The Kensington DistrictMitton, G. E. (Geraldine Edith)
History
The Kensington District
Mitton, G. E. (Geraldine Edith)
Kensington (London, England) -- Description and travel
that, with such inordinate sensibility and such a constitution, he did
not live to inherit his mother's throne. His servant Lewis, who was
devotedly attached to him, wrote a little biography of him, which is one
of the curiosities of literature.
In 1704 the Dowager-Countess of Burlington came here with her son
Richard, then only a boy, afterwards famous as an architect and art
lover. In 1719 the house was sold, and came into possession of the
Lechmere family. It did not remain with them long, but was purchased by
Stephen Pitt, who let it as a school. In 1862 it was partially destroyed
by fire. It was then bought by the Metropolitan Railway Company, who
rebuilt it, and let it to tenants. Later on a charmingly-built row of
houses and mansions rose up on its grounds to face Sheffield Terrace.
The appearance of the later house was very different from that of the
old one, and the arms mentioned by Lysons as being over a front window
had quite disappeared.
Little Campden House, on the western side, was built for the suite of
the Princess Anne, and Stephen Pitt occupied this himself when he let
Campden House. It was latterly divided into two houses; one was called
Lancaster Lodge, and the other, after being renovated and redecorated,
was taken by Vicat Cole, R.A., until his death.
Gloucester Walk, on the south side, is, of course, called after the poor
little Duke. Sheffield Gardens and Terrace, as well as Berkeley Gardens,
stand on the site of old Sheffield House. Leigh Hunt says that the house
was owned by Sheffield, Duke of Buckinghamshire, but he adduces no fact
in support of his assertion; in any case, there are no historical
associations connected with it.
In Observatory Gardens Sir James South, the astronomer, had a house,
where there was a large observatory. He mounted an equatorial telescope
in the grounds, by the use of which, some years previously, he and Sir
J. Herschel had made a catalogue of 380 binary stars. He strenuously
resisted any opening up of the district by road or rail, lest the
vibrations of traffic should interfere with his delicate observations
and render them useless. He died here in 1867. On the south side of
Campden Hill Gardens are a number of houses standing in their own
grounds, and, from the rank of their residents, this part has gained the
name of the "Dukeries." Holly Lodge was named Airlie Lodge for a few
years when tenanted by the Earl of Airlie, but reverted to the older
name afterwards. Airlie Gardens is a reminiscence of the interlude.
Lord Macaulay lived for the three years preceding his death in Holly
Lodge.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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