CREMORNE HOUSE.
This villa was first formed by Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon, who died in 1746. It afterwards belonged, successively, to Richard, Viscount Powerscourt; to the Countess Dowager of Exeter, relict of Brownlow, the eighth Earl; and to Sir Richard Lyttleton, who married the Dowager Duchess of Bridgewater, and died in 1770.
After the death of the Duchess, in 1777, Thomas Dawson, Viscount Cremorne, at that time Baron Dartrey, purchased the villa in 1778. He considerably enlarged and embellished the premises, under the skill of the eminent Mr. James Wyatt. His lordship died in Stanhope Street, Mayfair, in 1813, in his 89th year, greatly respected, and bequeathed the estate to his relict, the late Viscountess. It is stated, in an account published shortly after Lord Cremorne’s death, that “his generosity was unbounded, and his heart, in the most comprehensive sense, charitable. But his most excellent character is, that he was a Christian in mind and practice.”
The Dowager Viscountess Cremorne, born in Philadelphia in 1740, died at her house in Stanhope Street in 1825, in the 86th year of her age. Her ladyship resided at Chelsea a great portion of the year, and kept a large establishment. She was one of the most kind-hearted residents in the parish. For years it was her custom to entertain annually the children of the parochial and other schools, and she patronized the tradesmen of Chelsea as far as it was practicable, giving special orders to that effect to her household. Queen Charlotte occasionally visited her in the summer months, when the children again attended, and received tokens of her benevolent regard for them. She was buried by the side of her husband in the family vault at Stoke. The carriages of the Royal Family followed in the funeral procession for some distance, and most of the tradesmen closed their shops. She bequeathed the villa to her first cousin and executor, Granville Penn, Esq., second surviving son of Thomas Penn, and brother of John Penn, Esqrs., of Stoke Park, Bucks, Hereditary Governors and Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania. Granville Penn, Esq., resided in it for a few years. It would occupy too much space to give a sketch even of the history of this distinguished family.
Lord and Lady Cremorne possessed a very fine and extensive collection of paintings, which were sold by auction, on the premises, in 1827. Amongst them was a copy of Correggio’s picture of the Madonna and Child, and St. Jerome at Parma, by Copley, full size, and accounted the best copy of that celebrated picture. The late Lord Lyndhurst purchased it. The grounds, &c., are now known as Cremorne Gardens, but this once pretty villa can scarcely now be recognised as the favourite residence of Lord and Lady Cremorne.
Ashburnham House is situated to the west of the late Lord Cremorne’s premises. Dr. Benjamin Hoadley built the house, in 1747, for his own residence, but it has since been greatly altered by different occupiers. He was the eldest son of the Bishop of Winchester, and was a Fellow of the Royal Society when very young. In the learned world he was known as a philosopher. Dr. Hoadley was also an eminent physician. At his death Hoadley House was purchased by Sir Richard Glynn, who sold it to the Earl of Ashburnham, and thence it obtained the name of Ashburnham House. It was next in possession of that learned physician, Dr. Cadogan, who resided in it for a few years, and planted in the garden a large quantity of medicinal herbs. Lady Mary Coke resided here for about ten years, and sold it to Mr. Brown, who occupied a house near to it, called Ashburnham Cottage. Mr. Stevens at length possessed the house, and resided in it for many years. Afterwards it was the residence of the Hon. Leicester Stanhope, subsequently Earl of Harrington.
On the banks of the river, in front of Ashburnham House, was a piece of land, called the Lots. The Lammas rights of the parishioners, with respect to this land, are now extinct. Those who wish to know the particulars, will find them fully recorded in the Annual Vestry Reports, which may be obtained at the Vestry Hall, and which will render many parochial details in this work quite unnecessary.
On the south side of the King’s Road, and near to the boundary line which divides the parishes of Chelsea and Fulham, is Dudmarton House, which was for a considerable period the residence of Samuel Gower Poole, Esq., who erected a chapel on the premises, where he occasionally preached, and amongst others the Rev. Dr. Jay, of Bath, the Rev. John and Charles Hyatt, the Rev. Dr. Collyer, &c. The Rev. Dr. Raffles, it is stated, preached his first sermon there when he was quite a youth. Mr. Poole also established a school for the education of poor boys, many of whom were clothed through his exertions.
Stanley House, St. Mark’s College.
Near to what is now the Chelsea Railway Station, on the north of the King’s Road, is Stanley House. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth this was part of the estate of Sir Arthur Gorges, who was knighted in 1597, and died in 1625, and who built a house on this site for his own residence. Rowland White, writing to Sir Robert Sidney, Nov. 15, 1599, says, “As the Queen passed by the faire new building, Sir Arthur Gorges presented her with a faire jewell.” The family of Gorges at this period possessed very considerable property in Chelsea, which they afterwards gradually disposed of to the Cheyne family and others.