custom to relieve the able-bodied at their own dwelling places, and the
aged and infirm were, in many cases, supported by the alms given at the
church. In 1727, it was “agreed that the churchwardens should be
empowered to take, with all convenient speed, a proper house upon lease,
in the name of the parish, for the use of the poor.” In 1733 it was
resolved, at a vestry, “That a committee be appointed to find out the
most proper method to procure a workhouse for the poor, and an additional
burial ground.” The result was that Sir Hans Sloane gave the present
ground for both purposes, and the first erection of the workhouse took
place about 1737.
* * * * *
The building, at the early part of this century, contained but few
dwelling rooms, besides those occupied by the master and mistress. It
had two wings, however, the one to the south-west was built in 1792, and
the south-east wing in 1797. The whole did not occupy much space. There
was a garden, tastefully laid out, with a neat box-edging around each
compartment. {150} An aged inmate was the gardener, and he took great
delight in keeping it in good order. How altered is now the appearance
of the workhouse! The pretty garden, where once I plucked a flower, has
long since disappeared, and on its site are erected extensive buildings,
to afford necessary accommodation for the vast increase of inmates.
Since the period to which I first alluded many additions have been made
to the original workhouse, and consequently it was altogether devoid of
uniformity; but as it has been within the last few years almost rebuilt,
under the direction of G. Handford, Esq., architect and surveyor, of the
King’s Road, the defect mentioned is no longer apparent. Indeed, unless
it had been an entire new erection, no further improvement, as regards
the exterior, could have been made. The interior is well arranged, both
for comfort and convenience. There are at the present time upwards of
560 inmates, and the Guardians afford every reasonable indulgence to the
aged and deserving amongst them. Thomas Symons, Esq., the Chairman of
the Board, is highly esteemed by the parishioners, and they have recently
presented to him a very handsome testimonial of respect.
THE KING’S ROAD CEMETERY.
This cemetery adjoins the workhouse, and the ground was the gift of Sir
Hans Sloane. It was consecrated in 1736, by Edmund Gibson, Bishop of
London. In 1790 it was enlarged by a grant from Lord Cadogan.
* * * * *
The obelisk, near the centre, was erected to the memory of Andrew Millar,
an eminent bookseller in London, who died in 1768, aged 61 years; he had
little pretensions to learning, but possessed a very nice discrimination
in selecting his literary counsellors.
* * * * *
On a flat stone, on the north side, is an inscription in memory of John
Martyn, F.R.S., Professor of Botany at Cambridge, and Eulalia, his wife,
youngest daughter of the Rev. Dr. King, rector. She died in 1748–9, and
Mr. Martyn in 1768.
* * * * *
John Baptist Cipriani, the celebrated artist, and one of the earliest
members of the Royal Academy, was interred in this burial ground. On the
north side is a tomb to his memory. Cipriani excelled in delineating the
human figure, and was much employed by the printsellers in making
drawings, which are well known by Bartolozzi’s beautiful engravings from
them; he died in 1785, aged 58.
* * * * *
The Rev. Philip Withers, D.D., July 1790. In 1779 he published proposals
for a splendid edition of the Table of Cebes, with plates and notes,
intended for the benefit of the Sons of the Clergy, but owing to some
misunderstanding with Archbishop Cornwallis, the work never appeared; he
lived in Sloane Square in 1789, and imprudently published several
libellous pamphlets, for which he was convicted. He was committed to
Newgate for twelve months, fined £50, and died there of a fever.
* * * * *
Dr. Sloane Ellesmere, rector, was buried here in 1766; and Lady Rous,
aged 90, widow of Sir W. Rous, Alderman of London, in 1777.
* * * * *
Hannah Aston and Anne Aston, two sisters, died in 1806. These
unfortunate young women were daughters of Mr. Aston, of Robinson’s Lane
(now Flood Street), and had been with a party to Richmond. On their
return the boat struck on a barge near Putney Bridge, by which accident
they were both drowned, together with Mr. Isaac Van Butchell, son of the
eccentric Dr. Van Butchell.
* * * * *
In this ground is the family vault of the Rev. Weeden Butler, whom we
have noticed amongst the residents in Cheyne Walk.
* * * * *
Mr. John Fraser, nurseryman, who resided many years in the King’s Road,
close to Sloane Square; he was ardently attached to botanical researches,
and several times explored the wilds of North America; he died in 1811.
* * * * *
Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, of the King’s Road, died in 1828, in the 49th year
of her age, after a short but severe illness.
* * * * *
There have been but few interments in this burial ground for many years.
When the new St. Luke’s cemetery was completed, in 1812, this ground was
closed, excepting to those who had relatives previously buried in it.
The population of the parish, from the year just mentioned, rapidly
increased, and the burials, about 1832, amounted in the year to upwards
of 600, but many of these belonged to the adjoining parishes, and a large
proportion were children.
The King’s Road:
ITS ORIGIN, EARLY CONDITION, AND PRESENT STATE.
As this road is the central great thoroughfare through Chelsea, some
early particulars respecting it cannot be otherwise than interesting. It
was originally only a footway through the fields, for the use of the
farmers and gardeners to get access to their lands; but soon after the
restoration of Charles II. it was found a convenient way for his Majesty
to go to Hampton Court Palace, and thus it was, after some discussion
between the Government and the parishioners of Chelsea, converted into a
coach road. The following extracts from the petition of Sir Hans Sloane,
Bart., Lord of the Manor, and other freeholders, will give a sufficient
detail of its history and origin, and from which it appears that disputes
had arisen concerning the right of way; and after the claims of the
inhabitants had been considered by the Lords Commissioners of his
Majesty’s Treasury, the matter was finally decided in their favour in the
year 1719, the 5th of George I.:—
TO THE RT. HON. THE LORDS OF HIS MAJESTY’S TREASURY, &c. {153a}
“That before the restoration of King Charles the Second, and some
time after, the fields of Chelsea were open fields; and that the
bridge, called Bloody Bridge, {153b} was only a foot-bridge, with a
plank or board; and the way leading thence to the lane facing
Blackland House, {153c} was then only a foot-path of about five feet
wide, and the lands on each side were plowed and sowed close up to
the same; and that from the said lane to the town gate was only a
baulk, or head land, of about ten or twelve feet broad, or
thereabouts; and the lands on each side of the said head-lands were
also ploughed up to the edges thereof; and that the said head-land
was used by the owners and occupiers of the said lands for a way,
egress and regress, to their lands, with ploughs and other utensils
of husbandry, and to carry off their crops from their lands, time out
of mind. That some time after the restoration, King Charles II.
built Bloody Bridge, as it now stands; and, as we are informed,
agreed with the then Lord of the Manor, and others concerned, for the
said head-land, for his Majesty’s private road, allowing the
freeholders their ancient way through the same. Whereupon the king
made the road with gravel, and the landowners ditched out their lands
on each side of the same; and the king took upon him the repair of
the gate at the town end (which before was maintained by the
parishioners), and as soon as the fields were sown, was hung up and
shut, and, after harvest, was always open until seed time returned
again, as many yet alive well remember. And ever since the
landholders of the said parish have been in possession of a free way
and passage to their lands through the said road, (some persons
having no other way,) and were never denied it during the reigns of
King Charles the Second, King James, King William, and Queen Anne, as
we can make appear by sufficient evidence. Now, whereas, upon his
present Majesty’s repairing the said road, the present
Surveyor-General has given orders to shut the gates against the
landholders of Chelsea, to their great detriment, and, as we
conceive, to the debarring them of their right. We humbly beg your
Lordships will take the matter into your consideration, hear our
evidence, and grant us such relief as, in your great wisdom, you
shall think fit. That the late Duchess Dowager of Beaufort (to whose
stables and offices there is no other way), about five or six years
ago, ordered her stewards and servants to cut down a turnpike, which
Mr. Manly, the Surveyor-General, had set up between the walls at the
corner, next Church Lane (Street); and they carried the posts away,
being set up, as she said, upon her ground.”
To this petition was attached the evidence of several of the freeholders,
in confirmation of what was stated in the above petition. One of these
was given by Mr. Matthew Hutchins, gardener, of the King’s Road.
* * * * *
The above petition was referred to Hugh Cholmley, Esq., Surveyor-General,
and William Watkins, Esq., Surveyor of his Majesty’s private roads. The
reports from these two official gentlemen were evasive and
unsatisfactory, and consequently a second statement was sent to the
Commissioners, in reply to the objections. This last statement from Sir
Hans Sloane was dated May 6, 1719.
* * * * *
On the same day (May 6) the following letter was received:—“My Lords
direct Mr. Watkins to permit the tenants of the lands adjoining to the
King’s Road, through Chelsea, to have free passage through the same, with
their carts and horses, in the manner they have been accustomed to; and
that the ditches which belong to the land, and lately filled up, be
opened again.”
* * * * *
The above particulars explain the origin of placing the gates, or bars,
at different parts of the King’s Road, and which many of the parishioners
at the present time well remember.
* * * * *
Daring robberies and murders appear to have been very frequent about this
period, especially in the Five Fields, (now Eaton Square, &c.) and along
the whole line of the King’s Private Road.
* * * * *
Mr. Timbs, F.S.A., says, “In the King’s Road, near the spot where is now
the Vestry Hall, the Earl of Peterborough was stopped by highwaymen in
what was then a narrow lane; and the robbers, being watched by some
soldiers, who formed a part of the guard at Chelsea College, were fired
at from behind the hedge; one of these highwaymen turned out to be a
student in the Temple, whose father having lost his estate, his son lived
by ‘play, sharping, and a little on the highway,’ the desperate resources
of the day.”
* * * * *
In September, 1753, a Mr. Crouch, cook to the Earl of Harrington, was
attacked at night by two men who took his watch and money, and then
stabbed him with a knife and beat him till he died. {155}
* * * * *
The following most diabolical and remarkable case of burglary and murder
occurred in the King’s Road in 1771:—
On the site of the King’s Parade (near to Oakley Square) stood an ancient
farm, which was in the occupation of the family of Mrs. Hutchins for many
years. She was a widow, and some Jews it appeared made inquiries as to
her circumstances, and considering there was a chance of obtaining
valuable booty, determined on robbing the house. In June, 1771, they
sauntered about the fields till 10 o’clock at night, and then went and
knocked at the door, which was opened by a female servant, when
immediately eight Jews entered the house. They seized the girl and
treated her with great severity. Mrs. Hutchins went to her servant’s
assistance, but one of them, Levi Weil, called Dr. Weil, compelled her to
sit in a chair, after which he threw part of her clothes over her head to
prevent her seeing their faces, and threatened to murder her if she made
any resistance. They then went up stairs to a room, where Joseph Slow
and William Stone, two men servants, were in bed, and in a sound sleep.
Dr. Weil gave Stone a violent blow on the breast, when Slow instantly
started up, on which the others cried out “Shoot him!” and a pistol was
fired, the ball from which entered the body of Slow, who exclaimed, “Lord
have mercy upon me! I am murdered! I am murdered!” They then dragged
him to the stairs, which, being observed by Stone, he made his escape out
of the window. They then robbed the house, and demanded money of Mrs.
Hutchins, one of them struck her violently, and threatened to kill her.
She was compelled at length to give her watch and 64 guineas, after which
they quitted the house. Mrs. Hutchins then went to see her servants.
She found the two maid-servants bound together; and no sooner had she
given them their liberty than the wounded man said, “How are you, madam,
for I am dying.” These words were scarcely uttered, when he fell down on
the floor, and having suffered the most excruciating pain, expired on the
following day, leaving a wife and two children to lament his loss.
* * * * *
The robbery and murder was no sooner known than a reward was offered from
the Secretary of State’s office, for the apprehension of the gang. The
offer was seconded by that of a much larger reward from the City of
London; and also another of £50 from the parishioners of Chelsea.
* * * * *
The murderers, however, remained undiscoverd for a considerable time till
Daniel Isaacs, one of the gang, became the means of discovering his
accomplices, in the following manner:—Isaacs, being touched with remorse
of conscience, &c., sent for a friend and acknowledged himself to be one
of the nine men concerned in the robbery and murder at Mrs. Hutchins’s,
at Chelsea. He desired his friend to inform some magistrate of it; and
having told him the names and places of abode of his accomplices, his
friend went immediately to Sir John Fielding, at Bow Street, who sent the
officers after them, by which means seven of them were taken. The cause
of this confession and remorse of conduct, on the part of Isaacs, was
distress. He applied for relief to the elders of the Jewish synagogue,
but the treasurer refused him any immediate assistance, urging as a
reason that he should not have left his native country, Holland, where he
might have obtained probably an honest living. At that time a great
number of Jews came to this country, and a selection of cases could only
be relieved. Isaacs, in consequence of the refusal, became greatly
distressed, and, in order to gain the reward, offered by the City of
London, made the above confession.
* * * * *
Isaacs was admitted to give evidence against his accomplices, six of whom
were soon apprehended, but the other made his escape. There appears to
have been some discrepancy as regards the number of the gang, one account
states eight, while another mentions nine.
* * * * *
At the Old Bailey Sessions, in December, 1771, Levi Weil, Asher Weil,
Marcus Hartogh, Jacob Lazarus, Solomon Porter, Hyam Lazarus, and Abraham
Linewill, (the man who had absconded) were indicted for the robbery and
murder, when the two of the name of Weil, with Jacob Lazarus and Solomon
Porter, were capitally convicted, and Marcus Hartogh and Hyam Lazarus
were acquitted.
* * * * *
Mrs. Hutchins deposed on the trial, that about six weeks before her house
was robbed, Hyam Lazarus came to it, inquiring for one Beetham, a weaver,
when she said she knew no such person; that on the 11th of June, the
night of the robbery she heard the dog bark, about ten o’clock at night,
her men being then gone to bed; that she called to one of her two
maid-servants to see what was the matter with the dog, and shortly after,
hearing a noise, she ran herself to see, and found her maid, Mary
Hodgkin, with her cap off, and some men using her extremely ill; that to
the best of her remembrance, she recollected Levi Weil and Hyam Lazarus
to be among these men; and though her fright was exceedingly great, she
did her endeavour to assist her maid, but that Levi Weil (called the
Doctor,) pushed her into a chair, and pulled her upper petticoat over her
face, which hindered her seeing any of the rest. Hearing her cook cry
very much, one of them said, “Cut her throat;” another, “If you don’t
hold your tongue, I will cut your throat.” Then coming to her (Mrs.
Hutchins) they offered to tie her legs, and she begged they would not, as
she would not stir; whereupon they all went to another room, the door of
which being locked, they said they would break it, if not immediately
opened, and returned from it in about five minutes; that then going up
stairs, she shortly after heard somebody cry “fire!” and after much
swearing, heard also a pistol go off, and a man cried out, and begged
they would not; that, endeavouring to get out at the back door, she was
prevented by some men on the outside, who told her if they were not her
friends they would blow her brains out; that then returning to her chair,
she heard a very great noise above stairs, as if they were throwing the
servant down, and a little while after she heard another pistol go off;
that the wounded man, endeavouring to get down, came to her, and said,
“How are you ma’am, for I am a dead man;” on which, turning short, he
fell on the ground; that his shirt was on fire close to the wound just
under the shoulder, which she put out, that he groaned very much, and
complained of being cold; that the people in the house, running from room
to room, came down to her, and Levi Weil, to the best of her knowledge,
took the buckles out of her shoes, and two others attempted to put their
hands into her pockets; she begged they would not, saying she would give
them something worth their acceptance, and accordingly gave them her
purse and watch; that asking where her plate was, she told them, and they
took it out of the cupboard, and gave it to their companions at the back
door. That going into the parlour, where there was a cupboard, they
broke it open; and she following, told them there was nothing in it worth
having but paper; but that one of them, a short, thick, elderly man,
struck her on the face with a pistol, and would have shot her, had not
the Doctor turned the pistol with his hand.
* * * * *
The Recorder prefaced the sentence with a judicious and just compliment
to the principal Jews, for their very laudable conduct in the course of
the prosecution, and hoped no person would stigmatize a whole nation for
the villanies of a few.
* * * * *
These men, as was customary formerly in cases of murder, were tried on a
Friday, and on the following day (the Jewish Sabbath) they were
anathematized in the Synagogue.
* * * * *
As their execution was to take place on the following Monday, one of the
Rabbies went to them in the press-room of Newgate, and delivered to each
of them a Hebrew book, but declined attending them to the place of death,
nor even prayed with them, at the time of his visit. Their wives and
children were admitted to take their leave of them before they set out
for Tyburn, where executions took place. {159}
* * * * *
An immense number of people attended the execution. They prayed
together, sung an hymn in the Hebrew language, and soon afterwards were
launched into eternity.
* * * * *
The following anecdote, in reference to this daring robbery, was very
frequently related many years ago, and I do not remember that its
veracity was ever questioned. Soon after the conviction of the Jews, the
Queen paid a visit to Mrs. Hutchins, and, after expressing the deepest
sympathy for her sufferings, desired to be informed whether she could
advance the interests of any member of the family. A circumstance was
mentioned to her Majesty, which resulted in one of the junior branches
being ultimately educated at one of the Universities.
* * * * *
We will now briefly notice the King’s Road, as it was at the earlier part
of the present century. At the entrance into Chelsea parish, at the
eastern end of Sloane Square, the bridge, to which we have several times
referred, was at that period probably about 14 or 16ft. wide, on both
sides of which there was a wall of sufficient height to protect
passengers from falling into the narrow rivulet which it spanned, and
which belonged to the commissioners of sewers. There were two little
cottages near to this stream, and immediately contiguous to them was Mr.
Burgess’s premises, who carried on a very good business, as a coach
builder, &c. The houses around Sloane Square were nearly the same as
they are at the present time, but the square was an open space, simply
enclosed by wooden posts, connected by iron chains, where boys frequently
played at cricket, &c. Here, too, Queen Charlotte’s Royal Volunteers
often assembled, and marched off in military order to Hyde Park,
accompanied by an excellent band.
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:—