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre. Located a short walk from Finchley Road and Swiss Cottage Jubilee Line tube stations and walkable in around 25 minutes, the centre has a 25m, 8 lane pool with a separate learner pool. Open to non-members, there are a variety of pricing options, you can find out more by clicking here –
Another swimming pool within easy reach is the Harbour Club Notting Hill, which can be found on Alfred Road, just off the Harrow Road close to the end of Sutherland Avenue. Around a 20 minute walk from Morshead this pool is only accessible to members, details can be found on the link below –
Just beyond Swiss Cottage at the O2 Centre in the Finchley Road is Virgin Active. This fitness centre has a large swimming pool, complete with steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. Virgin Active is also a members only club, however, it’s probably a little more affordable than the Harbour Club. You can find out more here –
Close to the Bayswater Waitrose is the Porchester Centre, run by Everyone Active. Open 7 days a week, this historic building offers a 30m, 4 lane pool plus a teaching pool for beginners. Westminster residents can usually get discounts at Everyone Active, so if you’d like to find out more, click here –
For those that prefer swimming outdoors, there are several options. The first is the lido on Hampstead Heath, close to Parliament Hill. Accessible from Maida Vale by car or bus, there is paid parking close by and bus routes including the 31 from Shirland Road, changing at Chalk Farm Road to the 24 to Hampstead Heath All the pricing and access details can be found here –
Also on the Heath are 3 ponds where you can swim, one mixed, one male only and one female only. Booking is required for some of the ponds and the water can be a little cold, but definitely refreshing! The ponds can get quite busy, especially on warmer days, so it’s a good idea to choose the times you visit wisely. but the ponds are great places where you can swim. More details can be found here –
Another outdoor place to swim is the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park. Called ‘London’s most iconic open water swimming location’, the lido is open from 10am to 6pm every day between June and Mid-September. As a bonus, it’s beside a lovely café for post-swim refreshments. Booking details can be found here –
If you feel like going a little further afield to swim in the sea, one of the closest beaches to London is Brighton. Accessible by hundreds of trains each day from Blackfriars or Victoria, the journey time is usually just over an hour. If you’ve never been to Brighton before, you can find out more about it here –
Places where you can swim can be hard to find if you live in London but it’s good to know that there are quite a few options out there, why not give some of them a try?
Now that Summer’s officially with us, we’re starting to see beautiful colours popping up all around Maida Vale, both in Morshead Road and the surrounding area. Each year, the window boxes that adorn the front of Morshead Mansions start to flower and they’re beginning to look particularly lovely as the weather heats up and we begin to see Maida Vale in bloom.
The communal gardens at the rear of Morshead Mansions is a relaxing space for residents to enjoy all year round. With the arrival of Summer, a variety of colours start to appear, making the space even more enjoyable to spend time in.
As always, we’d ask anyone using the communal garden with their children to take care not to damage the planted areas. The garden is for everyone to socialise or relax in, if using barbeques please be considerate and clear up after use.
Fortunately for Morshead residents, Paddington Recreation Ground is just opposite and is a wonderful resource. At this time of year colour starts to sprout up here too. The park has recently been undergoing improvements to the pathways and amenities and the secluded gardens are beginning to fill with a variety of colours.
On the other side of Elgin Avenue from Morshead Road is Le Cochonnet, a long-established bar and reataurant and a handy place to spend some time with friends. The beautiful hanging baskets on the outside are looking quite splendid and add to the collage of Maida Vale in bloom! We’re also fortunate in our surrounding area that Westminster Council take the time and effort to add and maintain an abundance of hanging baskets attached to the street lights. This certainly adds to the appeal of our neighbourhood.
If you’re thinking of adding some floral colour to your flat, why not take a short walk or drive down to Little Venice and visit Clifton Nurseries? This beautiful garden centre is awash with colour at the moment, with all types and varieties of flowers. They also have a lovely cafe to while away some time.
We hope that enjoyed some images of Maida Vale in bloom and that you’re able to get out into the local area to explore what’s on offer soon. In the meantime, we wish everyone a long and enjoyable summer!
Part of the charm of buying a Victorian Maida Vale mansion block flat is that they usually come with a host of original features, which for many people can add a lot to making them an attractive choice. However, since they were first built in the early 1900’s, the way that people live has evolved to the point where the original layouts of these flats may no longer completely suit their needs. So looking for some design inspiration for mansion block flats can be a good place to start if you’re thinking of updating your space.
For example, kitchen areas have become far more important, with many people now treating them as the heart of the home and the place where they tend to spend most time, an abundance of natural light is now widely thought to have positive effects on our overall wellbeing and many flat owners are now working from home, re-purposing extra bedrooms as ad-hoc office space.
It’s important to remember that work of any kind, even on a maintenance level, needs to be undertaken by tradesmen who are properly qualified to do the job. It’s also worth bearing in mind that no structural changes are permitted in Morshead Mansions and any alterations that involve major works or changes to the layout of your flat will need to be agreed by the building management before they take place.
That being said, there are many examples in Morshead of flats that have been refurbished to an exceptional standard and achieving this, along with the general upturn of demand for people looking to buy flats in the street, will significantly add to the overall value of your property. So, when considering materials, layout, furnishings and decoration style, it’s worth taking time to think it through carefully.
If you’re buying a flat that’s in need of renovation, or simply thinking of freshening up your existing living environment, there’s a lot to consider when making decisions on design choices. Ultimately, what you do will depend on your personal tastes but if you’re looking for some inspiration, it’s worth bearing in mind that there are far more resources available nowadays to help you conjure up some fresh ideas and it’s well-worth investigating some of them to get some perspective.
The first place that that’s worth spending some time viewing are the myriad of home style programmes available on TV, many of which will have some design inspiration for mansion block flats. From the days in years gone by when the only show on TV was changing Rooms, with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Handy Andy, nowadays it seems as though there are home renovation programmes on every channel, such as Grand Designs with Kevin McCloud, Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr and a whole host of programmes featuring George Clarke.
Recently re-aired on Channel 4 was an episode of ‘George Clarke’s Old House New Home’, which features the full renovation of a flat in neighbouring Southwold Mansions. Throughout the episode, the kitchen was re-worked and replaced, along with the bathroom. All other areas were redecorated while restoring original features where possible.
If you’d like to see the full renovation, it’s available at Channel 4 Online, Season 6, Episode 4 and on demand through the usual TV services. It gives a good idea of what renovating a Maida Vale mansion block flat is like and some of the hazards that you might encounter along the way. It also includes some great ideas and tips for good use of space.
Another great resource is the wealth of information that’s available online, with a wide selection of interior design websites, blogs and online magazines. Below are a selection of sites that are full of interesting ideas, complete with links that will take you to the features. Just click on the links below the images to see more…
If you’re looking for something to do this coming May Bank Holiday, why not take a walk down to Little Venice and Paddington Basin to experience the annual Inland Waterways Association May Bank Holiday Canal Boat Cavalcade? The boats will be moored between Blomfield Road, Warwick Avenue and Warwick Crescent, with entertainment stretching into Paddington Basin.
Each early May Bank Holiday, over 100 narrow boats from all over the country converge on Little Venice to create a truly unique spectacle. The event takes place over the whole weekend, this year it will be from the 4th-6th May and will showcase canal boat living to its full, with a wonderful array of floating colour and entertainment.
For 2024, ‘Fund Britain’s Waterways’ is the theme and there’s a lot to see. Along with the boats themselves, you’ll find stalls selling unique items, a real ale bar and a fantastic selection of street food stalls for a quick snack. Other features are the eclectic live music, Morris Dancers and plenty of children’s entertainment. This year, for the first time, there will be a special illuminated boat parade between 9 pm and 10.30 pm on Sunday.
Opening times for the May Bank Holiday Canal Boat Cavalcade will be 10am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday and 10am-5pm on Monday. You can find out more on the Inland Waterways Website.