Tag: Maida Vale

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The Upturn of Sale Prices in Morshead Mansions

A for sale sign at the end of the Morshead Mansions block

I’m writing today in order to draw your attention to recent movements in market values in Maida Vale and their impact on the value of Morshead Mansions flat in particular. In recent years, flat sales in London have been erratic. While there was steady growth following the recession of 2007-2008, the last 4 or 5 years have been a lot harder to predict. However, lately we’re seeing a the upturn of sale prices in Morshead Mansions.

There’s no doubt that the pandemic which started at the beginning of 2020 had a significant effect on people’s willingness to move home, with the property market slowing down as a result. This naturally contributed to a dip in expected prices with fewer potential buyers chasing a greater supply.

We’ve seen the effects of this in Morshead Mansions. Prior to 2020, the highest sale price achieved in the street was £1,125,000 in February 2016. However, from 2019 to 2021, the average sale prices were fluctuating around £900,000 to £1,000,000. So how are things looking in 2024? Bearing in mind that there are currently 127 properties for sale in the W9 area with an average asking price of £981,512 (according to nethouseprices.com), it’s encouraging to see that values in Morshead Mansions are now significantly above this average.

October 2023 saw a Morshead flat sell for £1,145,000, which previously sold in April 2022 for £930,000 (and was then refurbished to a very high standard), representing a gross increase of £215,000 in just 18 months. Most recently, a top floor flat has just sold for £1,200,000.

Of course, it would be easy to say that flats in Morshead Mansions are well above the ‘average’ type of property in the Maida Vale area and therefore would be expected to be priced higher.  But if you compare Morshead values to those of flats in Wymering Mansions, our nearest neighbours, these are currently hovering around the £850,000 mark, which is significantly lower than Morshead Mansions.

Needless to say, the level to which Morshead is maintained and the added bonus of the park vista opposite are significant contributors to this price difference, but it seems fair to observe that Morshead has become a very desirable address and is becoming ever more sought-after. It’s worth noting that top floor Morshead flats that have purchased and developed into their roof spaces are selling for significantly more than the current Morshead average, with the highest sales figure to date being £1,500,000 and others selling close to this.

All in all, Morshead seems to be punching above its weight!

If you’d like to find out how to add value to a top floor Morshead Mansions flat by purchasing the roof void, read the ‘Sale of Morshead Mansions Roof Voids‘ here.

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Sale of Morshead Mansions Roof Voids

A view of the roofs of Morshead Mansions showing how people have extended their flats by building into them

This is a note of explanation of the landlord company’s policy regarding the sale of Morshead Mansions roof voids, i.e., the empty spaces above the top-floor flats. Morshead Mansions is comprised of 13 contiguous blocks each of which is in turn comprised of 8 flats arranged in pairs, two on each floor with a basement storey situated below the raised ground floor flats and a pitched roof above the third floor flats.

In 2015, the company was approached by Ms. Adamson, then the new owner of flat 40 Morshead Mansions, a top-floor flat.  Ms. Adamson wanted to buy the roof void above her new flat and to develop a duplex apartment. Despite the doubts we had about the project’s viability, both physical and financial, Ms. Adamson was determined to achieve her goal and she overcame our doubts and the company made its first roof void for the price of £75,000.

Since 2015, down to the end of 2023, the company had agreed and completed the sale of a further 12 roof voids, all of which were sold at the same price of £75,000.  Towards the end of 2023, we agreed the sale of the 14th roof void and a S5 LTA 1987 Notice was duly given to all of the leaseholders to that effect on 19 October.

Morshead Mansions

Though it was agreed in 2023, the sale of the roof void above flat 23 Morshead Mansions was completed on 20 January 2024 and proceeds of sale duly received by the company. So, down to January 2024, the company has sold 14 roof voids realising £75,000 on each sale, making a total revenue realised during the past 8 years of £1,050,000.  All of that money has been applied to the objects of the landlord company and has thereby reduced by a like total the amounts that would otherwise be sought from shareholders in the annual precepts authorised by resolutions passed under Article 16.

We have 12 roof voids left which presently remain unsold and which are available for sale.  As the development of a duplex apartment has been demonstrated to be viable we expect to see the sale of Morshead Mansions roof voids taking place for most of the remaining flats.

Having dipped recently, but now boosted by the impact of the common parts stairwell refurbishment, values of Morshead Mansions flats are recovering and are apparently finding a new level at somewhere above £1.15 million.  This might justify an increase in the asking price for the remaining, as yet, unsold roof voids to perhaps, £100,000.

If you’d like to read about the recent upturn of sale prices in Morshead Mansions, click here.

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Paddington Recreation Ground

The Bandstand at Paddington Recreation Ground in summer, surrounded by colourful flowers

Morshead residents are very fortunate to live opposite Paddington Recreation Ground. Not only does it provide a lovely vista to look out onto, but it also has a wealth of recreational facilities to take advantage of, from simply pausing for some coffee, taking a stroll through the wooded areas and numerous footpaths, going for a short run, right up to taking part in a wide range of competitive sports, including tennis, football, hockey and cricket.

This 27-acre site first opened in 1888 and was the first park and athletic ground of its kind in London. Prior to 1888 it was used by the local church, who laid out a cricket pitch for the parish community. During the 1880’s, Richard Beachcroft, who was the secretary of the Paddington Cricket Club, led an initiative to extend the cricket ground by forming a committee of local cricket clubs and negotiating arrangements with local landowners.

Paddington Recreation Ground

Paddington Recreation Ground, on the left shown in an early layout in 1901 and on the right as it is today.

The pavilion, which still stands today, was formally opened at the same time as the park and was renamed ‘The Richard Beachcroft Pavilion’ in 2010 to recognise his work in creating the original space, with a commemorative plaque placed on the building. The park was originally conceived as a work creation scheme, to alleviate the severe 1887-1888 economic slump that coincided with Queen Victoria’s jubilee.

500 unemployed Paddington men were utilised for 10 weeks to prepare the land prior to opening, partly funded by Beachcroft himself. When first opened, the area where the cricket green is now sited was a cinder cycle track, replaced in 1900 with a banked cycle track, with a running track placed inside. These were removed in 1987 and the grass bank on the Grantully Road side of the park is now the only remaining evidence of the banking.

Paddington Recreation Ground

In the beginning, the park was only held on a risky annual tenancy, however, on July 9th 1890 the then Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII, came to visit the park and Lord Randolph Churchill, who was MP for Paddington South and had been instrumental in establishing the park, lobbied the Prince to save the area for public use. Over the following years and with the Prince’s patronage, £50,000 was raised to buy the freehold.

The Paddington Recreation Act was passed by parliament in 1893, which authorised the formal acquisition of the land to ‘provide the residents with a public recreational ground’. In 1896, a charitable trust was set up under the name of the Paddington Recreation Ground, owned by London County Council, and the future of the park as we know it today was secured.

Paddington Recreation Ground

Paddington Recreation Ground has been home to some significant history over the years. Catford Cycling Club first held track races in the grounds in 1889, soon after the park opened, which would regularly attract up to 7000 spectators. The original running track, which was turned into the new cricket pitch in 1987, was used by Roger Bannister in the early 1950’s, while he was a medical student at St Mary’s Hospital, to train for his four minute mile attempt. A blue plaque was unveiled at the pavilion in September 2000 to commemorate his achievement.

There is now also a second blue plaque at the pavilion to honour the successes of cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins, who started riding bikes at the park as a child while living nearby in Kilburn. The hockey pitch is home to Hampstead and Westminster Hockey Club, who enter teams in both the Men’s and Women’s England Hockey Leagues. Established in 1894, this is one of the largest adult hockey clubs in the UK.

Paddington Recreation Ground

In 2006, Westminster City Council started a 3.5 million regeneration programme, which enabled extensive refurbishments to be carried out and today, Paddington Recreation Ground receives financial support from sports organisations that include Sport England, the Football Foundation, the English Football Association and the Lawn Tennis Association.

Paddington Recreation Ground

In its modern day incarnation, Paddington Recreation Ground has a wealth of sporting facilities available, including 13 tennis courts, 10 synthetic and 3 hard courts, all of which have recently been resurfaced and are in excellent playing condition, a 400m athletics track, which was refurbished in 2020, 2 artificial turf pitches, a ‘water-based’ hockey pitch, a bowling green, cricket nets, a cricket pitch, 5 a side pitches, an outdoor gym area and a fully equipped indoor gym, run by Everyone Active.

Paddington Recreation Ground

For less sporty people, there are secluded garden areas, including a rose garden. You will also find a bandstand, a nature trail, two enclosed dog walking areas, a large children’s play area and a café with outside seating. We really are very fortunate to have such a large, beautiful and versatile recreation space right on our doorstep, if you haven’t explored it yet why not take a stroll and see for yourself what’s on offer!

Paddington Recreation Ground
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Morshead Mansions 2023 AGM

Notice of the Morshead Mansions 2023 AGM

The Morshead Mansions 2023 AGM will take place at 6.30pm on Thursday 28th December. The meeting will be held in Selbourne House, Ground Floor, 36A Elgin Avenue, W9 3AZ, which is on the other side of Elgin Avenue from St Peter’s Church and is 100 metres or so past the junction of Elgin Avenue and Chippenham Road.

Unfortunately, St Peter’s Church, which has accommodated us for the past several years, is undergoing refurbishment so is not presently available. Minutes of the meeting will be available on the Key Documents page of the website in the New Year.

We look forward to seeing you at the The Morshead Mansions 2023 AGM, if you have any questions, please get in touch. We’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Morshead Mansions
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Beautiful Autumn colours in and around Maida Vale

Aurumn in Maida Vale can be experienced from the historic bridge over the canal at Little Venice

With the Autumn season well and truly upon us, there’s no better time to take a walk to take in the full beauty of the local area and the beautiful Autumn colours in and around Maida Vale. From right on our doorstep to a little further afield, we’re all extremely fortunate to live in an area where there is so much colour and natural wonder.

Aurumn in Maida Vale

The first and closest place to experience the colour of Autumn is the communal gardens behind Morshead Mansions, which all residents are able to easily access with a garden key. Over the last few years the garden has continued to look better and better and at this time of the year it’s a colourful, convenient and happy place to take a quick stroll.

Aurumn in Maida Vale

Just a little further away and right opposite Morshead Mansions is Paddington Recreation Ground, which at this time of year is full of reds, oranges and yellows, with carpets of leaves. This park has wide open spaces, as well as a great selection of secluded garden areas and is a really handy place to wander around and stretch your legs.

Aurumn in Maida Vale

At this time of year, the area around Warwick Avenue Station is particularly pretty and colourful and well worth taking the time to have a look. Only a 5-7 minute walk from Morshead Mansions, it’s easily accessible and once in the area there are many other parts that are worth exploring too.

Little Venice

A short walk along the flaming red tree-lined Warwick Avenue brings you to Little Venice and the bridge that looks over the canal below. At this time of year the colourful boats that line both sides of the canal are beautifully complemented by the explosion of colours from the trees.

Little Venice

On the opposite side of the bridge is the start of Paddington Basin, which is a truly lovely place to go for a walk. It’s an area that’s full of canal boats and also a place where you can take a boat trip along the canal through Regent’s Park to Camden Lock. In the middle of the water is Little Venice Island Gardens, which is dedicated as a bird sanctuary and out of bounds to the public. On the opposite side is the Waterside Boat Cafe, which is an idylc place to stop for a coffee, a light breakfast or some lunch.

Paddington Basin

If you’re feeling particularly energetic, why not walk a little further into Paddington Basin and along to Sheldon Square. This whole area has been completely re-developed over the last few years and is dedicated as a Clean Air Zone. Along the canal there are many bars and restaurants, many of which are on boats, and it’s a great place to have a stroll and while away a couple of hours. Further along the canal still is Merchant Square, which features the acclaimed Fan Bridge.

Aurumn in Maida Vale

A little further afield, Primrose Hill always looks especially colourful at this time of year. It is walkable, which would probably take around 15-20 minutes each way, however, for those who drive it’s good to know that Morshead Mansion’s ‘C’ zone parking permits extend right up to the west side of the park. This makes it pretty convenient to get to and once there, you could easily spend at least half an hour walking around the whole of the park. If you’d rather just visit to take in the views, a short walk up to the top of the hill will reward you with spectacular views over central London and its famous landmarks.

Aurumn in Maida Vale

Another alternative if you feel like walking to Primrose Hill or Regent’s Park is to take the canal from Little Venice. Most of the route is accessible along the canal, apart from a short stretch between the Edgeware Road and Lisson Grove.

Aurumn in Maida Vale

Regent’s Park adjoins Primrose Hill and is accessible in the same way, with ‘C’ zone parking all along the north side, up to where Primrose Hill begins. At this time of the year, the whole of the park looks incredibly beautiful and with a good selection of cafes it’s a great place to while away a few hours and take in the scenery.

So these are just a selction of suggested places that are fairly close to Morshead Mansions that you can visit to take in the splendour of the beautiful Autumn colours in and around Maida Vale. If you have time to visit any of them you’re unlikely to be disappointed, it’s worth remembering though that Autumn won’t last forever, so make sure you go soon!

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Rear Drainage Works

Two of the tradesmen taking a break while undertaking the Rear Drainage Works at Morshead Mansions

I’m writing in order to explain the rear drainage works and related excavations which many of you will have seen being undertaken by our contractors on the rear of the building.

These works are in part a response to the pressures arising out of the advancing trend for works of alteration affecting a significant number of flats in which the position of kitchens are being moved to what was originally the front/main bedroom, which is then opened up to provide an open plan kitchen, dining living rooms.  Further changes include the development of a number of the roof voids so as to create ‘Duplex’ apartments (12 so far out of a possible 26).  In a couple of cases, bathrooms have been introduced to the rearmost room in the flat, originally also a bedroom.

What does this have to do with the rear drainage works, I hear you ask? The answer is that all of these changes result in a requirement for effluent disposal which in turn requires a connection to a conveniently located soil pipe. The trouble with this is that there are no conveniently located soil pipes – we only have inconveniently located soil pipes.

In recent years, this has resulted in a proliferation of unsightly horizontally mounted waste pipes stretching across the rear elevations and imposing an unattractive visual burden on the building.  It so happens that the underground drainage is plagued with problems associated with their age and outdated design – the drainage network is now 120 years old and it is feeling the strain. We are plagued by blockages caused by the inconsiderate disposal of wet-wipes which are flushed down the loos and by food waste being poured down the kitchen sink.

Rear Drainage Works

Addressing both problems, unsightly pipework and blockages, requires works designed to increase capacity by the addition of new vertical soil pipes fixed in the corners of the light wells and preventing or reducing blockages by removing the surviving gulley traps (each of which have ‘U’-bends) which used to be the standard means of discharging waste water from kitchens and bathrooms and rainwater.

In the old days, gulleys were the most economic means of connecting cast iron waste pipes to the underground drainage which was made of clay. Each vertical waste pipe would discharge over an open gulley, surrounded by concrete barrier and ‘protected’ by a metal grill intended to catch solid waste (like food) in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent blockages.

Rear Drainage Works

This design was fundamentally flawed – it didn’t work. The metal grills would get blocked within hours by food, if it was a kitchen waste, or by hair and soap (and other ghastly muck) in the bathroom wastes. In a building the size of Morshead Mansions, each block having at least 6 gulleys, you needed porters/caretakers whose job it was to clear these blockages.

If neglected, which eventually became routine, the blocked gulleys would overflow and the waste water and the detritus floating in it would spread out over the ground around the buildings.

Here’s what these blocked gulleys looked like in 1978:

Rear Drainage Works

By December 1992, when we bought the freehold, the situation had not improved. If anything, it was worse – we had no porters, so nobody was even trying to keep on top of the mess that was spewing out from every block. The rear of the building was not a nice place to be.

We did improve the situation in the course of the major works programme which the company undertook in 1993 and 1994 but it was never really finished properly.

We finished up with a half-way house in which we sealed the gulleys to their respective drain pipes but did not eliminate the ‘U’-bends. While this did dispense with the mess depicted in the historic pictures, it did not entirely eradicate the blockages which would still plague the building from time to time. Moreover, with bathrooms being introduced into novel locations within the flats, we have to accommodate a requirement to dispose safely of ‘blackwater’.

Rear Drainage Works

Block 2 (flats 9 to 16) helpfully illustrates what we had to begin with in our present programme. The pictures above afford a good view of the mess which has accreted down the years as uncoordinated efforts produced a chaotic and unsightly jumble of waste pipes which are anything but attractive to the eye.

The last picture shows you the difference in appearance that can be achieved if you have the chance to construct a coordinated system of externally mounted waste pipework which is integrated with the new drainage scheme. There are practically no horizontal pipes crossing the elevation, there are no gulleys or ‘U’-bends to block, all fittings are black in colour and fixed correctly (and in accordance with building regulations), and the building looks good.  A building that looks good enhances amenity and increases value.

Rear Drainage Works

If you have the opportunity, between downpours, why not take a walk along the rear of the building and see for yourself.  Let us know what you think of the benefits of the rear drainage works.

David Wismayer

To read more about the Morshead Mansions communal gardens, click here.

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The History of Maida Vale Station

A view from the corner of Elgin Avenue and Randolph Avenue showing the entrance to Maida Vale Station

The closest tube station to Morshead Mansions, Maida Vale, is just a few minutes’ walk East along Elgin Avenue. Originally planned to be located on nearby Abercorn Place, this was ultimately rejected in favour of the junction of Elgin Avenue and Randolph Avenue. This iconic structure has been a landmark of the local area for over 100 years and is a Grade II listed building. Read on to discover more about the history of Maida Vale Station.

Using the familiar early Leslie Green template of many other stations on the tube network, such as Camden Town, Chalk Farm, Belsize Park and Hampstead, Maida Vale was actually designed by The Underground Electric Railways Company of London’s architect, Stanley Heaps.

Maida Vale Station

The main difference between Stanley Heaps and Leslie Green’s design was that it was a single-storey building, as upper storeys were no longer required to house lift gear. Maida Vale was actually one of the first London Underground stations to be built with escalators instead of lifts. As was the norm at the time, the escalators were originally constructed of wood. Built as part of the Bakerloo Line extension from Paddington to Queens Park, Maida Vale opened on 6th June 1915 and was one of the few station buildings above ground on this section of the line.

Maida Vale Station

It was also the first station on the entire London network to be staffed solely by women, which was due to England by then being almost a year into World War 1, with many of the men away fighting at the time. The women continued to work at the station until 1919, when servicemen returning from the war ultimately took over their jobs.

Women did every job at the station, except driving the trains, which remained exclusively a job for men until 1978, when Hannah Dadds became the first female tube driver. In 1975 the Sex Discrimination Act was passed by the UK Government and as a result of the legislation, women could then apply to be train drivers. Several women did and Hannah was the first to qualify.

Maida Vale Station

Over the years, Maida Vale station has appeared many times on screen. In 1927 it featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Downhill’, also the 1983 Stephen Poliakoff film ‘Runners’, both featuring shots down the escalators. In 1974, the exterior was used for a scene in the film adaptation of the popular TV sitcom ‘Man About The House’.

In 1998, both the interior and exterior appear several times in the film ‘If Only’…, with scenes on the striking staircases and outside, by a mocked-up flower stall. It was shot around Maida Vale, Notting Hill and Camden and starred Lena Headey, Douglas Henshall and Penelope Cruz in the leading roles.

Maida Vale Station

In 2005, the platform was used for a scene in The Chemical Brothers video of ‘Believe’ and in 2013 many areas were used in Richard Curtis’ film ‘About Time’. In 2014, the exterior was used to depict the fictional ‘Westbourne Oak Station’ in the film ‘Paddington’.

Maida Vale Station

In 2009, Maida Vale won a National Railway Heritage Award for the successful modernisation of an historic station,  managing to keep most of its original features and leaving the station looking much as it did in 1915. So the history of Maida Vale Station is a rich one and it continues to display this history both inside and out. Hopefully it will go on to exist in its current splendour for another 100 years!

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Parking Permits for Morshead Mansions

The end corner of Morshead Mansions showing a Resident's Parking sign

Most Morshead residents will no doubt already be well-versed with the processes of obtaining parking permits for Morshead Mansions to legally park in the street. For those who may be new to the area though, here are some tips on how to apply.

Westminster has zoned parking areas and Morshead Mansions falls within Zone C, which covers Maida Vale and a large part of St. John’s Wood. In order to qualify for a parking permit, your sole or main residence must be in the area for which you’re applying. For standard residency, there are several forms of proof that you can use, including a property lease agreement, property purchase document, tenancy agreement, mortgage statement, bank or building society agreement, credit card bill, utility bill or inclusion on the council tax register.

Morshead Mansions

You will also need to prove ownership of your vehicle by supplying a copy of the vehicle registration document (V5), a certificate of insurance and the insurance schedule, all showing your current address. Westminster Council will not issue a permit for vehicles that are not insured in Westminster and kept there. If you have more than one vehicle, it is possible to cover up to two, however, only one vehicle can be parked on the street at any time.

A parking permit is usually issued for a period of twelve months and you will need to renew it once that time has elapsed. It’s worth noting that a permit may not be issued if you have three or more unpaid Penalty Charge Notices at Order for Recovery stage and having an issued permit does not guarantee you a parking space. It’s always your responsibility to ensure that your vehicle is legally parked and also to ensure that your permit is valid.

Morshead Mansions

Morshead residents are fortunate that the building only occupies one side of the street, whereas parking is available on both, so there are generally plenty of spaces available. If this isn’t the case, you will usually be able to easily find parking spaces in the adjoining streets, such as Grantully Road or Elgin Avenue. Your resident permit will allow you to park in ‘Resident Permit Holders Only’ bays in the zone for which it is issued, it also entitles you to park in ‘paid for’ parking bays without payment for the first and last hours of their controlled times.

There are a few other things to be aware of, for example, you cannot park in ‘suspended’ bays, which can be identified by temporary signs in the relevant areas. Any suspensions will usually be advertised a week or two in advance and it’s always your responsibility to keep an eye out for them. Your vehicle must also be able to ‘fit’ into a space, so if it’s unusually large you will need to seek out more information on the Westminster Council website. Your vehicle must also be roadworthy, if the council considers it not to be it may be towed away.

Morshead Mansions

If for any reason you need to use a temporary courtesy car, you may be able to get temporary cover, which must not exceed 14 days at a time. You may also be able to qualify for a free ‘eco permit’ if your vehicle meets the requirements, further information can be found on the Westminster Council website.

When you first apply, if you’re unable to supply all of the relevant documents straight away, you will usually be issued with a ‘temporary’ permit which will last for 6 weeks, provided that you can supply documents in accordance with the requirements listed on the Westminster Council website.

Morshead Mansions

As of a few months ago, parking permits for Morshead Mansions and the rest of Westminster are no longer being issued in paper format, if you are granted a permit, it will be registered digitally and automatically verified by a traffic warden’s hand-held device when being checked on the street. You should always check on the Council’s website for all the latest rules and regulations regarding parking permits. You can apply for a parking permit online and find all of the official information here – https://www.westminster.gov.uk/resident-parking-permits

If you’d like to find ot more about other aspects of living in Westminster, click here.

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Paddington Sports Club

The street entrance to Paddington Sports Club

As well as being right opposite the local park, Morshead Mansions is very fortunate to be just around the corner from the historic Paddington Sports Club, founded in 1905. With over 2000 members and just a stone’s throw away, the entrance is located next to the Bon Appetit deli on Castellain Road. The club features a whole host of sporting activities, available to members, including tennis, bowls, squash and a gym and has occupied this site since 1928.

Paddington Sports Club

Affiliated to the Lawn Tennis Association, the main feature of this family-friendly club is tennis, with 7 floodlit hard courts and 3 clay courts. Membership is tiered, with reductions for off-peak members and there are a great selection of LTA qualified and accredited tennis coaches, offering lessons to all ages and levels. There is also a tennis ladder league open to all players, enabling members to play with people of similar ability and improve their game over time.

Paddington Sports Club

Paddington Sports Club also features a pristine bowling green, which hosted the Lawn Bowls events during the 1934 Commonwealth Games and is open to people of all ages and ability. Affiliated to Bowls England, EIBA and Middlesex CBA, there are club bowling tournaments throughout the year and league matches against various other clubs.

Paddington Sports Club

The main clubhouse has a warm and inviting atmosphere with plenty of comfortable seating areas. As well as engraved boards featuring past club champions, there are TVs for watching live sports, such as Sky, BT Sports and ESPN and there is also a well-stocked licensed bar and wonderful freshly cooked Thai food available from Nisa’s kitchen, which also offers a handy delivery service.

Playing sport isn’t a requirement of being a member, the club also offers Social Membership for those who simply would like to use these facilities. Also on offer are regular summer garden parties, quiz nights and themed food nights, where all are welcome to attend. The clubhouse can also be reserved for private events, birthday parties or any other personal celebrations.

Paddington Sports Club

Upstairs, the whole of the first floor houses a gym, with a wide range of equipment, plus exercise areas. There are also regular fitness classes to help you achieve your goals, from Pilates to HIT workouts, led by qualified fitness instructors, which are fun to participate in and complimentary to all Gym members.

Paddington Sports Club

In a separate building there are two 2/3 sized indoor tennis courts for coaching children plus two state of the art squash courts complete with viewing areas. If you’d like to find out more about Paddington Sports Club, just visit their website – https://www.psclondon.com/

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Considerate use of the garden

A view of the communal gardens at Morshead Mansions showing the new seating areas

Morshead Mansions is very fortunate to have a spacious garden area to the rear which it shares with the neighbouring Wymering Mansions. The garden is well maintained and the planting and shrubbery which has been well orchestrated over several years is now mature and welcoming. Access to the garden requires a key, please contact the building management if you require one. As the area is shared, as well as being surrounded by multiple flats, we ask that you exercise considerate use of the garden at all times.

The garden area is for the use of all residents, and friends when invited, and all are welcome. Please be aware that because of the height of both buildings, sound can tend to echo and be amplified, meaning that the surrounding flats can easily be disturbed by excessive noise, especially in the summer months when most residents will have their windows open.

Morshead Mansions

We would ask that residents taking children into the gardens wait until after 9am during the week and 10am at weekends, to give other residents a chance for undisturbed rest. At other times, please be considerate and try to ensure that your children don’t make excessive noise. You’re welcome to take children’s toys into the garden but please bring them back in with you when leaving. Please supervise your children at all times and please ensure that they don’t play in and disturb the planted areas.

If you are using the garden into the evenings, especially in the summer months, please try to keep noise to a minimum and aim to vacate the garden by 10.30pm so that other residents can sleep peacefully if they retire early, as sound tends to travel even more at night.

Morshead Mansions

Barbecues are permitted in the garden, however, please be aware that not everybody is keen on the smell and it does tend to travel up and into other resident’s flats, so please try to keep them to a minimum. Once you are done, please also clear up and leave the area as you found it. Please do not put disposable barbecues on the grass areas.

The garden tables and chairs are for everyone’s use and have proven very popular since they arrived, so please enjoy them but if you move them around, please return them to their original positions before you leave. With considerate use of the garden, everyone can enjoy it to its full potential and we ask that you bear this in mind.

Unfortunately, dogs aren’t permitted in the garden.

© Morshead Mansions Ltd, W9  |  2025

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