Chelsea, in the Olden & Present Times

by George Bryan

On the right of the western entrance, in the south aisle, is an inscription to the memory of Teak S. Edwards, Esq., F.L.S., who died in 1819, aged 50. “As a faithful delineator of nature few equalled, and none excelled.”

Near to where now the Homilies are placed was originally fixed the monument of Lt.-Col. the Hon. H. Cadogan, executed by Chantrey, a fine specimen of that celebrated sculptor’s chisel. It was removed to the New Parish Church, some years since, and consequently it must be noticed in the account of that beautiful architectural edifice.

Lord and Lady Dacre.—This is one of the most magnificent monuments that can be found in any parish church in London, and my only surprise is that so few of the inhabitants of the parish, comparatively, have inspected it. It stands against the wall of the south aisle, and was erected to the memory of Gregory, Lord Dacre, and Anne, his wife. They are represented in white marble, lying on a sarcophagus, under an arch supported by marble pillars of the Corinthian order. Lord Dacre is in armour, with a long beard and short hair; her ladyship is habited in a gown and long cloak with a ruff. A dog is at the feet of each. On either side is a lofty obelisk. Over the arch are the arms of the family; the whole is richly ornamented with flowers and several pieces of elaborate Mosaic work.

The parish of Chelsea, by Lady Dacre’s will, have some presentations to her Almshouses in Westminster, on condition of keeping the monument in repair. It has been lately painted and beautified. Lord Dacre died in 1594, and Lady Dacre in 1595. This monument was originally placed in Sir T. More’s chapel, it is so described in Lady Dacre’s will. When the church was almost rebuilt in 1667, it was placed in its present situation.

On a marble tablet, against the same wall, is an inscription to the memory of Catherine, wife of the Rev. T. Mahon, Rector of Newport, Co. of Mayo, Ireland, who died in 1822, aged 20.

Sir Arthur Gorges.—Bowack, in his “Antiquities of Middlesex,” mentions a monument raised about 4 ft. from the ground, with the effigies of Sir Arthur Gorges, his lady, three sons, and five daughters, in brass plates fixed thereon, no trace of it can now be discovered. There is, however, on a black slab, fixed against the north wall of Sir Thomas More’s chapel, an inscription to the memory of Arthur Gorges, Esq. (eldest son of Sir Arthur Gorges), who died in 1668. He married Mary, daughter of Lord Bayning. This was her third marriage. She is here buried with her husband.

Sir Thomas More’s Chapel, which was built by him, belonged to the proprietor of his house until it was sold by Arthur Gorges, Esq., to Lionel, Earl of Middlesex, when he reserved the chapel to himself, as he continued to reside at Chelsea in another house. In 1664, when he sold the last-mentioned house, he only renewed a right of burial for his family. The chapel passed therefore with the house, through various owners, to Sir William Milman, and ultimately it became the freehold property, for many years, of the late Mr. Mann, of Paradise Row, now called Queen’s Road West. It is still private property. A large Gothic arch opens into the chancel, and is supported by pillars, the capitals of which are ornamented with human heads, rudely but curiously carved, together with bundles of rods resembling the fasces or badges of the ancient Roman magistrates; on the entablature of the easternmost is the date 1527.

Duchess of Northumberland.—The venerable monument of Lady Jane Guildford, Duchess of Northumberland, is placed against the north wall of this chapel. This interesting memorial consists of an altar-tomb under an arched recess, crowned by four canopies and supported by five reticulated pillars, the bases of which rest on the altar-tomb as on a plinth. The faces of the tomb are divided into panels, containing quatrefoils enclosing shields, and one coat of arms remains. The back of the recess is divided into three compartments by small graduated buttresses; that on the west contained the arms, and sons, while that on the east displays the effigies of the Duchess and her daughters. The soffit of this recess is richly groined, the canopies are divided by graduated buttresses with pinnacles at their apices; they consist of a trefoiled arch with angular pediments crocketed, and terminating in rich finials, and the spandrils are panelled. The frieze, formed by two cavittoes, is ornamented, the lower with rosettes, and the upper with portcullis and rosettes arranged alternately. The whole is surmounted by a cornice of foliage. The Duchess appears in the front, kneeling, habited in a surcoat, with her arms richly emblazoned, originally in enamel. Behind her are her daughters, with their Christian names engraved over their heads in Gothic letters. On the left side were represented, on a brass plate, (now long torn off) the effigies of her sons. The inscription states that the Duchess had issue thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters. She died “at her maner of Chelsey, ye 22 daye of January, in ye second yere of ye reigne of our Sovereyne Lady Queene Mary the first, and in A.D MDLV., on whose soul Jesus have mercy.”

Sir W. Milman.—On the same wall as the preceding is the monument of this gentleman, who died in 1713. There is also another to the memory of several of the same family.

Sir Robert Stanley.—The monument of this distinguished resident is at the east end of the chapel. Two figures, representing Justice and Fortitude, support the arms of Stanley, and three large urns; on the centre one, on a medallion, is the bust of Sir Robert in alto relievo, who is represented with whiskers but no beard. On the urns, on each side, are medallions of two of his children, whose deaths are noticed on the monument. He died in 1632, and was the second son of the “Earle of Darbie.”