Chelsea, in the Olden & Present Times

by George Bryan

DOGGETT’S COAT AND BADGE.

Mr. Thomas Doggett, a native of Ireland, was an actor, and made his first appearance in Dublin; but his efforts not meeting with sufficient encouragement he removed to London, where he performed with great reputation, and by his talents, industry, and economy, acquired a competent fortune, and quitted the stage some years before he died. He was also a patentee and manager of the theatre with Wilks, Booth, and Cibber; the latter of whom gives Doggett the following character:—“He was the most original and the strictest observer of nature of all his cotemporaries. He borrowed from none of them; his manner was his own, he was a pattern to others, whose greatest merit was that they had sometimes tolerably imitated him. In dressing a character to the greatest exactness, he was remarkably skilful; the least article of whatsoever habit he wore seemed in some measure to speak the different humour he presented, a necessary care in a comedian, in which many have been too remiss or ignorant. His greatest success was in characters of lower life, which he improved from the delight he took in his observations of that kind in the real world. In songs, and particular dances too of humour, he had no competitor. Congreve was a great admirer of him, and found his account in the characters he expressly wrote for him. In those of Fondlewife in his Old Bachelor, and Ben in Love for Love, no author and actor could be more obliged to their mutual masterly performances. He was very acceptable to several persons of high rank and taste, though he seldom cared to be the comedian, but among his more intimate acquaintances.

He is highly spoken of in the Spectator. He wrote one play, called “The Country Wake,” a comedy, acted with great applause; and out of this play were made two farces, “Hob, or the Country Wake,” and “Hob’s Wedding.” The first has been acted often with great success, and likewise several songs have been added to it in imitation of the Beggar’s Opera, since which it has been acted under the title of Flora.

In his political principles he was, in the words of Sir Richard Steele, “a Whig up to head and ears;” and he took every occasion of demonstrating his loyalty to the house of Hanover. One instance, among others, is well known; which is, that in the year after King George I. came to the throne, in 1715, Doggett gave a waterman’s orange-coloured coat and silver badge to be rowed for; on the latter is represented the Hanoverian horse.

This contest takes place on the 1st day of August, being the anniversary of that King’s accession to the throne, between six young watermen, who had just completed their apprenticeship; the claimants starting off on a signal being given at that time of the tide when the current is strongest against them, and rowing from the Old Swan, near London Bridge, to the White Swan, at Chelsea. This tavern adjoined the Apothecaries’ Botanical Garden, on the east, and enjoyed a great share of public favour for many years; but in the year 1780, it was converted into a Brewhouse. Since this period, the place of landing the victor has been at a house bearing the same sign, near to Cheyne Walk. I have been favoured with the following chorus, said to be written by a waterman:—

“Let your oars, like lightning flog it,
Up the Thames as swiftly jog it,
An’ you’d win the prize of Doggett,
The glory of the river!
Bendin’, bowin’, strainin’, rowin’,
Perhaps the wind in fury blowin’,
Or the tide agin you flowin’,
The coat and badge for ever!”

Mr. Doggett, at his death, left a sum of money, the interest of which was to pay for the same for ever.

The “Yorkshire Grey” public house stood at the west corner of Old Manor Street, opposite the river. It was a very old tavern, mostly frequented of late years by the watermen who plied at the stairs opposite to it. It has recently been pulled down, and two good private dwelling houses now occupy the site.

In the year 1824, a new road was opened, connecting Old and New Manor Street, forming a direct communication from Cheyne Walk to the King’s Road, and St. Luke’s Church. Prior to that period a large garden crossed the street, with a wall and iron railing, so that the two streets were entirely detached.

With respect to the embankment of the shores of our parish, this was certainly the work of ages, much posterior to the Norman Conquest, nor was it even completed before the latter end of the seventeenth century, for, from the manorial records, we find them to have been frequently imperfect, whilst the keeping them in repair and good order, was a subject of vexatious dispute between the Lord of this Manor and his tenants; and hence sometimes by the parish and the turnpike trust; sometimes by those persons who inhabited houses immediately in front of the River, to the extent of their own frontages; and sometimes by the Lords of the Manor themselves, to the extent of their frontages. This uncertainty respecting the right of repair was attended with many evils, the walls being often out of order, and in a dangerous state. In December, 1822, upon the trial of an indictment on the prosecution of the Kensington turnpike trust, against the Lords of the Manor, in the Court of King’s Bench, the Chief Justice ruled at nisi prius, that the onus rested on the latter, unless and until they could show on whom by right of tenure, or otherwise, the burthen lay.

Having now arrived at the conclusion of Book I., in which are described all that is worthy of special notice in a great portion of the western extremity of the parish, I shall commence Book II., with a description of that beautiful architectural structure, St. Luke’s Church.

BOOK II.

Consecration and other interesting particulars of St. Luke’s Church and Burial Ground—Its Monuments, &c.—Rectors, Curates, and Lecturers—Parochial National Schools, &c.—The Workhouse and the Old Burial Ground—The Origin and Condition of the King’s Road in the “Olden Times:”—Its state at the commencement of this Century, together with some notices of the New Buildings, and its thriving Trade at the present Time—Markham Square Congregational Church—Savings’ Bank—Chelsea College—Charles II. and Nell Gwynne—The Royal Military Asylum—Old Ranelagh—The Original Bunhouse—The whole interspersed with many other interesting notices of Distinguished Residents, &c.