Chelsea, in the Olden & Present Times

by George Bryan

Near to this house, a little to the east, about 1818, a poor man was sitting by the roadside, apparently in the most pitiable state of hunger and destitution. A pensioner belonging to Chelsea Hospital, a man of colour, was passing along at the time with a can of soup and a small loaf of bread, which he had just previously received as his dinner allowance, some of the men being allowed to have private lodgings. The pensioner gazed for a moment at the wretched object of misery, and then, with a heart full of sympathy, gave him some of the soup and bread. Such an act of benevolence excited the attention of a very young man, who, whenever he met the kind-hearted black pensioner, always felt a feeling of respect for him. Some time afterwards it came to the knowledge of this youth that the pensioner had been convicted of a certain crime, not now a capital offence, and sentenced to be executed. This communication very much surprised him, but he could not erase from his memory the humane conduct he had witnessed. Accordingly, he went to Newgate on the following day, unknown to his friends, to see the condemned malefactor. On his arrival at the prison the turnkey at the entrance door refused him admittance, and told him, in a gruff manner, that he must get an order. He then went direct to the Sheriff’s residence, and, after some conversation, obtained a special order for admission. The turnkey now became very respectful, and the young man was immediately conducted to the yard where the condemned prisoners took the benefit of the fresh air. The aged convict’s appearance was much altered, and during nearly the whole time of the visit tears rolled down his cheeks. He was thus visited several times, and, at length, through a petition presented by the authorities at Chelsea Hospital, and another from some of the parishioners, the unhappy black man’s sentence was mitigated to transportation for life. At one of the interviews, the culprit asked for some memorial of the young man’s kindness, having been previously told that his life would be spared, and a Bible was given to him, with the name of the youthful donor written in it. An assurance was given that he would see him again that week, but when the young man went the poor black pensioner had been removed from the prison, and he never heard of him afterwards. The evidence produced at the trial fully justified the verdict of being guilty of the charge, but there was gross culpability on the part of the prosecutrix.

A little beyond the old White Hart tea gardens, to the west, on the same side of the road, was the residence of the elder Mr. Downing. It stood in a neatly laid out garden, and resembled very much in appearance one of those old but comfortable retreats which may still be seen by the roadside in some parts of the country. Adjoining the garden was his extensive Floor Cloth Manufactory (on the site of which is now Wellington Square). This spacious building was situated a short distance from the road, and the approach to it was by a carriage-way on each side, the centre being a grass plat. In this manufactory were held most of the earlier annual meetings of the Chelsea Auxiliary Bible Society, which were invariably crowded. Amongst the speakers were the Rev. G. Clark, M.A., the Rev. John Owen, M.A., the Rev. Joseph Hughes, M.A., the Rev. John Morison, D.D., the Rev. R. H. Shepherd, the Rev. John Bunce, and several others. Mr. Downing, sen., was a gentleman esteemed alike for his piety and benevolence, and his sons and other branches of the family have at all times maintained a similar respect.

The residence and manufactory which we have just described was pulled down some years ago, and the present one was then erected. A deplorable event occurred, about 38 years since, at Messrs. Downings’ new Floor Cloth Manufactory, which it is requisite to notice in a work of this description. A young man, whose name was Butler, the son of very worthy parents, and who had borne a tolerably good character previous to the fatal event we are about to mention, was convicted and executed at Newgate, for setting fire to a portion of the premises. The fire broke out in or near to the stables, and as it occurred on the Sunday morning, between the hours of twelve and one o’clock, the horses were of course locked in them. It was with great difficulty that they were rescued. The evidence, although principally circumstantial, resulted in the jury finding a verdict of “Guilty.” Notwithstanding the most strenuous efforts to save the life of the young man, he suffered the extreme penalty of the then law. A Wesleyan minister, who attended him at his last moments, published a pamphlet stating his reasons for believing that he was innocent. He was interred in St. Luke’s Burial Ground, and the Church was crowded to excess.

On the same side of the road, and opposite Wellington Square, was formerly the Nursery belonging to Mr. Moore. A little further westward was the residence of Mr. Evans, sen., known as Box Farm. For many years he lived there, and was much respected in the parish.

Smith Street was begun to be built in 1794, by the late Thomas Smith, Esq., of Manor Terrace, but it was not finally; completed until about 1807.

Mr. Little’s Nursery Ground was established many years since, and at the present time it is celebrated for the production of some of the choicest plants and flowers.

Jubilee Place was first opened in 1809, and named in commemoration of that event in the annals of the reign of George the Third.

Flood Street, it appears, by ancient documents, was originally called Pound Lane, probably from the pound of the manor standing on or near its site. It was known for some years by the name of Robinson’s Lane, and since the buildings were continued to the King’s Road, it was, by an order from the magistrates, called Queen Street. It has recently been altered to Flood Street, so named as a tribute to the memory of Luke Thomas Flood, Esq., for his munificent annual gifts to the poor of this parish, and by doing which many mistakes are now obviated, as there was and is still Queen’s Road West adjoining Cheyne Walk.

Upper Manor Street was originally called Wellesley Street, in honour of the Rev. Dr. Wellesley, the then rector of the parish. A murder was committed in this street about forty years since, which created great excitement throughout Chelsea. An elderly female resided in one of the houses, and she was found dead early one morning under circumstances which left no doubt whatever that the dreadful crime just mentioned had been perpetrated. Two men were apprehended, who lived in the neighbourhood, and who had been seen standing near the house at about 12 o’clock the preceding night, but beyond that fact no further evidence was adduced. It appeared they were both at a public house that evening, and left when it was closed, but they produced no witnesses to prove that they went afterwards direct to their homes. The evidence in support of the charge being insufficient, the magistrate discharged them. One of them was a second time charged with the murder, but the result was the same. The name of the street was then altered.

Robert Street, and the adjacent streets, have all been built in the course of the present century.