Hermitage Bayswater

‘The loss of his first fortune had led [Mr Loudon] to rent rooms and some land at The Hermitage in Bayswater.’. € This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024). 

Discovering John Claudius Loudon’s Time at The Hermitage

Between 1816 and 1824 John Claudius Loudon gave his address as ‘The Hermitage, Bayswater.’ The Victoria and Albert Museum has a painting of the Mall, Kensington Gravel Pits, by W. Mu!ready. It is dated 1812 and shows a straight tree-lined street flanked by fencing and houses. The Tate Gallery has a painting of Kensington Gravel Pits and it is noteworthy that when Loudon visited the English garden at Caserta in Italy he commented on the use of high quality Kensington Gravel.

A Tranquil District: Bayswater in the Early 19th Century

The Hermitage in Bayswater, where John Claudius Loudon resided from 1816 to 1824, was a notable location during his later years. Loudon’s stay at this residence was significant not only due to his personal circumstances but also because it coincided with a period of prolific output in his career. The area of Bayswater, known for its historical development and architectural evolution, provided Loudon with both a practical base and inspiration for his work on garden design and urban planning. His experiences in Bayswater helped shape his contributions to landscape architecture, influencing subsequent developments in English garden design and urban landscaping. The residential area, reflecting the evolving tastes of early 19th-century London, showcased the blend of practical and aesthetic considerations that Loudon championed in his career.