Читать книгу Chelsea, in the Olden & Present Times - George Sands Bryan - Страница 5

Table of Contents

The Etymology and Boundaries of the Parish—The Old Church: its Monumental Inscriptions; Remarkable Spring Tides, taken to Church in a Boat, Penance, &c.—Ancient Manor Houses, and Distinguished Residents—Moravian Chapel and Burial Ground—Park Chapel—St. Mark’s College—The New West Brompton Congregational Church—Loss of Sir John Balchen and 1100 Seamen in the “Victory”—Ascent in a Balloon in 1784—Fatal Duel—The Knight and the Poor Carpenter—Jews’ Burial Ground, to which is added an Amusing Anecdote—The Queen’s Elm—Singular Tavern Signs, &c.—The old Embankment of the Thames. Interspersed with Notices of many of the most Eminent Residents in the Parish in the “Olden Times,” and other Interesting Particulars.

Lord Brougham, in the course of some remarks on modern English literature, incidentally observed that “local histories were not only interesting to the residents in the districts to which they referred, but such minor works would be found of immense value to future national historians.” This was also the avowed opinion of Mr. Faulkner, when he published his invaluable “History of Chelsea,” upwards of 40 years since, and my motive in undertaking the present work is to carry forward the great object which that laborious local historian contemplated. The defects, and no doubt there will be many discovered in it, are submitted to the kind and impartial consideration of the reader. My humble position in life will not in the slightest degree, I feel confident, tend to depreciate my long-cherished desire—especially as the shades of evening are fast closing the day-light of my earthly life—to add to the information which has already been given respecting a parish to which I am much attached, both by birth and early associations.

The earliest mention of Chelsea is to be found in the Saxon Chronicle, in the year 785; from which record it appears that a Synod was then held in it, and at which period it was the residence of Offa, king of the Mercians. As regards the etymology of its name both ancient and modern writers have expressed different opinions. Mr. Lysons says, he has seen it written Cealc-hylle, in an old charter of Edward the Confessor, and hence objected to the obvious etymology, as there is neither chalk nor hill in the parish. Mr. Faulkner considers, however, that “hylle” is an evident mistake for “hythe;” and Cealc-hythe signifies not a place abounding in chalk, but a wharf or landing-place for chalk brought from other quarters. This amended definition seems at once to remove the previous objection, particularly as large quantities of chalk and lime were formerly, and even now at times, landed at a wharf by the river-side at Chelsea. In the ancient record of Domesday, it is written Cherchede and Chelched. The parish was called Chelchethe in the taxation of Pope Nicholas, in 1291; and this was the common way of spelling it for several centuries. Among the manorial records of the time of Edward II. it is spelled Chelcheya and Chelchuthe. Mr. Norden says, “It is so called from the nature of the place, whose strand is like the Chesel, (ceosel, or cesel,) which the sea casteth up of sand and pebble stones, thereof called Cheselsey, briefly Chelsey.” How altered is the state of the strand or shore at the present time! Would that there were now only the sand and pebble stones! But there is a probability that this complaint will be remedied. The long expected embankment from Battersea Bridge to Chelsea College, it is said, really is to be commenced and completed, and those old and dilapidated houses in that narrow and dangerous thoroughfare, known as Duke Street and Lombard Street, are to be pulled down. If this should be the case, the parishioners will then possess one of the finest promenades, with Battersea Park opposite to it, which may be found along the entire banks of the river Thames.

Having made this slight digression, to infuse a little of what is popularly called “new life” into our subject, we will here mention that the county of Middlesex received its name from having been inhabited by a party of Saxons, who, being located in the midst of the three kingdoms of the East, West, and South Saxons, were called by their neighbours Middlesaxons, which, in common conversation, was soon abbreviated to Middlesex.

The parish of Chelsea is bounded on the north by the Fulham Road, which separates it from Kensington. On the east at the entrance into Sloane Square, at which place there was an open rivulet, which divided it from St. George’s, Hanover Square, and was said to rise at or near to Hampstead; and, after crossing Hyde Park, where it formed the Serpentine River, and Knightsbridge, flowed behind Cadogan Place (along a portion of Lowndes’ Square) into the Thames, at Ranelagh, which adjoined Chelsea College. In January, 1809, this rivulet overflowed its banks, and caused great devastation for several days. The waters formed a complete lake, and were of considerable depth. Boats were employed in carrying passengers from Chelsea Hospital to the old Bunhouse, on their way to London. On the west, the parish is divided from Fulham a little beyond St. Mark’s College; and on the south it is bounded by the Thames.

That portion of the parish at Kensal New Town, which is near to Wilsden, will be briefly noticed again in reference to the “Ancient Manor Houses.” This land, as held by the parish, is about 173¾ acres.