Here is Chelsea

Founded in 1927 'to protect and foster the amenities of Chelsea', the Chelsea Society has, for many years, printed an assortment of essays celebrating all aspects of Chelsea, past and present, at the end of each of its Annual Reports. This selection of the most interesting, begins with an account of the Royal Hospital, by General Sir Clive Liddell, taken from the 1944/45 report, and ends with Richard Ballard's 'Life and Times of Sir Hans Sloane', which appeared in 2003. In between, thirty-five elegant essays add up to make this delightful pot-pourri of a book a lasting keep-sake and celebration of one of London's most attractive boroughs. Elizabeth Longford describes the Chelsea childhood of the first Queen Elizabeth; Peter Quennell tells of the Carlyle's at Cheyne Row; Tom Pocock celebrates the Chelsea Bun House and Gerard Noel tells the scandalous tale of Sir Charles Dilke. Famous residents are recalled, including Bram Stoker, Lily Langtry and Leigh Hunt. A long section describes Chelsea at War and the Borough's world famous art and architecture is remembered by tales of the Chelsea Arts Club, accounts of Walter Greaves, Whistler in Tite Street - even Veronese in the Fulham Road. Chelsea's gardens are not overlooked. There are descriptions of the famous Physic Garden by Allen Paterson, recollections by the head gardener of the Cadogan Estate and Edward Croft-Murray's evocative recreation of Cremorne, the last of London's great Victorian Pleasure Gardens. Designed to be read as a common-place book, with wonderful drawings and illustrations in colour and black and white, Here Is Chelsea will be long-treasured. It is a delightful souvenir for both visitor and resident - indeed anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of this unique and magical place.