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.

    66/240 (page 54)
    LORD AND LADY CREMORNE. CREMORNE HOUSE. This villa was first formed by Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon, who died in 1746. It afterwards belonged, successively, to Richard, Viscount Powerscourt; to the Countess Dowager of Exeter, relict of Brownlow, the eighth Earl; and to Sir Richard Lyttleton, who married the Dowager Duchess of Bridgewater, and died in 1770. After the death of the Duchess, in 1777, Thomas Dawson, Viscount Cremome, at that time Baron Dartrey, purchased the villa in 1778. He considerably enlarged and embellished the premises, under the skill of the eminent Mr. James Wyytt. His lordship died in Stanhope Street, Mayfair, in 1813, in his 89th year, greatly respected, and bequeathed the estate to his relict, the late Viscountess. It is stated, in an account published shortly after Lord Cremorne’s death, that “ his generosity was unbounded, and his heart, in the most comprehensive sense, charitable. But his most excellent character is, that he was a Christian in mind and practice.” The Dowager Viscountess Cremorne, born in Philadelphia in 1740, died at her house in Stanhope Street in 1825, in the 86th year of her age. Her ladyship resided at Chelsea a great portion of the year, and kept a large establishment. She was one of the most kind hearted residents in the parish. For years it was her custom to entertain annually the children of the parochial and other schools, and she patronized the tradesmen of Chelsea as far as it was practicable, giving special orders to that effect to her household. Queen Charlotte occasionally visited her in the summer months, when the children again at- tended, and received tokens of her benevolent regard for them. She was buried by the side of her husband in the family vault at Stoke. The carriages of the Royal Family followed in the funeral procession for some distance, and most of the tradesmen closed their shops She bequeathed the villa to her first cousin and executor, Granville Penn, Esq., second surviving son of Thomas Penn, and brother of John Penn, Esqrs., of Stoke Park, Bucks, Hereditary Governors and Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania. Granville Penn, Esq., resided in it for a few years. It wwild occupy too much space to give a sketch even of the history of this distinguished family.