Visit Brondesbury Places

Welcome to Visit Brondesbury Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Brondesbury

  

Brondesbury Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Brondesbury

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Brondesbury history

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Manor and manor house

Willesden parish, which included Durand’s estate at Twyford and Harlesden manor, was divided between eight variable, ecclesiastical prebends: East Twyford in the south-west, Neasden in the north-west, Oxgate in the northeast, Harlesden in the centre and south, and Chambers, Brondesbury, Bounds, and Mapesbury in the east. The manor Brondesbury, Brands or Broomsbury almost certainly derived its name from Brand (seen in documents of about 1192 and 1215), sometimes confused with Brownswood in Hornsey of Roger Brun listed as prebendary of Brondesbury. The estate was held by the prebendaries until it was vested in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1840 under the Act of that year. In 1649 the parliamentary commissioners sold it to Ralph Marsh but it reverted at the Restoration (1660). The leasehold interest of Brondesbury was bought with what remained too of Bounds manor in 1856 and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners retained the freehold until the 1950s and 1960s. Forty-year leases were made of Brondesbury to William Peter, gentleman of London, in 1538 and to Thomas Young, a Willesden yeoman, in reversion in 1566. In the first decade of the 17th century Young’s widow and his daughter lived here. In 1615 the latter, Christian’s estranged husband, Henry Shugborow, brought an action for possession against the executors, who had re-entered because the rent had not been paid and it had been sublet to one Marsh, ‘an ancient tenant’. The estate was leased for lives in 1638 to Edward Roberts but Ralph Marsh, who in 1649 bought Brondesbury from the parliamentary commissioners, seems to have occupied the land. Thomas and Ralph Marsh were described as “of Brands” in 1679 and 1694 respectively. Ralph Marsh (d. 1709) in 1708 received a lease for lives. The estate was heavily mortgaged by the Marshes from 1725 and in 1749 Ralph Marsh sold the lease to John Stace, who obtained a new lease in 1757. Stace sold the lease in 1765 to Joseph Gibson, the undertenant, who obtained a new lease in 1769 and whose widow and son tried to sell the estate in 1778. In 1788 Lady (Sarah) Salusbury purchased the leasehold, and in 1799 she obtained a new lease for lives. Brondesbury thereafter passed through the same ownership as Bounds, Lady Salusbury obtaining possession (all other competing leases rendered inferior) in 1842. A moated house as the manor house existed by 1538. It was described in 1649, probably with the remnants of the moat, and was depicted in 1749 as a large, apparently L-shaped building with a central cupola. It appears to have been rebuilt in the third quarter of the 18th century and by the time of Lady (Sarah) Salusbury was a three-storeyed villa with a central canted entrance bay rising the full height of the north front. A lower wing, presumably an addition, ran southward from the east end. In 1789 Humphry Repton landscaped roughly 10-acre (4.0 ha) of demesne grounds and William Wilkins supplied drawings for a Gothic seat. In his ‘Red Book’ Repton commented favourably on the hilltop site and enhanced the view towards London. The house and 23 acres, increased by 1834 to 53 acres, was occupied by Sir Coutts Trotter, Bt. (1804–36), Lady Trotter (1836-40), Lady (Elizabeth) Salusbury (1840-3), and Charles Hambro (1843-9). The house was extended westward and a semicircular bay was added to the south front in the early 19th century. By 1849 the demesne fell to 27 acres and the house, described in 1816 as being commodious yet having ‘no regularity of architectural character’ and in 1822 as an ‘elegant seat’, three-storeyed. It continued as a gentleman’s residence under Mrs. Howard (1850-3), Henry Vallence (1853-6), Mrs. Geach (1856–61), John Coverdale (1862-7), and Thomas Brandon (1867–76), and in 1877 was offered for sale with 52 acres. After remaining empty it was leased as a school, to Margaret Clark (1882–98) and Lucy Soulsby (1898-1915). In 1891 the school added a classroom and dormitory block on the east and later a chapel beyond that. The house continued as a school until 1934 when, described as ‘shabby-looking’, it was bought by C. W. B. Simmonds, a builder, and was pulled down to make way for Manor Drive. The Imperial Gazetteer of 1870-72 reads: Brondesbury, a chapelry in Willesden parish, Middlesex; formed in 1866. Pop., 400. Living, a rectory.Christ Church, Willesden Lane, Brondesbury. Dist[rict] formed 1867 from St. Mary’s under Dr. Charles W. Williams (d. 1889) and financed by his sisters. Declared a rectory…1868. Williams, patron and first rector, succeeded by son, Charles D. Williams 1889-1913. Patronage sold to parish c. 1930 and transferred to Lord Chancellor c. 1957. United with St. Lawrence’s 1971. One asst. curate by 1896, two by 1926. High Church. Attendance 1903: 300 a.m.; 447 p.m [Sundays]. Limestone…in 13th century style by C. R. B. King: chancel, north tower and spire, nave, N. aisle, N. transept, and NW. porch 1866, S. aisle and S. transept 1899, choir vestry 1909. Damaged by land mine 1940, restored 1948. Missions: St. Lawrence (q.v.); Poplars Ave. c. 1918; Avenue Close 1903-39.

Later places of worship

The Catholic church has the Church of the Transfiguration where the district traditionally is considered Kensal Rise. A late 20th century addition is the Christ Apostolic Church (Mount Joy) which is an Aladura church.

You can visit Brondesbury places with Walkfo Brondesbury to hear history at Brondesbury’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Brondesbury has 432 places to visit in our interactive Brondesbury map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Brondesbury, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Brondesbury places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Brondesbury & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 432 audio facts unique to Brondesbury places in an interactive Brondesbury map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Brondesbury Places Map
432 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Brondesbury historic spots	Brondesbury tourist destinations	Brondesbury plaques	Brondesbury geographic features
Walkfo Brondesbury tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Brondesbury

  

Best Brondesbury places to visit

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Brondesbury has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Brondesbury’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Brondesbury’s information audio spots:

Frontline Club Frontline Club is a media club and registered charity located near Paddington Station in London . It aims to champion independent journalism and promote diversity and professionalism in the media .

Paddington Recreation Ground Paddington Recreation Ground is the largest area of parkland in the City of Westminster . It was the first park of its kind in London, having operated since 1888 . Annually, it attracts over 1.5 million users, who visit the Recreation Ground for its green-space value .

Chepstow Place Chepstow Place is a street in London that runs from the junction of Westbourne Grove and Pembridge Villas in the north to the south . It is crossed by Dawson Place and joined on its eastern side by Rede Place .

Yorkshire Stingo The Yorkshire Stingo was a public house in Marylebone in the 18th and 19th centuries . It served as a significant landmark just outside central London .

Rudolf Steiner House Rudolf Steiner House is a Grade 2 listed building near Regent’s Park, London . It is the home of the Anthroposophical Society of Great Britain . It contains a library, bookshop, cafe, theatre, therapy and wellness centre .

Hanover Terrace Hanover Terrace overlooks Regent’s Park in City of Westminster, London . The terrace is a Grade I listed building and overlooks the park .

125 Park Road 125 Park Road is a listed building in Westminster, London, England . The 11 storey block of flats has 18 two bedroom, 18 one bedroom, four penthouse and one caretaker’s flat .

Theatre Royal, Marylebone The Theatre Royal, Marylebone was built in 1831 and was a music hall, cinema and warehouse . It was damaged by fire in 1962, when it was demolished .

Chalk Farm Chalk Farm is a small urban district of north London, lying immediately north of Camden Town. It is located in the London Borough of Camden.

The Star, St John’s Wood The Star was a pub at 38 St John’s Wood Terrace in St John’s Wood, in the City of Westminster, London, for approximately 200 years . The Westminster City Council listed it as an asset of community value in 2015 . In 2017 it reopened as a gastropub .

Visit Brondesbury plaques