ページの画像
PDF
ePub

vinces, who resided in this parish, and is buried in Lambeth church, built and endowed seven alms-houses for poor women near Vauxhall turnpike. The present income is 281. per annum, exclusive of a legacy of 11001. bequeathed to them in 1773, by the dowager Lady Gower.

Major Richard Lawrence, in 1661, founded and endowed a school for twenty boys, which has been incorporated with another in the Back Lane, established in 1731, and supported by voluntary contributions. In 1808, the school-house was rebuilt on a large scale, and adapted to the reception of 300 boys, who are instructed on the plan recommended by Dr. Bell. In 1704, Archbishop Tenison founded a school in the High Street for twelve girls; but from the increased value of the endowment, it is now adequate to the clothing and education of thirty children. In another school for girls, established by subscription, in the High Street, in 1787, forty-two children are clothed and instructed.

THOMAS BANKS, R. A. the late eminent sculptor, was a native of this parish. In the productions of his chisel, which adorn St. Paul's cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Bank, and other public buildings, as well as in those belonging to private individuals, he has left distinguished proofs of his genius. He died Feb. 5,1805, aged 67.

Vauxhall, properly Faukeshall, anciently formed part of the possessions of the Rivers, Earls of Devon, and was given by Edward the Black Prince, to the See of Canterbury, to which it still belongs. Here was a large mansion, called Copt-Hall, which in Norden's Survey, made in 1615, is described as being opposite to a capital messuage known by the name of Fauxehall. The latter is supposed to have been the manor-house, and to have been pulled down, or to have fallen to decay soon afterwards, as its name was transferred to the former. Lysons observes, that there does not appear to be the least ground for the tradition that this place was the residence of the notorious Guy Faukes, who, being a man of desperate fortune, was not likely to have a settled habitation, much less to be the owner

of

of a capital mansion. It is, however, admitted, that the conspirators with whom he was concerned in his detestable plot, held their meetings in a private house here, which was burned down by accident, in 1635*. In the time of Charles I. Vauxhall was the

property of the Crown, of which it was held under a lease, in 1675, by that mechanical genius Sir Samuel Morland, who considerably improved the premises t. The site of this mansion is now a distillery.

That well known place of public amusement Vauxhall Gardens belonged, in 1615, to Jane, widow of John Vaux, between whose two daughters the estate was divided, and passed through various hands, till both moieties were purchased about the middle of last century, by Jonathan Tyers, Esq. At what time this place was first opened for public resort we are not informed; but from papers in the Spectator, and Connoisseur §, it must have been in or before Queen Anne's time. Mr. Tyers, who held the premises on lease many years before he bought the estate, opened the Spring Gardens, as they were then denominated in 1730, and expended large sums in their embellishment. After his death they passed into the hands of several proprietors, the principal of whom is Mr. Barrett. These gardens were, till of late years, opened every evening during great part of the summer, for the reception of company; but they are now admitted only three times a week. The entertainments consist of music, vocal and instrumental, illuminations, and fire-works; and refreshments of every kind may be procured.

When London and its suburbs were fortified by order of Parliament,

• Lysons' Environs, I. 252, 3.

+ Every part of Sir Samuel's house displayed the invention of the owner. The side-board in the dining-room was supplied with a large fountain, and the glasses stood under little streams of water. His coach had a moveable kitchen with clock-work machinery, with which he could make soup, broil steaks, or roast a joint of meat, and when he travelled he was his own cook. (North's Life of Lord Keeper Guildford, p. 294.)

[blocks in formation]

erected by John Ewart, Esq. The extensive pleasure-grounds are agreeably diversified, and embellished with two fine sheets of water.

In this parish is also Mordon Hall, the mansion of Sir Robert Burnett, and the elegant seat and gardens of the late Abraham Goldsmid, Esq. who here terminated his life in September 1810.

MORTLAKE is the burial-place of several persons of considerable celebrity. In the church are interred Dr. John Dee, a man distinguished for his pretensions to magic and astrology, as well as by the personal friendship of Queen Elizabeth, who died at his house here in 1608, aged eighty-one; Sir John Barnard, whose zeal to promote the interests of his fellow-citizens will be remem. bered as long as his statue shall adorn the Royal Exchange, (ob. 1764); and Sir Brook Watson, who was created a baronet in 1803, and died in 1807.

In the church-yard is the tomb of John Partridge, the well known astrologer and publisher of an almanack, who was bred a shoe-maker, and became sworn physician to Charles II. He was a native of East Sheen, and died in 1715. Here is likewise the monument of John Barber, alderman of London, who died in 1741, aged sixty-five. He was the son of a barber in the metropolis, and bred a printer, by which profession, and by the South Sea scheme, he acquired an ample fortune. In 1733 he served the office of lord mayor. The monument to Butler in Westminster Abbey was erected by Mr. Barber, on which occasion Pope is said to have written these severe lines, which he proposed should be inscribed on the vacant scroll under Shakspeare's bust:

[ocr errors]

Thus Britain lov'd me and preserv'd my fame.

Pure from a Barber's or a Benson's name.

During Cromwell's protectorate some of his city friends, as Lord Pack, Lord Tichbourn, and Sir John Ireton, had houses at Mortlake,

Mortlake. From this circumstance probably originated the tradition, that an ancient mansion here, now leased to Miss Aynscomb, was the residence of Cromwell himself. So much is certain, that during the last century the house in question was inhabited by a more amiable, though less celebrated, man, the benevolent Edward Colston, who, in his life-time, expended more than 70001, on charitable institutions, and died here in 1721.

In 1619, a manufacture of fine tapestry was established at Mortlake by Sir Francis Crane. This undertaking was patronized by the king, who gave 20001. towards it as an encouragement. After the death of the original proprietor, his brother, Sir Richard Crane, sold the concern to Charles I. and during the civil war the premises were seized by the Parliament as the property of the Crown. In the survey taken on this occasion, the Tapestry House is described as containing one room eighty-two feet in length, and twenty in breadth, with twelve looms; another about half as long, with six looms; and a third called the limningroom. After the Restoration, Charles II. intended to rovive the manufacture, and sent to Verrio to sketch the designs; but his views were never carried into execution.

East Sheen is a hamlet in this parish, seated on a rising ground considerably above the level of the river. Here are several handsome villas, the vicinity to Richmond Park, and the beauty of the surrounding country, rendering it a desirable situation.

Temple Grove, formerly called Shene, or Sheen Grove, was the residence of the celebrated Sir William Temple. Here he indulged his taste for horticultural pursuits, after he had retired from the fatigue and disgust which he had experienced in his different embassies; and the noble trees that have escaped the ravages of the axe, together with the beautiful mount and fishponds that ornament the estate, bear testimony, to this day, of the pains he bestowed on the improvement of his favourite residence.

It was here too that he received the visits of the Prince

of

in 1790, Mrs. Golding and her daughter being both dead, the dancing furniture was sold by auction, and fetched very extrava→ gant prices.

John Angell, Esq. who died in 1784, left by will 60001. for the purpose of building a college at Stockwell, for seven decayed gentlemen, two clergymen, an organist, six singing men, twelve choristers, a verger, chapel clerk, and three domestic servants, which he endowed with rent-charges to the amount of 8001. per annum, besides making a provision for the subsistence of the members, Ever since the death of the testator there has been a suit in chancery respecting his will, and his intentions have of course never been carried into effect.

At South Lambeth, situated between Stockwell and Vauxhall, was the residence of Sir Noel Caron. The Magna Britannia, says that it was built in the figure of half a Roman H, and pulled down in 1687 *. A small part of it, however, remained, and was occupied as an academy, under the name Caron House, till demolished in 1809.

There are now no traces of the physic garden of the Tradescants, which was situated near this spot, and was one of the first establishments of the kind in the kingdom. The elder Tradescant had been gardener to the Duke of Buckingham and other noblemen, and was afterwards in the service of Charles I. He travelled over great part of Europe and Africa, in search of new plants, and many of those introduced by him were long called by his name. A catalogue of all that were cultivated by him at South Lambeth, together with an account of his collection of curiosities, was published, in 1656, by his son under the title of Museum Tradescantianum, in a small volume, to which are prefixed portraits both of the father and son. The latter bequeathed the whole collection, and also his house at South Lambeth, to the learned Elias Ashmole, by whom, as it is well known, the former was given to the University at Oxford, where it occupies the principal part of the Museum, which goes by his name, and was originally built for its reception.

South

· Mag. Brit. V. 349.

« 前へ次へ »