Life of Sri Aurobindo

Appendix 6: Houses in England

A period of nearly eighty years having intervened, it was thought proper to get assurance about the identity of the houses Sri Aurobindo occupied in England. Here are reproduced the replies of the various County Councils:

1

Townhall,
49, Stephens Avenue,
Hammersmith, W. 6.
30th December, 1955.

To the best of my belief this is the same house that stood there in 1884. I have confirmed that a certain amount of renumbering took place in this road late in the 19th Century, but this house was definitely not affected.

Yours faithfully,
sd. V. H. Honeyhall,
Community Recreation and
Information Office

2

London Country Council,
Westminster Bridge,
London S. E.
17th January, 1956.

The only change to have taken place since 1879 is that No. 6, Burlington Road became No. 68, St. Stephen's Garden, W.2, with effect from 1.1.1938.

The four areas you mention were extensively developed in the latter half of Queen Victoria's reign. It appears from maps and Post Office Directories that the house in Cromwell Road was built in 1877. Much of Kempsford Gardens was built during the 1860's although No. 28 appears to have been built between 1875 and 1880. Burlington Road appears for the first time in Post Office Directory for 1865. St. Stephen's Avenue seems to have been built after 1866.

yours faithfully,
sd.T Darlington,
Archivist and Librarian.

3

H. J. W. Wilson, A. L. A.
Metropolitan Borough of Paddington,
Central Public Library,
Porchester Road, W. 2
29th December, 1955.

In reply to your letter to the Town Clerk, of 19th December 1955, 6, Burlington Road became 68, St. Stephen's Garden with effect from 1st January, 1938. The proprietor of the house in 1892, when Sri Aurobindo was living there, was Mrs. Lloyd Ellis, but we have no further information about it. Buses 7, 7A, 28, 31 and 46 pass along Chepstow Road, W. 2, which is crossed by St. Stephen's Gardens.

Yours sincerely,
sd. H.J.W. Wilson,
Librarian.

4

The Royal Borough of Kensington,
Public Libraries and Leighton House,
Chief Librarian H. G. Massey, A.L.A,,

A.M.A.,

17th January, 1956.

Cromwell Road was constructed after the International Exhibition of 1862. Prior to this date, it was nothing more than a muddy lane. Hogarth Road was named in 1873, and Kempsford Gardens about the same period. Our records do not show that any re-numbering of the premises mentioned in your letter has taken place since 1880.

Yours faithfully,
sd. H. G. Massey,
Chief Librarian.