Ashworth Mansions

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History

When it was first built Ashworth Mansions was described as 'fitted with all modern requirements' including 'electric light and tradesman's lift'.

Ashworth Mansions was named after Ashworth Road. There was no particular reason for the name other than when Ashworth, Biddulph, Castellain and Delaware Roads were built or extended in 1893 the developers of the Paddington estate, the Paddington Trustees and the Church Commissioners, wanted the initials of the street names to run alphabetically. There was strong opposition to the name Ashworth from the local council, the Paddington 'Vestry'. They said that it would clash with the existing 'Ashmore Road' name, causing confusion, and they suggested 'Petworth' instead.

Grantully Road was also built in 1893. The name of Grantully is from a village in Perthshire in Scotland and has no known connection with Maida Vale. The Paddington Vestry did not like this name either, suggesting that 'Grantchester' be used instead.

Elgin Avenue (originally Elgin Road) acquired its name in 1863 when Lord Elgin opened 1 Elgin Road (now 255 Elgin Avenue). Lord Elgin was a descendant of the 7th Earl of Elgin who brought the famous Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon in Greece, bought in 1819 by the British Museum where they have remained ever since. Two days after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth on 4 June 1953 crowds lined the streets of Elgin Avenue when the new monarch visited the street as part of her tour around the suburbs of London.

Before the First World War, Rosa Leo of 45 Ashworth Mansions gave lessons in public speaking to members of the suffragette movement (demanding votes for women).

The Second World War saw the destruction of half of the block (corner of Grantully and Ashworth Roads). Reconstruction work commenced soon after however a lack of funds impacted on many elements of the block, including the water system - hence why even today half of the block’s water is run on a central boiler and the rest on independent systems.

In 1981 the Church Commissioners decided to sell the entire Maida Vale estate, offering tenants a 20 per cent discount on the assessed market value of their flats.

Ashworth Mansions made the pages of the Paddington Mercury in 1985 when members of the Ashworth Mansions Tenants' Association asserted the right to rent or buy flats in the block at prices that local residents could afford.

Subsequent to this there have been a series of improvements to the block including a recent £2 million renovation project. The communal areas are next to undergo further development.