Whispers of history linger in Earl’s Court. This unassuming corner of West London hides a rich past. From humble beginnings as farmland under Saxon rule Earl’s Court transformed dramatically.
The De Vere family Earls of Oxford held the manor. Their influence lent its name to the area. Ownership shifted over centuries. Sir William Cope’s daughter Isabella married Henry Rich. He became the 1st Earl of Holland. The manor passed to him. His name echoes in Holland Park nearby. Eventually the estate split. Part became Holland Park. The Earl’s Court section was retained.
The original manor house stood near the present-day Earl’s Court tube station. A surgeon John Hunter had a home and menagerie there. After his death it became a lodging house then an asylum. It was demolished in 1886. Earl’s Court Farm was still visible in 1827. The area transitioned from rural estates to housing.
The 19th century saw slow development. Speculative attempts failed. The Kensington Canal a failed project became a railway. It closed quickly. Building finally resumed in the 1840s. Lord Kensington’s death in 1852 saw little development. The Metropolitan District Railway changed things. It became the District Line. The Piccadilly Line followed. Earl’s Court became a Victorian suburb.
The 20th century brought famous institutions. The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art was there. The London Electronics College taught Morse code. The Poetry Society had its home in Earl’s Court Square. After World War I Earl’s Court gained a reputation. Polish refugees settled creating a “Polish Corridor” on Earl’s Court Road. Australians and New Zealanders followed earning it “Kangaroo Valley.”
Earl’s Court’s population shifted. Initially middle class it saw overcrowding. Larger houses became flats or boarding houses. After World War II it hosted refugees and migrants. The 1970s saw residents’ associations form. Earl’s Court remained known for its transient population. In 1991 almost half its inhabitants were foreign-born.
Many notable people lived in Earl’s Court. Blue plaques mark the homes of Jenny Lind WS Gilbert and Agatha Christie. Beatrix Potter’s childhood home was there. Alfred Hitchcock and Benjamin Britten also lived in this area. Its unique character attracted residents for centuries.
Earl’s Court also had its own entertainment. The Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre opened in 1937. It hosted major events. The British International Motor Show and the Ideal Home Show were held there. The venue later became a popular music venue. It closed in 2014. The Great Wheel a Ferris wheel was there in 1895.
Earl’s Court was also a gay area. The Copacabana nightclub opened in the 1970s. Harpoon Louie’s was a popular gay bar. The Lord Ranelagh pub hosted a Queen of the Month contest. This fuelled the local gay scene. The Pembroke pub was popular with a bohemian and later gay clientele.
Today Earl’s Court retains its vibrant character. It combines history and modernity. It’s a mix of historic buildings and new developments. The area continues to attract residents and visitors alike. It’s a legacy of its rich and varied history.