Adjoining the preceding house, and at the corner of Upper Church Street, was the “Rose and Crown,” a small road-side public-house, standing much below the level of the road, and, from its appearance, had evidently been built at an early period. At the entrance was a wooden bench, on which many a weary traveller took rest. On the site of this house is now the Cadogan Arms.
Passing Church Street, and proceeding westward, the road was extremely narrow. At the south corner of Church Street there was an additional house to what there is at the present time, and the old residence on the opposite side, lately pulled down, projected several feet forward on the road, without any pathway for foot-passengers. There is now a capital carriage-road and a good pavement, with some commanding shops at the northern corner.
Adjoining, on the north side of the King’s Road, are the extensive premises of Messrs. Ransome and Co., the eminent saw-mill engineers, &c.
On the opposite side were the Nursery Grounds belonging to Mr. Shepard, the main portion of which now forms Paultons Square, and the remainder, formerly in the occupation of Mr. H. Larner, has recently been purchased by Mr. Gray, the horticultural builder, in addition to his extensive works in Danvers Street. He is making very considerable alterations, and, when completed, it will no doubt be an ornament to this fashionably frequented road.
The late Mr. Alfred Mellon, so celebrated for his concerts, and musical entertainments, lived for a considerable time in what is known as “The Vale,” which is situated on the opposite side to Paultons Square, where he died some two or three years since. He was buried in the Brompton Cemetery, and his funeral was attended by a great many of his private friends, and by a large number of the most eminent men in the musical and theatrical world, by all of whom he was highly respected.
Mr. John Varley, the celebrated water colour painter, and principal founder of the old Society now in Pall Mall East, whose works are well known to the world, lived at 10, Beaufort Row, now Beaufort Street, about the year 1810. His town house was in Conduit Street, Regent Street. During the time he resided here he made a very excellent drawing of the Old Church, from near the Bishop of Winchester’s Palace, in Cheyne Walk, the property of J. H. Chance, Esq., which was lent and exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1862. Many other beautiful sketches of Chelsea were made by Mr. Varley from the shores, as well as from one of Mr. Bettsworth’s boats, which was always at his service. Some of the family have long been and are now residents in Chelsea and Brompton. Mr. John Varley was born in 1778, and died in 1842.
When Mr. Varley left Chelsea, Mr. Dorrell, the artist, took the house, and afterwards Mr. J. Stark, the well-known oil painter of woodland scenes, occupied it. Two prettily painted pieces, although small, are now to be seen at the South Kensington Museum. Mr. Stark was born in 1794, and died in 1859.
Wilson Lowry, F.R.S., M.G.S., lived near to Battersea Bridge, about the year 1809. He was known not only for his eminence as an engraver, but also for his extensive knowledge of anatomy, natural philosophy, mathematics, mineralogy, and geology, added to an extraordinary talent for metaphysical discussion, which placed him on terms of intimacy with the first philosophers and most scientific men of his day, and in the year 1812, unsolicited, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, next to Sir Joshua Reynolds, the only artist who was honoured by such a conferment. He died in 1824, in his 63rd year. Mr. Lowry’s only daughter by his second wife was Mr. John Varley’s second wife.
Mr. John Galt, the author of “Sir Archibald Wylie,” and the “Ayrshire Legatees,” lived in Beaufort Row about 1809.
Mr. Ralph Wedgwood, (of the firm of Josiah Wedgwood and Co.,) the celebrated manufacturers of the Queen’s Ware, died at Chelsea in 1837.