In 1812 the Chelsea and Brompton Dispensary was established in Sloane Square, principally through the great exertions of the Rev. George Clark, M.A., the then chaplain of the Royal Military Asylum. At the meeting convened for that purpose, the late W. Wilberforce, Esq., M.P., presided, whose name will be ever associated with the abolition of slavery, and as the advocate of almost every humane society in this country. This admirable institution indicates the rapid growth of the population. The earliest annual average of patients did not exceed 1200, in 1860 it was upwards of 6000, and since the last date the number has greatly increased. The first physicians were Dr. Ainsley and Dr. Adam Black, and its first surgeons Robert Smith and Anthony Todd Thomson, Esqrs.
Mr. Fraser’s Botanical Grounds adjoined Sloane Square. He explored distant parts of the world several times, so ardently attached was he to botanical researches. He was patronized by a large number of the nobility and gentry. His death took place, in 1811, at his residence.
It will be seen shortly that if the King’s Road, in the “Olden Times,” was almost exclusively occupied by farmers and gardeners, that, for a number of years afterwards, one of the principal attractions to it was the many celebrated nursery and floricultural grounds.
The high wall at the Royal Military Asylum, which formed the back of the boys’ lavatory, &c., and which stood more forward than the present enclosure, had no pathway whatever against it, and the road being at one part very narrow, it was not only inconvenient but at times dangerous.
Mr. Colvill’s Nursery Ground stood on the site of Colvill Terrace, and the entrance to it was at the eastern corner. His display of flowers excited general admiration, and consequently an immense number of the gentry generally paid him a daily visit during the summer season.. The grounds, however, were only enclosed with an old wooden fence, and here again there was no footway for passengers.
Mr. Thomas Davey was also a celebrated florist, and his ground was opposite what was called the White Stiles, now known as the Royal Avenue to Chelsea College. The origin of the former name arose from there being an ornamental stile at the entrances.
The grounds of Mr. Colvill were detached from those of Mr. Davey by a footpath, on both sides of which there were neatly-trimmed hedges, and as butterflies abound in floricultural gardens, this passage was called “Butterfly Alley.” Some houses have since been built on this site, and, although the road is narrow, it now assumes the name of Keppel Street, connecting the King’s Road with the Fulham Road. Opposite the above-named alley there was a bar placed across the road, to prevent waggons, &c., from passing unless the driver produced proof that he was going to some resident in it. The origin of these bars has just been fully detailed.
Mr. Pratt, a friend of Mr. Faulkner, wrote the following lines, “Flowers and Fashion,” in reference to the above two celebrated floricultural grounds:—
Where smiling Chelsea spreads the cultur’d lands,
Sacred to Flora a pavilion stands,
And yet a second temple neighb’ring near
Nurses the fragrance of the various year;
Of Davey this, of Colvill that, the care,
While both the favour of the goddess share.
But not for her—the deity of flowers—
Alone the incense breathes, still higher Powers:—
Fair Venus marks each temple for her own,
And Fashion sits upon a blossom’d throne.
She, pow’r supreme! bids vanquish’d Flora kneel,
And drags proud Beauty at her chariot wheel.
The Cyprian Queen asserts her loftier sway,
And blushing rivals with a smile obey.
At Fashion’s shrine unnumber’d suppliants bow,
And to their idol chaunt the sacred vow.
A thousand Eves, each as their mother fair,
To these gay Edens every hour repair:
And though the wreaths boast but a fleeting bloom,
And often press at eve a twilight tomb,
Still, as by magic, we behold each morn
A fresh supply the pillag’d scenes adorn;
And though the lovely plunderers bear away
The fairy sweets that open’d with the day;
Though one fair Paradise is lost each night,
Another blooms with the returning light.
Thus, strange to tell! near London you behold
The age of Fashion, Beauty, and of Gold.
The old White Hart public-house and tea-gardens, situated on the opposite side of the road to Mr. Davey’s grounds, was a rather ancient-looking place of resort. It was well-conducted, and occasionally a great many persons visited it. On its site is now a very respectable tavern.