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.

    163/240 (page 151)
    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 work- house, 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 Jolm Martyn, F.R.S., Professor of Botany at Cambridge, and Eulalia, his mfe, 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.