Chelsea, in the Olden & Present Times

by George Bryan

The old Parochial Guardian Society mostly held their meetings at the old White Horse Inn. The principal room was large and consequently well-adapted for such purposes; and when the parishioners met in open vestry, the house being opposite to the Vestry Room where they assembled, it was particularly convenient on such occasions for the accommodation of the ratepayers generally. The above society comprised a great many members, and acted in conjunction with a large number of the resident gentry of the parish.

Justice Walk, which extends from Church Street to Lawrence Street, took its name from a magistrate who lived in it. An avenue of lime trees formerly adorned it, and, being kept in good order, it was a very agreeable footway for passengers. There is now in it a commodious Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1841. The exterior is plain and unpretending. The interior is neat, comfortable, and well ventilated. Beneath the chapel is a spacious school room, in which the Sunday School is held. This school is very well attended. Through the exertions of the members, and other friends, the interior of the chapel has recently been painted, and rendered more comfortable in many respects.

The Chelsea China Manufactory was situate at the corner of Justice Walk, and occupied the houses to the upper end of Lawrence Street. Several of the large old houses were used as shew-rooms. It has been discontinued for nearly 90 years.

The manufactory of Chelsea porcelain was set on foot and carried on by a Mr. Spremont, a foreigner. The establishment employed a great number of hands; but the original proprietor having acquired a large fortune retired from the concern, and his successors, wanting his enterprise and spirit, did not so well succeed, and in a few years finally abandoned it. Previous to the dissolution, the proprietors presented a memorial respecting it to the Government, requesting protection and assistance, in which they stated that “the manufacture in England has been carried on by great labour and a large expense; it is in many respects to the full as good as the Dresden; and the late Duke of Orleans told Colonel York that the metal or earth had been tried in his furnace, and was found to be the best made in Europe. It is now daily improving, and already employs, at least, 100 hands, of which is a nursery of thirty lads taken from the parishes and charity schools, and bred to designing and painting: arts very much wanted here, and which are of the greatest use in our silk and printed linen manufactories.”

Specimens of this porcelain have always been much esteemed, and still retain a great value. At the sale of the effects of Queen Charlotte, the articles in Chelsea china, of which her Majesty had a large collection, brought very high prices. Mr. Watkins, in his Life of Queen Charlotte, says, “I beheld with admiration a complete service of Chelsea china, porcelain, rich and beautiful in fancy beyond expression. I really never saw any Dresden porcelain near so fine.”

Mr. A. Stephens, whom we have already noticed, was told by the foreman of the Chelsea China Manufactory (then in the workhouse of St. Luke’s, Middlesex), that Dr. Johnson had conceived a notion that he was capable of improving on the manufacture of china. He even applied to the directors of the Chelsea China Works, and was allowed to bake his compositions in their ovens in Lawrence Street, Chelsea. He was accordingly accustomed to go down with his housekeeper, about twice a week, and stop the whole day, she carrying a basket of provisions with her. The Doctor, who was not allowed to enter the mixing room, had access to every other part of the premises, and formed his composition in a particular apartment, without being overlooked by any one. He had also free access to the oven, and superintended the whole of the process; but completely failed, both as to composition and baking, for his materials always yielded to the intensity of the heat, while those of the Company came out of the furnace perfect and complete. Dr. Johnson retired in disgust, but not in despair, for he afterwards gave a dissertation on this very subject in his works; but the overseer assured Mr. Stephens, in 1814, that he was still ignorant of the nature of the operation. He seemed to think that the Doctor imagined one single substance was sufficient, while he, on the other hand, asserted that he always used sixteen, and he must have had some practice, as he had nearly lost his eye-sight by firing batches of china, both at Chelsea and Derby, to which the manufacture was afterwards carried.

Chelsea china, originally patronised by the Duke of Cumberland, and afterwards by Sir R. Faulkner, was a long time in such repute as to be sold by auction, and as a set was purchased as soon as baked, dealers were surrounding the doors for that purpose. [87]

LAWRENCE STREET, &c.

Lawrence Street derives its name, as previously intimated, from its having been the site of the residence of the Lawrence family for many years. On this spot stood the first old Manor House, until Lord Sandys alienated the manor to Henry VIII., when that king sold it to Sir Thomas Lawrence, and erected another in Cheyne Walk.

The ancient family of Lawrence first came into England with William the Conqueror, and settled at Ashton Hall, in the county of Lancaster, where they resided for 300 years, and possessed an immense property, which, in the year 1591, included 34 manors, the rental of which amounted to £6000 per annum. It is uncertain when this family first came to Chelsea, but as the Lawrence chapel in the Old Church is built in the style of architecture which prevailed at the beginning of the fourteenth century, they were probably settled here about that period, and some time before they purchased the manor house. Some of the family who were buried in the chapel have already been mentioned.