Stellar streets

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jan 20, 2002 | by HELEN COOK

IT'S one of the top addresses in London. Everyone from fashion designer Stella McCartney to funnymen Rik Mayall and Harry Enfield live in London's Notting Hill, although the prices are hardly a laughing matter.

But has it always been so expensive - or is it a relatively new victim of the housing boom?

To find out, HELEN COOK checked the 1901 Census which had a short- lived life on the internet before it crashed as millions tried to trace their roots.

Colonels, teachers, East India merchants and ship brokers lived where the celebrities live now with staffs of cooks, housemaids and nurses instead of PR agents, au pairs and nannies.

Back then, nearly everyone rented, so we have compared the estimated weekly rental cost then and now.

Read on to find out who used to live where the stars have now made their homes - and how much they are worth in 2002...

THEN

HOUSE ONE: Rent pounds 1.35 a week. In 1901 Jane Head, 45, lived here with daughter Adelaide Head, 23. They were both widows and had one servant, while Franny, a seamstress, was a lodger.

HOUSE TWO: Rent pounds 1.38. This house was empty then, waiting to be let, but neighbours included Henry Baker, 52, a public health clerk, and his family, who had a cook.

HOUSE THREE: Rent pounds 1.44. Patricia Gordon, 49, who "lived on her own means", claimed to be married but no husband is registered. She shared the home with four children, a cook and maid.

NOW

HOUSE ONE: Price: pounds 1.8million, rent pounds 2,750 a week. US comedienne Ruby Wax moved in with her husband Ed Bye and their two children seven years ago.

HOUSE TWO: Price pounds 2million, rent pounds 3,000. Fashion photographer David Bailey lives in this four-storeyed terraced mansion with his fourth wife, former fashion model Catherine Dyer, and their three children.

HOUSE THREE: Price: pounds 1.8million, rent pounds 2,750. The Green Shields Stamp heir Tim Jeffries, once engaged to supermodel Claudia Schiffer, lives here alone.

THEN

1901 HOUSE: Rent pounds 2.01. William Large, 52, an architect and historical surveyor, lived here in some style with his wife, Ethel, 35, and their sons Adrian, 15, Eric, seven, and Ronald four. They also had a 12-month-old daughter Irene. Mrs Large had a domestic staff of four to help her run the house smoothly - two housemaids, a cook and a nurse for her daughter.

NOW

2002 HOUSE: Price pounds 1.4million, rent pounds 2,500. Comedian and actor Rik Mayall, his wife Barbara, and their three children divide their time between here and their farm in Devon. Mayall is often seen in local restaurant 192 with comic partner Ade Edmonson when they are not on tour with Bottom - a stage spin-off of their cult TV show.

THEN

1901 HOUSE: Rent pounds 1.34. French teacher, Adolphe Allen, 55, and his wife Marie, 43, also a school teacher, lived here along with Blanche Deavin. Their neighbours included a school governess, a dressmaker, a Baptist minister and a widow who worked as a "church vestry woman".

in this four-storeyed on with his fourth wife, model Catherine Dyer, e children. E: Price: pounds 1.8million, rent een Shields Stamp heir once engaged to superSchiffer,liveshere alone.

HOUSE TWO: Rent pounds 3.08. Colonel Jesse Pilcher, 62, and his wife Elizabeth, and their daughter Ethel, 31, lived there and were looked after by a cook, a parlourmaid and a housemaid, who all lived there too.

Elizabeth, and their daughter Ethel, 31, lived in style with a cook, a parlourmaid and a housemaid.

HOUSE ONE: Price pounds 1,600. William Lead-Gillert, 52, who gave his profession as an East India Merchant, his wife Matilda, 42, and their son William were looked after by six servants, who all lived in

HOUSE TWO: Price pounds 1,600. Colonel Jesse Pilcher, 62, along with his wifeHOUSE ONE: Price pounds 1.3m. This is home to former TV newreader Angela Rippon.

newsreader Angela Rippon, 57, has a flat here. She has lived alone for 13 years since splitting from her childhood sweetheart, ChrisHOUSE TWO: Price pounds 1.3m. The star of Shakespeare In Love star doesn't actually lived here yet. He has owned it since DATE TO COME but he is currently giving the house a massive make-over to make it perfect home before he and girlfriend, Fiona Jolly, move in.HEN34.French teacher, his wife Marie, 43, ved here along with eighbours included a ressmaker, a Baptist who worked as a "church

NOW

2002 HOUSE:Price pounds 750,000, rent pounds 1,000. Stella McCartney, the fashion designer and daughter of Sir Paul, has a studio flat here.She has plans to open her first clothes shop after she renovates the pounds 1million derelict church which she has bought, just streets away from her home.

THEN

1901 HOUSE: Rent pounds 2.30. Thomas Ray, 50, a ship broker, his wife, Jean, 38, and their son Jack, 12, and daughter, Sybil, eight, were looked after by three servants. Neighbours included a member of the Stock Exchange called Montague Naley, his wife Florence and their four children, plus a journalist and his Australian wife.

NOW

2002 HOUSE: Price pounds 1.3million, rent pounds 2,500. Harry Enfield has recently moved in with his wife, Lucy and their two children, Archie and Poppy. But the TV funnyman angered the neighbours - one of whom is Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross - when he tried to build an extension in his back garden. He was forced to abandon his original plan.