The Kensington DistrictMitton, G. E. (Geraldine Edith)
History
The Kensington District
Mitton, G. E. (Geraldine Edith)
Kensington (London, England) -- Description and travel
It has been necessary to linger long over the Gardens and the Palace,
but we must now turn northward up Church Street to complete our
perambulation of the district. In Church Street is the Carmelite Church,
designed by Pugin, and though very simple in style, not pleasing. It was
built in 1865. The organ is an especially fine one, and the singing is
famous. There is a relic of St. Simon Stock beneath the altar, which is
very highly prized. The monastery extends along the side of Duke's Lane
at the back of the church. It is rather an ornamental building, with
stone pinnacles and carved stonework over the doorway. It opens upon the
corner where Duke's Lane meets Pitt Street, and close by stood
Bullingham House, where Sir Isaac Newton lived. It has now disappeared,
and red-brick mansions have risen upon the site.
Mr. Loftie, writing in 1888, says: "When we enter the garden from Pitt
Street we see there are two distinct houses. One of them to the north
appears slightly the older of the two, and has an eastward wing,
slightly projecting from which a passage opened on Church Street. The
adjoining, or southern, house has greater architectural pretensions, and
within is of more solid construction. Both have been much pulled about
and altered at various times, and are now thrown together by passages
through the walls. A chamber is traditionally pointed out as that in
which Sir Isaac Newton died."
Sir Isaac at the time he came to Kensington was at the height of his
fame and reputation, and held the office of Master at the Mint, after
having been previously Deputy-Master. He had come to London from
Cambridge, and settled in Leicester Square (see _The Strand_, same
series), but finding his health suffer in consequence of the dirt and
smoke, he moved "out of London" to Kensington. He remained here two
years consecutively, and returned shortly before his death.
He may have been attracted to Kensington by its vicinity to the Palace.
Queen Caroline, even as Princess of Wales, had always shown an
inclination for the society of learned men, and in particular had showed
favour to Sir Isaac. His portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller hangs in one of
the state apartments at the Palace.
Bullingham House was probably called after John Bullingham, Bishop of
Gloucester and Bristol, who died at Kensington in 1598. Later,
Bullingham House was known at one time as Orbell's buildings, for
Stephen Pitt, after whom the street is named, had married the daughter
of Orbell. The house was subsequently used as a boarding-school.
On the eastern side of Church Street are the barracks and one or two
large houses. In Maitland House lived James Mill, author of the "History
of India," and father of the better known J. S. Mill. There is a tablet
to his memory on one of the pillars in the church. York House was, as
has been said, the home of Princess Sophia, who died here in 1848. This
house is now to be demolished.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account