James Gray: A view of this narrow street in 1923 from North Road. The scene does not seem to have changed much since then, though the cloche hats in which even the little girls were enveloped have gone. jgc_25_139
2018: Gray observed that since this picture was taken in 1923 ‘the scene does not seem to have changed much …’. In 2018 this sentiment still applies. Kensington Gardens is a narrow pedestrianised street entirely given over to shopping and eating. Apart from the contents of the shops and the shoppers’ clothes, little has changed. The modern street lamp appears to be a design copy of its 1923 forefather. (Photographer: David Jackson)
James Gray: Many years later, about 1948, in fact. Kensington Gardens was first laid out about 1820 and it was the first road built between North Road and Gloucester Road. Although many of the buildings on the east side were at one time private dwellings with small gardens in front, the street was very soon given over to trade with shop fronts built out over these gardens. jgc_25_140
2018: Kensington Gardens is popular and busy, whether it’s tourists or locals. (Photographer: Nick Pannett)