Subject

A notorious Victorian slum in Kensington.

From the late 18th century this was an area where bricks were made to supply nearby construction sites. As London was developed agricultural activities were pushed out and this area attracted the piggeries. Neither industry was salubrious and together they formed a slum. It only caught the attention of the superior classes when the Kensington Hippodrome was built next door. A public right of way meant that the "filthy and disgusting crew" could not be kept out and that contributed to the failure of the Hippodrome after just 5 years.