Chelsea in the olden & present times / by George Bryan.

  • Bryan, George.
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Chelsea in the olden & present times / by George Bryan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/240 (page 2)
    ETYMOLOGY, 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 3” 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-gide 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 com- plaint 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