The old Admiral Keppel Inn, with its tea gardens, was pulled down in 1856, on the site of which is now a large tavern.
Chelsea Common was called in ancient records Chelsea Heath. It was bounded on the north by the Fulham Road; on the east by Blacklands Lane, now Marlborough Road; on the south by College Place, abutting on the King’s Road; and on the west by Sydney Street. It was attached to the Manor. Certain ancient houses, cottages, and farms, had a right of pasturage for forty cows and twenty heifers. To keep these there was always a cowkeeper, whose business it was to mark the cattle, to drive home the cows at night to the several owners, and to impound all cattle unmarked, or any horses which broke into the Common, or were found there.
When the Old Church was to be rebuilt, the Common was enclosed by the consent of Charles Cheyne, Esq., Lord of the Manor, and the several proprietors, for 21 years, to defray part of the charges, by a lease bearing date March 1674, and thereby let to George Hill and Francis Guildford, who enclosed it, and quietly enjoyed it till 1695, when it was thrown open again. It would be an unnecessary waste of space to notice what took place for some years afterwards.
At the commencement of the present century, however, the Lords of the Manor, the Rector, and the other proprietors, let the Common on building leases; after which the leases were found defective, by reason of one of the proprietors being under age, and it being considered that the then Rector could not bind his successors. An Act of Parliament was therefore obtained, which confirmed the leases and made them effectual.
The Common (as was) has been for many years covered with houses, comprising Keppel Street, Whitehead’s Grove, College Street, Marlborough Square, Leader Street, &c.
The principal entrance to the Brompton County Court is in Whitehead’s Grove. The house was formerly occupied by the Rev. Dr. Roberts, who gave instruction to a limited number of young gentlemen who resided with him.
The Catholic Apostolic Church is situated in College Street, near to Whitehead’s Grove. The exterior has some claim to architectural design, although the entrance at the side is small, and there are no windows to give relief to its massive appearance. There is ample light, however, in the interior of the structure, and it is in every respect commodious.
The spacious Drill Hall belonging to the 1st Middlesex Engineer Volunteers is also in College Street, near to the Fulham Road, where recruits are enlisted.
MARLBOROUGH CHAPEL.
The old saying, “Where there is a will there is a way,” was never more clearly exemplified than in the erection of this chapel, which occupies the northern corner of Marlborough Square, and fully warrants the inscription engraven on its summit, “This is the Lord’s doing, it is marvellous in our eyes.” The necessity of having a place of worship in the Methodist connexion had long been felt by many in the neighbourhood, and a room was consequently taken in Pond Place, but as it proved unsuitable for the purpose, Mr. Cripps, of Keppel Street, was induced to open his large workshop for a Thursday evening service, and having obtained a minister from the Hinde Street Circuit to preach the first sermon, was amply repaid for his kindness by a very crowded and attentive congregation. Mr. Hunt, an active and zealous member, commenced a class on the following Sunday afternoon, which increased so rapidly as to make him extremely anxious for the purchase of a spot of ground for a chapel, and after many disappointments, and much discouragement, succeeded in obtaining the present site. The difficulty of raising funds for its erection was a subject of great moment, but, on communicating with many friends, their offers of assistance were so numerous, and accompanied with such generosity, that all doubt as to the result was at once removed. In a few weeks promises were made, and fulfilled, of all kinds of materials for its erection, both externally and internally, and, aided by the gratuitous labours of many devoted followers, was completed and opened July 30, 1849, about five months from its commencement. It is a neat and commodious structure, and will hold about 400 persons. It has lately undergone several alterations and improvements. There is an excellent Sunday School attached to the chapel, at which there is an average attendance of nearly 300 children.