Paddington: Past and Present

The author traces the parish's change from a rural village into an urbanized district, combining archival research, census and ratebook summaries, and etymological notes to explain how land sales, manorial rights, and administrative decisions shaped local wealth and taxation. He scrutinizes re-assessments and vestry practices, arguing they redistributed burdens and profited landholders, and reproduces tables of population, houses, and rental income to support his critique. The work interleaves documentary excerpts, commentary on place-name origins, and recommendations for public knowledge and accountability in local governance.