Kensington’s Lexham Walk bollards to stay after 1887 deal upheld
Four cast iron bollards block vehicles from the pedestrian-only passageway between Lexham and Cornwall Gardens
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Four decorative cast iron bollards at the Lexham Gardens end of Lexham Walk will remain in place, Kensington and Chelsea Council confirmed this week. The bollards, installed in 1887, prevent vehicles from entering the pedestrian-only passageway that links Lexham Gardens to Cornwall Gardens in Kensington.
Why the bollards were installed
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The bollards were part of a compromise reached in the 1880s between residents, developers and the local vestry. The landowner, Lord Kensington, and builder Samuel Juler Wyand had not planned to include a gap in the terraces. Residents campaigned for a path to connect Lexham Gardens with Cornwall Gardens, as reported by ianVisits.
Lord Kensington accepted £50 for the freehold of the land, while Wyand received £1,150 for the loss of a building plot. The neighbouring Cornwall Gardens estate also demanded compensation, agreeing to the path only after receiving £390 and assurances that bollards would block vehicles. The bollards have stood at the entrance since 1887.
Council confirms status
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A Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesperson told London Travel News the bollards remain a lawful traffic measure. "The bollards at Lexham Walk were installed under a legal agreement and continue to serve their original purpose," the spokesperson said. "There are no current plans to remove or alter them."
The council’s local conservation area document lists two trees on Lexham Walk as notable: a Silk Tree and an Indian Bean Tree. The document does not mention any plans to remove the bollards or change the passageway’s pedestrian-only status.
What happens next
Any future changes to Lexham Walk’s traffic restrictions would require a formal highways consultation. Residents can submit objections or comments during such consultations, which the council publishes on its website. It is unclear whether any such review is planned.
Questions this report answers
+Why are there bollards at Lexham Walk?
The four cast iron bollards were installed in 1887 to block vehicles from entering Lexham Walk. They were part of a deal where residents paid £1,150 to secure the land for the pedestrian-only passageway, as reported by ianVisits.
+Can the bollards at Lexham Walk be removed?
Kensington and Chelsea Council said there are no current plans to remove or alter the bollards. Any changes would require a formal highways consultation, which residents could respond to.
+How old are the trees on Lexham Walk?
The local conservation document lists two trees on Lexham Walk: a Silk Tree and an Indian Bean Tree. Their exact age is unclear, but the passageway was built in the 1880s, so they may date from that period.
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