The "North Bank" and "South Bank" in St John's Wood are so called because they are north and south of the Regent's Canal which was constructed between 1812 and 1816. Immediately to the north is Lord's Cricket Ground; it's present location dates from 1816 - the grounds having been slightly displaced by the building of the canal.

To the west of North Bank is Maida Vale and Little Venice, and to the east, is Regent's Park. Further to the north lies Hampstead and, just north of Regent's Park, lies Primrose Hill with its famous vista of London.

The whole area has long been the haunt of writers.

Most of "North Bank" was demolished in 1895 to make way for the Grand Central Railway which was built from Marylebone Railway Station. It was the time of a= rapidly developing London - the age of Charles Dickens and, also, the age of railway mania.

But, in 1878, Edward Walford, in his book "Old and New London vol 5", ^[1] was able to use lines of Cowper "Suburban villas, highway-side retreats/That dread the encroachment of our streets" to describe North Bank - the gardens of which slope towards Regent's Canal. It was an area with: "its trim gardens , lawns and shrubs, towering spires, banks clothed with flowers; indeed all the elegances of town and the beauties of the country are at this spot happily commingled."  

A history of London canals^[2] also suggests that Nash, whose white terraces adorn Regent's Park, also built, along the North Bank; Nash houses were a common view along the Regents Canal's summit level, and the grand master had designed and built another elaborate canal side estate at Lisson Grove to complement his Park Village scheme. However these, known as North Bank and South Bank, have long since gone.

Edward Walford mentions James Augustus St john in his history: "Cyrus Redding lived in Hill Road; Mr J.A.St John, too, was a resident in St John's Wood; as also was Douglas Jerrold, who lived in Kilburn Priory." ^[3]

(In 1845 'Boyles Court Register' notes that 'Mrs St John resided at 9.North Bank. The register also notes that in 1846 ,Mr J.St John resided at 9 North Bank. ^[4] (A letter dated June 23, 1851 also gives an address of 18 North Bank, St Johns Wood.)

Edward Walford omits one famous North Bank resident. On 23 March 1836, Mary Shelley; removes Percy Florence from Harrow, employs a private tutor, and moves with her son to 14 North Bank, Regent's Park. ^[5] She lived there for one year.

Thomas Henry Huxley also lived at North Bank - in the 1850's. But the most famous resident had been George Elliot. In 1863 Eliot and and her husband, Henry Lewes buy the Priory, 21 North Bank, Regent's Park. She lived there until 1880.

James Augustus St john lived at 13 Grove End Road, St john's Wood in February 3rd 1857 and 1854