I have purposely avoided all dry details of parochial management, &c., as being foreign to the nature of the work and rendered now unnecessary in consequence of the voluminous Annual Vestry Reports, which may easily be obtained. My object has rather been to make the volume interesting, as far as possible, without being guilty of “book-making.” The work embodies all the essential and interesting information that could be obtained, with a great amount of original matter, and should the volume not appear so bulky as some might have expected, it is simply owing to the rejection of extraneous subjects. That the intelligent working-man, and persons of limited means, might possess the work, I published a certain number of copies at a very great sacrifice, trusting that the motive would be rather an inducement than otherwise for others to purchase the volume. Local histories, unlike other works, can only have a small circulation, and the price charged for them must be necessarily regulated by the probable number that will be sold. In conclusion, I beg to offer my grateful acknowledgments for the kindness and assistance which I have received from several gentlemen, and now submit the result of my labours to the favourable criticism, and I trust remunerative patronage of the inhabitants and others interested in a parish which, in many points of view is unusually interesting and instructive. AUGUST, 1869. INDEX. (The figures at the end of each line denote the page. Notices of Distinguished Residents are interspersed throughout the volume.) Alston House, 92 Aston, the Misses, 152 Ashburnham House, 55 Atterbury, Dr., 78 Arbuthnot, Dr. John, 80 Astell, Mrs. Mary, 183 Atkyns, Sir Robert, 219 * * * * * Boundaries of Chelsea, 8 Bray, Lord, 5 Bell, The Ashburnham, 10 Bowes, Thomas, 15 Buckingham House, 35 Buckingham, First Duke of, 35 Buckingham, Second Duke of, 36 Bristol, Earl of, 36 Beaufort House, 37 Beaufort, Second Duke of, 37 Beaufort Street, 39 Battersea Bridge, 39 Belle Vue House, 44 Bælar, Pætrus, 47 Brunel, Sir Mark Isombard, 51 Boscawen, Mr. 61 Balloon Ascent in 1784, 62 Chelsea Steam Captive, 169 Centenarian Trip in ditto, 224 Boyle, Robert, Esq. 64 Balchen, Admiral Sir John, 65 Bowack, Mr. 82 Burney, Dr. 104 Baths, Dr. Dominiceti’s, 117 Butler, Rev. Weeden, sen., 117, 152 Blunt, the late Rev. Henry, 139 Blunt, Rev. G. A. 140 Bentley, Mr. 168 Bedford, Mr. Paul, 168 Blackwell, Dr. Alexander, 183 Bunhouse, the Original Chelsea, 200 Burial Ground, St. Luke’s, 141 King’s Road, 151 Moravian’s, 46 Jew’s, 74 Royal Hospital, 195 Burial of a Female Dragoon, 196 Burgess, Rev. R. 210 Botanic Gardens, Queen’s Road, 177 Borough of Chelsea, 1st Election, 222 * * * * * Church, The Old Parish, 3 St. Luke’s, 125 Christchurch, 180 St. Jude’s, 207 Trinity, Sloane Street, 209 St. Saviour’s, 214