A Walk from London to FulhamCroker, Thomas Crofton
History
A Walk from London to Fulham
Croker, Thomas Crofton
London (England) -- Description and travel
[Picture: Door of Egyptian Hall at Craven Cottage]
Returning to Church Lane, we come out at the bridge, built in 1729, and
close to which is Willow Bank, the late residence of Mr. Delafield and
General Conyers. The Ferry belonged to the See of London, and it was
necessary that the consent of the Bishops should be had, for the erection
of the bridge and consequent destruction of their Ferry; it was,
therefore, stipulated for the right of themselves, their families, and
all their dependents, that they should pass over the bridge toll free,
which right exists at the present time; and passengers are often very
much astonished at hearing the exclamation of “Bishop!” shouted out by
the stentorian lungs of bricklayers, carpenters, or others, who may be
going to the palace, that being the pass-word for the privilege of going
over. The architect of the bridge was the eminent surgeon, W. Cheselden,
who died in 1752, and is buried in the graveyard attached to Chelsea
Hospital. His tomb is close to the railings of the new road, leading
from Sloane Street to the Suspension Bridge at Chelsea. Cheselden was
for many years, surgeon of Chelsea Hospital.
[Picture: The Swan Tavern]
Standing by the Ferry is the Swan Tavern, a characteristic old house,
with a garden attached, looking on to the river, and scarcely altered in
any of its features since Chatelaine published his views of “The most
agreeable Prospects near London,” about 1740. It is a good specimen of a
waterside inn, and appears to have been erected about the time of William
III.
At the foot of the bridge is ‘The Eight Bells’ public-house, where the
Fulham omnibuses leave for London.
[Picture: Approach to Putney Bridge]
Bridge Street brings us to the point at which we turned off at the
termination of the High Street, and on the right-hand side as we look
towards London is Church Street (formerly Windsor Street, according to
Faulkner), leading up to the Ship Tavern, and thence into the King’s
Road.
The Charity School is in Church Street. This building was erected in
1811.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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