The memorials of the hamlet of Knightsbridge : $b With notices of its immediate neighbourhood — John Shaqi
The memorials of the hamlet of Knightsbridge : $b With notices of its immediate neighbourhoodDavis, Henry George
History
The memorials of the hamlet of Knightsbridge : $b With notices of its immediate neighbourhood
Davis, Henry George
Knightsbridge (London, England)
Against these two proposed derivations, however, it must be answered that
the place was called “KNYGHTSBRIGG” in Herbert’s charter long before the
time to which either of these circumstances apply. Edward the Confessor
owned lands here, and probably built a bridge for the convenience of
those monks to whom he devised a part of them; hence the name
KINGSBRIDGE. Having nothing recorded whereby we can account for the
change to KNIGHTSBRIDGE, we can only surmise that it was caused by
corruption of the name, or that there may be some foundation, other than
the story of the brave Knyvett, for the legend I have related.
THE MANOR AND PAROCHIAL DIVISIONS.
The land constituting this district appears to have belonged originally
to King Edward the Confessor. There is, in the British Museum, a charter
still preserved, a translation of which was printed by Mr. Faulkner, in
which, giving to the church at Westminster the manor of Cealchyth
(Chelsea), with various emoluments and privileges, the charter
proceeds—“Besides, together with this manor, every third tree, and every
horse load of fruits, grown in the neighbouring wood at KYNGESBYRIG,
which, as in ancient times, was confirmed by law.” This is the earliest
mention of Knightsbridge recorded; the land referred to is now occupied
by Lowndes-square and its neighbourhood.
Knightsbridge is not mentioned in Doomsday Book, neither is Westbourn,
Hyde, nor Paddington; and it is most likely that the returns for these
places are given with the surrounding manors of Eia, Chelchith,
Lilestone, &c. Eia was confirmed to the Abbey of Westminster by William
the Conqueror, and included the land between the Tyburn on the east, the
Westbourn on the west, the great military road (Oxford-street) on the
north, and the Thames on the south. Yet, although given thus early to
the Abbey, it was not included in the franchise of the city of
Westminster, notwithstanding Knightsbridge, which chiefly lay beyond it,
was so included; for, in 1222, a dispute having arisen between the Bishop
of London and the Abbot of Westminster, respecting their ecclesiastical
jurisdiction, it was referred to Stephen Langton, Archbishop of
Canterbury, the Bishops of Winchester and Salisbury, and the Priors of
Merton and Dunstable; and they decided that the Tyburn stream was the
limit of St. Margaret’s parish westward; adding, however, that, “beyond
these bounds the districts of Knightsbridge, Westbourn, Padyngton with
its chapel, and their appurtenances, belong to the parish of St. Margaret
aforesaid.” Part of Knightsbridge still belongs to St. Margaret’s, and
it is most probable that some great proprietor living in that parish
owned lands here, and hence, in old assessments, such became to be
reckoned component parts of the parish.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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