I am perfectly aware that almost every village has its Cromwellian legend, and also that every endeavour to connect the Protector and this mansion has hitherto failed. But I own I am by no means inclined to throw over the pleasing belief entirely. There is a charity at Kensington still, called Cromwell’s Gift, which always has been ascribed by parish officers and inhabitants to the generosity of the great ruler; and although this is unaccountably not entered in the parish books, I do not consider such an omission a reason for disbelieving the history handed down by successive generations of parish officers, and still to be read in the church porch. In true earnest, I think the omission favourable to my view. No other origin has ever been assigned to the charity; and the church authorities at the Restoration would scarcely have permitted a laudatory inscription to the Protector to remain. There are no other claimants, and never were: the tradition is, and always has been, that to Oliver Cromwell Kensington is indebted for this charity, and to him alone.
What reason, then, for this remembrance? The old legend of Cromwell House, is the answer. We know the Parliament forces were frequently quartered here. Through Knightsbridge ran the high-road from Oxford; and Cavaliers proceeding thence would most probably take the bye-road as they neared the metropolis. And the idea is surely not an improbable one that Cromwell may have been met with in the manner related.
So far for the legend; but apart from this is another consideration. In 1668, the Lawrences of Shurdington, in Gloucestershire, rented Cromwell House of the Methwolds. Henry Lawrence was President of Cromwell’s Privy Council, and in other ways a staunch adherent of his policy. If it could be proved he resided here at any time during his official career, a new light would be thrown on the subject, and probably clear it up. On the whole, therefore, I consider there are grounds, though they may be but slight, for not entirely discarding the tradition, which may yet be some day entirely unravelled.
APPENDIX III.
ACT FOR BUILDING ALBERT GATE.
As the Act of Parliament which authorised the improvement at Albert Gate may prove hereafter to be one greatly affecting the inhabitants of the hamlet and the frequenters of the Park, the clause relating to Knightsbridge is here appended.
The Bill passed May 10th, 1841, and received the Royal Assent a short time following:—
“Anno Quarto Victoriæ Reginæ, Chapter XII. An Act to enable Her Majesty’s Commissioners of Woods to make a new Street from Coventry Street, Piccadilly, to Long Acre, and for other Improvements in the Metropolis.”
Clause LXXVII.—And whereas it is in contemplation by the Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Buildings, to recommend to Her Majesty, with a view to public Improvement and the Accommodation of the Inhabitants of the new Squares, Streets, and Places, that have lately been erected and formed in the neighbourhood of Knightsbridge, in the County of Middlesex, to make a new Thoroughfare and Opening into Hyde Park, subject to such Regulations as Her Majesty may approve of: And whereas the Dean and Chapter of the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter Westminster are the Owners of certain Ground and Houses on the North Side of the Knightsbridge Road, and immediately adjoining that part of Hyde Park where the intended Opening is proposed to be made, and it is essential to the Accomplishment of the projected Improvements that the said Dean and Chapter should have Power to sell, or to lease for any Term not exceeding ninety-nine Years, to the said Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Buildings, certain small Portions of such Ground and Houses, for the Purpose of enabling the said Commissioners to make the said intended Opening, and to erect Houses of a suitable Class and Elevation on each Side thereof, be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the said Dean and Chapter of the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter Westminster, and they are hereby authorised and empowered to contract for, Sell, and convey to Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, at such Price or Prices as shall be agreed upon, or ascertained in manner prescribed by the Act hereinafter referred to, to be the fair value thereof, all or any Part of the Ground and Hereditaments hereinafter described, that is to say, all that Piece or Parcel of Ground, with the Cannon Brewery, the Fox and Bull Public House, and other Buildings, thereon erected and built, situate on the North Side of the Knightsbridge Road aforesaid, bounded on the East by the Watercourse leading from and out of the Serpentine River to the River Thames, and extending Westward from such Watercourse Two hundred and thirty Feet or thereabouts on the North and South Sides thereof, and containing in Breadth one hundred and thirty Feet or thereabouts on the West Side thereof, and One hundred Feet or thereabouts on the East Side thereof; and also all that other Piece or Parcel of Ground, with the several Messuages and Buildings thereon erected and built, known and distinguished by the Nos. 23, 24, and 25, Knightsbridge, bounded on the West by the said Watercourse, and extending Eastwards therefrom Seventy-four Feet or thereabouts on the North and South Sides thereof, and containing in Breadth Eighty-four Feet or thereabouts on the West Side thereof, and Seventy Feet or thereabouts on the East Side thereof, with the Appurtenances; and that it shall be lawful for the said Dean and Chapter, and they are hereby authorised and empowered, by Indenture under their Common Seal, on the Surrender of any existing Lease or Leases of the same Premises, or any Part or Parts thereof, to the said Commissioners, or to such Person or Persons as the said Commissioners shall appoint on behalf of Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, for any Term or Number of Years not exceeding Ninety-nine Years, at such Rent, and subject to such Covenants, Conditions, and Provisoes, and on such Terms as shall be agreed upon between the said Dean and Chapter and the said Commissioners, and to enter into such Contracts and Agreements for the Purposes aforesaid as to them shall seem proper; and all Contracts, Agreements, Sales, Leases, Conveyances, and Assurances, shall be valid and effectual in the Law to all Intents and Purposes whatsover.
APPENDIX IV.
TRINITY CHAPEL, MEMORIAL WINDOWS OF ST. PAUL’S CHURCH, AND ST. PAUL’S SCHOOLS.
The following brief notices are considered worthy of addition to the work. In the first place, the days of the Old Chapel, with its present undignified appearance and circumscribed circle of usefulness, are numbered. It is purposed, so soon as Dr. Wilson can procure the necessary funds, some £3,000, to pull down the present ruinous edifice, and erect a structure in its stead more worthy of the present position of Knightsbridge. Seventy years ago it was a poor rural hamlet: it is now a wealthy populous district. Shall its oldest institution not keep pace with the locality? May it not yet remain “the Nursing Mother” of its natural and legitimate district? It is trusted that the authorities in such matters may apportion it an ecclesiastical district, and thus at last repair the blunder perpetrated at the various parochial divisions to which our neighbourhood has been subjected. It may be argued that this new arrangement is unnecessary; but to an observer it will have appeared that when in our metropolitan districts new churches have been built, they have been filled, and work has been found for their clergy without at all lessening the congregation or otherwise disturbing to injury the constitution of the parent parish. We anticipate a similar result: the present chapel is not nearly large enough for its congregation; and one has only to visit St. Paul’s to see that more space is wanted there. “Division of work makes light labour;” with what greater force will that apply in spiritual matters. We hope that the history of this old and useful foundation recorded in this work may so interest the public that they will at once so add to the £2,000 collected by Dr. Wilson as to enable him to carry his praiseworthy design into effect immediately.