Chelsea : Images of England

Chelsea is an ancient settlement, once known as ‘Chelchehith’, but most of its architecture dates from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Since the construction of the first Battersea Bridge in 1772 it has grown in size, wealth and importance and has attracted a large number of famous people to its grand town houses. Among the many residents famous enough to warrant a memorial on their former dwelling are artists (notably Whistler and Turner), authors (George Eliot, Mrs Gaskell), philosophers (Thomas Carlyle) and even a saint, Thomas More, who lived here in a great palace before losing favour with Henry VIII.

This tour of Chelsea begins at the riverside. Here we see the greatest range of Chelsea’s buildings, from the Lots Road power station (soon to be decommissioned) to the splendour of Cheyne Walk and the Chelsea Embankment. The tour then moves north along the elegant streets either side of King’s Road, which itself used to be a private drive for the exclusive use of the King. Many of the street names commemorate influential residents of Chelsea, including Sloane Square and Cadogan Square, named after Sir Hans Sloane and Lord Cadogan of Oakley. The last chapter deals with the Fulham Road and Brompton, up to the boundary with South Kensington.

This fascinating compilation records the many changes which have taken place throughout the historic town of Chelsea, from welcome new developments to the effects of the Blitz. It is sure to appeal both to those who remember how Chelsea used to be and to newer residents exploring the town’s history for the first time.