Posted by Melanie Backe-Hansen on Nov 28, 2011 in
Historian I recently researched a house on one of the oldest streets in Chelsea – Cheyne Row. Most famously it is known for the former residence of writer Thomas Carlyle, but I was sent to research a more recent house formerly home to the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth.
William Booth
The house along Cheyne Row was part of a terraced row completed in 1849 by builder developer, John Todd. It was first known as No.12 and Mr Todd chose to make it his own home.
Cheyne Row
At the time of the 1851 census, Mr Todd was 34 years old and recorded as ‘builder’ employing 24 men. He was in the house with his 33 year old wife, Ann, and their six children aged between one month and ten years old. John Todd was a successful builder in the area as ten years later, at the time of the 1861 census, he was living in a larger house in Milner Street and he was ‘employing 72 men and 10 boys’.
By the late 1860s through to the 1880s, the house along Cheyne Row had become the home of John Todd’s eldest son, Alfred, an assistant decorator and an insurance agent. Although, at the time of the 1881 census he was recorded as a draughtsman.
Cheyne Row
It was in 1889 that the house along Cheyne Row became a Salvation Army Training Depot headed by preacher, philanthropist and founder, William Booth.
William Booth 1900
However, the cadets in the Salvation Army did not live quietly in Chelsea. The Times newspaper reports a number of occurances in 1889 of police incidents related to the residents of Cheyne Row. These included ‘wilfully obstructing the public footway with preaching’ and another causing a nuisance with ‘loud singing and clapping of hands’. Another incident involved Captain Arthur Reynolds and 14 other members of the army involved in ‘disorderly conduct, causing a crowd to assemble, and refusing to disperse…whereby the thoroughfare was obstructed and a breach of the peace rendered probable.’ The house did not remain a training depot for the Salvation Army for long, as by 1894-5 the London directory records that the house had become ‘St Vincent’s Orphanage’ with mistress, Sister Mary Francis.
Cheyne Row
The house later became the home of German author, Gustav Glaser and renowned children’s author and publisher, Frederick Joseph Harvey Darton.
To read the complete history of the house along Cheyne Row go to – The history of No.33 Cheyne Row
For more details on the property for sale with Chesterton Humberts go to – Cheyne Row
Tags: Chelsea, Chesterton Humberts, cheyne row, frederick joseph harvey darton, gustav glaser, john todd, salvation army, thomas carlyle, william booth
Posted by Melanie Backe-Hansen on Nov 23, 2010 in
Historian It has been a while since I updated you on my adventures in the world of researching the history of houses. As well as taking a trip to Wiltshire to research two houses (one of which has a gruesome story related to a skeleton – the story will follow soon), I have been spending a lot of time researching historic areas of London.
After the success of the history of Chelsea Garden Squares, I have completed a brochure on Islington Squares. The development of Islington offers a very different look at the history of London: firstly being a holiday destination for the wealthy and slowly becoming a rural community dominated by livestock heading to Smithfield market and it commonly became known as ’the dairy of London’ offering fresh milk and cheese.
Illustration of Islington in 1780 from 'Old and New London'
The completed brochure on Islington Squares is being printed at the moment, so I’ll be sure to send you the link when it becomes available.
I have also been writing an historical overview of the history of Belgravia. Most people may have heard of ‘Cubittopolis’ and the grand stucco terraces of Belgravia, but there is so much more to the history of one of the most sought after addresses in London. Prior to building it was in fact known as being notoriously dangerous and populated by highwaymen and footpads. The ground was so swampy that no one could build on it and it was relegated to an open waste until the early 19th century.
Horwood's map of London 1799 showing the open fields behind Knightsbridge
In fact, along the Kings Road (which was still only for the private use for the King at this time) was Bloody Bridge, nicknamed for the number of murders and attacks that took place.
Of course, we now know that Belgravia became the most fashionable address in London after Thomas Cubitt came along and built the grand stucco terraces and squares, changing the fortune of the area dramatically in as little as ten years.
Belgrave Square designed by George Basevi
The area history of Belgravia will be published in a brochure and culminating with an event where I’ll be telling some of the stories of this fascinating part of London.
Tags: Belgrave Square, Belgravia, Bloody Bridge, Chelsea, Chelsea Garden Squares, Cubittopolis, footpads, highwaymen, Islington, Islington squares, Kings Road, stucco, the dairy of London, Thomas Cubitt, Wiltshire
Posted by Melanie Backe-Hansen on Oct 28, 2010 in
Historian My work researching different areas of the country has recently culminated in a new historic brochure for one of the most sought after areas of London - Chelsea Garden Squares
Markham Square - Chelsea
The new brochure has just been published and you can view it here – Chelsea Garden Squares
The brochure looks at seven key squares: Paultons, Markham, Chelsea, Carlyle, Wellington, Tedworth and Queen’s Elm.
Along side the launch of the new brochure, we held an event at our Chelsea branch where I spoke on the history of the garden squares.
Chesterton Humberts Chelsea event
My talk was a brief look at the key historic elements of the garden squares – as well as the story of the double murder in 1870 that took place in Paultons and Wellington squares. See the story here
Carlyle Square
You can also see the first of my contributions to The Resident that will look at the story of each square.
To learn more about the properties available from Chesterton Humberts – click here
Tags: Chelsea, Chelsea Garden Squares, Chesterton Humberts, garden squares, Paultons Square, The Resident, Wellington Square
Posted by Melanie Backe-Hansen on Aug 11, 2010 in
Historian One of my recent house histories is a Victorian terraced house along Fulham Road in Chelsea where the first resident was a Victorian dentist. However, after World War II it became the home of Uli Nimptsch, celebrated sculptor responsible for the statue of David Lloyd George that stands opposite Winston Churchill at the entrance to the House of Commons.
Entrance to House of Commons with statue of David Lloyd George
Image courtesy of Parliament UK
The house along Fulham Road was completed in 1846 and was first known as No.10 Lansdowne Villas. The first resident in the house was Mr. George Ash, practicing as a dentist, who lived in the house with his family during the 1850s and 60s. Dentistry during the mid Victorian period was seeing vast improvements, but was still a frightening experience for many. Anaesthetic was first introduced from 1846 and a clockwork drill was invented in 1864, while an official register of Dentists was only established by the Royal College of Surgeons in 1872.
By 1862 the house names and numbers along Fulham Road were reorganised and by the early 1870s Mr Ash and his family had moved away. The house then became the home of a bankers clerk and merchant, Mr. William Williams.
However, by the turn of the 20th century things began to alter in the house and by the 1920s, Miss Laura Henrietta Brown was renting out rooms in the house. Miss Brown was the daughter of Henry Brown, surgeon and apothecary in Ordinary to the Royal Household at Windsor from 1833 to 1868.
Mary Pickford - Illustrated London News May 1929
The electoral registers during the 1930s show that the house was shared by a number of women, including a Mary Pickford, but this is unlikely to have been the Hollywood film star and co-founder of the film studio United Artists, but it was likely to have been the former MP for Hammersmith North. Mary Pickford was recorded in the house in 1930 and 1931 and it was in this year that she won the seat in Hammersmith as conservative candidate. Mary Pickford died suddenly in 1934 at the age of 49.
After the war years, the house became the home of sculptor Uli Nimptsch, his wife Ruth and their son, Peter. Uli Nimptsch was German born and studied in Berlin, as well as in Rome and Paris, but he moved to England from Nazi Germany for the sake of his Jewish wife in 1939.
Uli Nimptsch working on the Lloyd George statue - Illustrated London News December 1962
Uli Nimptsch was most noted for his female nude sculptures in a naturalistic style, but he also worked on biblical and classical mythology, as well as portrait busts, including Paul Oppé and Brendan, Viscount Bracken. However, it was his commission to create an over life size sculpture of former Prime Minister, David Lloyd George for the Houses of Parliament that has given him the most recognition. The sculpture was completed in 1963 and stands prominently by Churchill Arch in the Members’ lobby to the House of Commons, opposite Sir Winston Churchill. A foot on each statue is noticeably worn, as it is the custom for MPs to rub the foot for luck as they walk past. Uli Nimptsch has a number of works held in key galleries across the UK, including The Tate Collection, The British Museum and the Royal Academy. Nimptsch regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy and was elected an RA in 1967. Uli Nimptsch lived in the house until he passed away in 1977.
For the full history of the house – The history of home of Uli Nimptsch
Tags: Chelsea, Churchill Arch, David Lloyd George, Fulham Road, Mary Pickford, Uli Nimptsch, Victorian dentistry
