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.

    189/240 (page 177)
    In the year 1664, Mr. James Hamilton, probably by order of the Lord of the Manor, made a survey of this parish. It was further continued, till the year 1715, by the Rev. Dr. King, the rector, to whose labours this work is much indebted. From Hamilton’s survey, it appears that the Earl of Radnor resided in Paradise Row,* adjoining Robinson’s Lane. He enter- tained his Majesty King Charles IT. most sumptuously on the 4th of September, 1660, at this house. When the above survey was taken, his relict, Lady Radnor, was in possession of the premises. There are in the Parish Register several entries of baptisms and deaths of this family. Lord Radnor died at this house July 17, 1685, and Lady Radnor, his second wife, who sur- vived him, resided at Chelsea till her death in 1714. His son, Francis, by his second wife, who was a gentleman of general learning and good abilities, was buried at Chelsea. At the north end of George Place, Queen’s Road West, formerly stood an old white house, called “ Queen Elizabeth’s Larder,” which was pulled down to erect the present houses. THE BOTANIC GARDEN. On the south side of Queen’s Road West, near to the river, is situated the*garden belonging to the Company of Apothecaries. The earliest record that we possess of a Botanical Garden in England, was that of the celebrated John Gerarde, the father of English botany. The next in order of time was that of the elder Tradescant, who, about 1630, established a garden for the cultivation of exotic plants at South Lambeth; this col- lection was presented, in 1667, to the University of Oxford. The next garden in succession is this at Chelsea. Of these premises, containing three acres, one rood, the first lease was taken by the Company in the year 1673, for the term * Queen’s Road West was formerly called Paradise Row.