by Dorothee Schröder
A Central London District
Paddington lies within the City of Westminster in central London.
Saxon Origins
Its name probably refers to a Saxon settlement at the junction of Edgware Road, Harrow Road and Uxbridge Road, associated with Padda, an Anglo-Saxon chieftain.
Ownership by Westminster Abbey
In the tenth century, Paddington was owned by Westminster Abbey, a status confirmed in a charter of 1222 under the Plantagenet dynasty, until the land passed to the Crown during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII.
Canals and Growth
Paddington’s development accelerated in the nineteenth century with the construction of the Grand Junction Canal and the Regent’s Canal, which brought trade and employment to the area.
The Arrival of the Railways
As the population grew rapidly, Paddington Station opened in 1838, followed by the Metropolitan line in 1863, the world’s first underground railway.
Immigration and Social Change
By the mid-nineteenth century, much of Paddington’s population consisted of migrants, including flourishing Greek and Jewish communities. Over time, however, overcrowding and poor conditions led to parts of the area gaining a reputation for poverty and decline.
Decline and Redevelopment
By the mid-twentieth century, Paddington had become associated with urban decay, but redevelopment from the 1960s onwards led to significant improvements. In 1965, the area was incorporated into Greater London as part of the City of Westminster.
A Medical Breakthrough
At St Mary’s Hospital in Praed Street, Alexander Fleming first identified penicillin in 1928. The hospital now houses the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum.
Little Venice
The meeting point of the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal, the Regent’s Canal and Paddington Basin forms Little Venice, known for its houseboats and the annual Canalway Cavalcade festival.
Paddington Bear
Paddington Bear, created by Michael Bond, was named after Paddington Station, where he is found by the Brown family in A Bear Called Paddington.
Cover picture: Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal (photo by Dorothee Schröder)
