OLD AND NEW LONDON:

A NARRATIVE OF

ITS HISTORY, ITS PEOPLE, AND ITS PLACES.

Illustrated with numerous Engravings from the most Authentic Sources.

THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN SUBURBS.

BY

EDWARD WALFORD.

A NEW EDITION, CAREFULLKFREKISED AND CORRECTED.

Vol. V.

CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED :

LONDON, PARIS & NEW YORK.

CONTENTS.

THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN SUBURBS.

CHAPTER I.

BELGRAVIA.

PAGE

Prefatory Remarks—The Building of the District-De Moret, and his Flying-machine-Nature of the Soil of Belgravia—“Slender Billy"

-The Spanish Monkey “Mukako" and Tom Cribb's Fighting Dogs—The Grosvenor Family-Enormous Rent-rolls-Belgravia and

Bethnal Green compared-Lanesborough House-St. George's Hospital-Old “Tattersall's”--St. George's Place--Liston, the Comedian

-Pope's School-days-The Alexandra Hotel—The Old Toll-gate at Hyde Park Corner-Grosvenor Place—The “ Feathers" Tavern,

and how George Prince of Wales was made an Odd Fellow there-Arabella Row-A Witty Lord Chancellor- The “Bag o’ Nails"-

The “Three Compasses"— Belgrave Square –“Gentleman Jones"-Eccleston Street-Sir Francis Chantrey-St. Paul's Church,

Wilton Place-The Pantechnicon-Halkin Street-Upper and Lower Belgrave Streets-Suicide of Lord Munster-Eaton Square-Chester

Square-Ebury Street-Lowndes Square-Cadogan Place--William Wilberforce-The Locality in Former Times . . . . .

CHAPTER II.

KNIGHTSBRIDGE.

Derivation of the Name of Knightsbridge-Early History of the Locality-The Old Bridge-Insecurity of the Roads, and Bad Reputation of

the Innkeepers-Historical Events connected with Knightsbridge—The Old “Swan" Inn-Electioneering Riots-An Eccentric Old

Lady-The “Spring Garden" and the “World's End"-Knightsbridge Grove, Mrs. Cornelys as a Vendor of Asses' Milk-Albert

Gate-The "Fox and Bull"-The French Embassy-George Hudson, the “Railway King"-The Cannon Brewery-Dunn's Chinese

Gallery–Trinity Chapel and the Lazar House—“Irregular” Marriages-Knightsbridge Barracks-Smith and Barber's Floor-cloth

Manufactory-Edward Stirling, the “Thunderer" of the Times-Kent House-Kingston House-Rutland Gate-Ennismore Place-

Brompton Oratory-Brompton Church-Count Rumford and other Distinguished Residents-New “Tattersall's " The Green-

Chalker House-The “Rose and Crown" Inn-The “Rising Sun"-Knightsbridge Cattle Market . . . . . . 15

CHAPTER III.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851.

Previous Exhibitions of a somewhat similar Character-The Marquis d'Aveze's projected Exhibition—Various French Expositions-Competitive

Exhibitions in England-Prince Albert's Proposal for holding an Industrial Exhibition of All Nations-His Royal Highness becomes

Chairman of the Royal Commission-Banquet at the Mansion House - Lecturers and Agents sent all over the Country, to Explain

the Objects of the Exhibition-Reception of Plans and Designs-Mr. Paxton's Design accepted-Realisation of one of the Earliest

Poetica! Dreams in the English Language-General Description of the Building-Opening of the Exhibition by Her Majesty-

Number of Visitors-Removal of the Building--The National Albert Memorial . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

CHAPTER IV.

PIMLICO.

Etymology of Pimlico-The Locality Half a Century Ago-Warwick Square-Vauxhall Bridge Road-The Army Clothing Depôt-St.

George's Square-The Church of St. James the Less-Victoria Railway Station-New Chelsea Bridge-The Western Pumping Station,

and Metropolitan Main-Drainage Works-St. Barnabas Church-St. Barnabas Mission House and Orphanage-Bramah, the Engineer

and Locksmith-Thomas Cubitt, the Builder-The “Monster" Tavern—The "Gun," the “Star and Garter," and the "Orange" Tea-

Gardens—" Jenny's Whim"—Tart Hall-Stafford Row-St. Peter's Chapel and Dr. Dodd-Richard Heber and his famous Library .

39

CHAPTER V.

CHELSEA.

Boundary of the Parish-Etymology of its Name-Charles II, and Colonel Blood-Chelsea Fields—The "Dwarf's Tarern"-Chapels of

French Huguenot Refugees-Gardens and Nurseries--Appearance of Chelsea from the River--Chelsea in the Last Century-A Stag

PAGB

Hunt in Chelsea-History of the Manor-The Old Manor House and its Eminent Residents Lord Cremorne's Farm at Chelsea-Lady

Cremorne-Lindsey House-The Moravians-The Duchess of Mazarine-Sir Robert Walpole's House-Shrewsbury House-Winchester

House-Beaufort House and the “Good " Sir Thomas More-Anecdotes of Sir Thomas More—The Old and New Parish Churches 50

CHAPTER VI.

CHELSEA (continued).

Cheyne Walk-An Eccentric Miser-Dominicetti, an Italian Quack-Don Saltero's Coffee House and Museum-Catalogue of Rarities in

the Museum-Thomas Carlyle-Chelsea Embankment-Albert Bridge-The Mulberry Garden-The “Swan" Inn-The Rowing

Matches for Doggett's Coat and Badge—The Botanic Gardens—The Old Bun-house . . . . . . . . . . 59

CHAPTER VII.

CHELSEA (continued).—THE HOSPITAL, &c.

Foundation of the Hospital-The Story of Nell Gwynne and the Wounded Soldier-Chelsea College-Archbishop Bancroft's Legacy-Trans-

ference of the College to the Royal Society-The Property sold to Sir Stephen Fox, and afterwards given as a Site for the Hospital-

Lord Ranelagh's Mansion-Dr. Monsey—The Chudleigh Family—The Royal Hospital described-Lying in State of the Duke of

Wellington-Regulations for the Admission of Pensioners-A few Veritable Centenarians-The “Snow Shoes" Tavern–The Duke of

York's School - Ranelagh Gardens, and its Former Glories—The Victoria Hospital for Sick Children . . . . . . .

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CHAPTER VIII.

CHELSEA (continued).-CREMORNE GARDENS, &c.

Chelsea Farm, the Residence of Lord Cremorne-Cremore Gardens-Attempts at Aërial Navigation-Ashburnham House-The Ash.

burnham Tournament-The "Captive” Balloon–Turner's Last Home-Noted Residents in Lindsey Row-The King's Road-The Old

Burial-ground-St. Mark's College-The “World's End” Tavern-Chelsea Common-Famous Nurseries-Chelsea Park—The "Goat

in Boots "— The Queen's Elm-The Jews' Burial-ground-Shaftesbury House-The Workhouse-Sir John Cope-Robert Boyle, the

Philosopher and Chemist- The Earl of Orrery-Mr. Adrian Haworth-Dr. Atterbury-Shadwell, the Poet- The “White Horse"

Inn-Mr. H. S. Woodfall—The Original of “Strap the Barber" in “Roderick Random"-Danvers Street-Justice Walk-The Old

Wesleyan Chapel - Chelsea China-Lawrence Street-Tobias Smollett-Old Chelsea Stage-coaches-Sir Richard Steele and other Noted

Residents-The Old Clock-house–The Glaciarium-Hospital for Diseases of Women-Chelsea Vestry Hall, and Literary and Scientific

Institution-Congregational Church-Royal Avenue Skating-rink-Sloane Square-Bloody Bridge-Chelsea, Brompton, and Belgrave

Dispensary-Royal Court Theatre-Hans Town-Sloane Street-Trinity Church-Sloane Terrace Wesleyan Chapel-Sir C. W. Dilke,

Bart.-Ladies' Work Society-Hans Town School of Industry for Girls "Count Cagliostro "-An Anecdote of Professor Porson-

Chelsea House-St. Mary's Roman Catholic Chapel-The “Marlborough Tavern"-Hans Place-Miss Letitia E. Landon—The

Pavilion-St. Saviour's Church-Prince's Cricket-ground and Skating-rink-The “South Australian" . . . . . . . 84

CHAPTER IX.

WEST BROMPTON, SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM, &c.

Situation of Brompton-Its Nurseries and Flower-gardens--Cromwell or Hale House–Thistle Grove—The Boltons-Westminster and West

London Cemetery-Brompton Hall-St. Michael's Grove-Brompton Grove-John Sidney Hawkins-Gloucester Lodge-The Hospital

for Consumption—The Cancer Hospital-Pelham Crescent-Onslow Square-Eagle Lodge-Thurloe Place and Square-Cromwell

Road-The International Exhibition of 1862-Annual International Exhibitions-A School of Cookery-Exhibition of Scientific Appa-

ratus—The National Portrait Gallery-The Meyrick Collection of Arms and Armour-The Indian Museum-South Kensington Museum

-The Raphael Cartoons—The Sheepshanks, Ellison, and Vernon Galleries-Ancient and Modern Jewellery- The Museum of Patents

-The Science and Art Schools-- The Royal Albert Hall—The National Training School for Music-Royal Horticultural Gardens—The

Fisheries Exhibition . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . .

100

. . . .

CHAPTER X.

" THE OLD COURT SUBURB."—KENSINGTON.

Descent of the Manor-A Parochial Enigma-Derivation of the Name of Kensington-Thackeray's “Esmond"-Leigh Hunt's Reminis.

cences-Gore House--Mr. Wilberforce, the Philanthropist-Lord Rodney-The Countess of Blessington and her Admirers-An

Anecdote of Louis Napoleon-Count D'Orsay's Picture-A Touching Incident-Sale of the Contents of Gore House, and Death of the

Countess of Blessington-M. Soyer's "Symposium "-Sale of the Gore House Estate-Park House-Hamilton Lodge, the Residence

of John Wilkes--Batty's Hippodrome-St. Stephen's Church-Orford Lodge-Christ Church . . . . . . . . . 117

CHAPTER XI.

KENSINGTON (continued).

The Old Court Suburb-Pepys at “Kingly Kensington"-The High Street-Thackeray's “Esmond"-Palace Gate-Colby House-Singular

Death-Kensington House : its Early History-Famous Inhabitants-Old Kensington Bedlam-The New House-Young Street-Ken-

sington Square-Famous Inhabitants-Talleyrand-An Aged Waltzer-Macaulay's Description of Talleyrand-The New Parish Church

-The Old Building-The Monuments—The Bells—The Parish Registers—The Charity School - Campden House-"The Dogs"-Sir

James South's Observatory-A Singular Sale-Other Noted Residents at Kensington-Insecurity of the Kensington Road-A Remark-

able Dramatic Performance-A Ghost Story—The Crippled Boys' Home-Scarsdale House-The Roman Catholic University College

Roman Catholic Chapels-The Pro-Cathedral-The “Adam and Eve " .

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