London’s Alleys: Ashland Place, W1

This passageway sits alongside Paddington Street Gardens in Marylebone, giving the residents of the houses a good view of the park opposite. While today it looks very inviting, it wasn’t originally.The park was laid out in the 18th century as an additional burial ground for St Marylebone Parish Church on land that was donated in 1730 by Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer.
Edward Harley had recently married the Duke of Newcastle’s daughter, Henrietta Cavendish Holles.