THOMAS CRAWFORD

FRANCIS LEGGATT CHANTREY

charles bell birch

John Bell

edward hodges baily

John Bacon

George Gammon Adams

George Gammon Adams

"Gatehouse" "Abbey House" Merton.

"During the middle of the 18th century this late medieval building was enlarged with the addition of extensions to each end of the building.

Historically, this building is referred to as ‘Gate House’ and is mentioned in a number of detailed documentary references and photographs survive.

The building stood until 1906 when it was finally pulled down and replaced with the Wimbledon and American Roller Skating Rink, afterwards by an airship and balloon factory.

In 1922 it became the Wimbledon Palais de Danse."

Later "Furniture Land" - then demolished 2000.

Cary Crescent Torquay

Portland Place

Cary Crescent 1875

“A Fairy Archipelago at the Crystal Palace”

The Sketch. April 8, 1903.

“A Fairy Archipelago at the Crystal Palace”

Many striking attractions are imminent at the famous Sydenham Palace of Pleasure, among them the “Fairy Archipelago” on the lake of the North Tower Gardens. It was officially opened on Easter Monday of last year, but this, in racing phraseology was but a “preliminary canter.” However, it was sufficiently indicative of future prodigality of pleasure-giving. The “Syndicate” are quite satisfied with the progress they have made and are making, and exhibit a reassuring composure as to their ability to be “all right on the night.” It is one of those enterprises which depend largely upon climactic conditions, and is practically a gamble with the weather. Therefore the real success of the undertaking will arrive coincidentally with the advent of our tropical suns and Italian skies. When the wind “bites shrewdly,” you cannot expect people to disport themselves in the neighbourhood of an airy archipelago. Those blessed with a fairly lively imagination can, even in the teeth of an easterly wind and beneath the dome of a dull grey sky, easily realise what a charming and novel spot this will be. Rocks – or a wonderfully realistic counterfeit presentiment of them – water, and verdure on all hands : a variety of stalls, all fashioned like rude huts, offering an abundance of attractive articles at popular prices, are built over the water and into the rocks; there are toys, confectionary, photographs, slot machines innumerable, shooting-galleries, roasted peanuts and popcorn, and automatic musical instruments which mingle the dulcet tones of “Dolly Grey”  with the sweet strains of “The Honeysuckle and the Bee.” On no account fail to take a trip in an electric launch ‘ it is a real treat to glide over the surface of the water, through mysterious caves, under rustic bridges, past elaborate pavilions gay with bunting, the envied of all onlookers who are unable or too penurious to plunge a sixpence !

It would be equally inadvisable to fail to take a flying trip down the chute (the longest in the world), or to valiantly shoot the rapids. The latter is a new sensation, and may be highly recommended for sluggish livers. You descend with the tide – in a boat, of course – on a varying gradient, gathering velocity as you speed. Near the bottom you encounter a sharp curve ; here you just leave yourself to Providence and the boat and swish round the corner. When you come out of the trance, you find yourself on level water.

Mr. Mann, who is at the head of the syndicate, points out that the weather last year was about as bad as it could be for them, with the natural result that they fared somewhat indifferently, but, at the same time, he contends that “a Mann is a Mann for all that,” and promises many additional attractions this year. In fact, it is to be a second and higher bid for popularity.

Par example, there is to be a spacious dancing-platform, along the edge of Sydenham’s fair waters, upon which – the platform, not the waters – terpsichorean couples may foot it to their hearts’ content, and the sweet strains of a well-equipped band, at all times, and almost at any time. There will also be some convenient alcoves, cool and pretty, where exhausted dancers may dally, and “wall-fruit” cling ; and – list, ye thirsty ones ! – a fine refreshment-bar. May it never know a Black List ! Right in the middle of the lake, between the chute and the dancing-platform, there will be holden an Old English Industrial Fair, where practical demonstrations of weaving, clay-modelling, wood-carving, &c., will be given. It is expected that this will be officially opened by a prominent Society Lady.

Located near the dancing platform – it would be seen that is the general coign of vantage of the Archipelago, like Dan Leno’s step of the refreshment-bar at the Tower – there will be a Biograph in good and constant working order. Od side-shows there will be an abundance. You will be able to make the acquaintance of the “Human Spider,” enter the “Haunted House” (in which you will experience the strange sensation of standing on your head without falling); the “Palace of Illusions” you will find it hard to resist or dispel, and many other attractions will make you bless the moment when you recklessly flung down your shilling at one of the Palace turnstiles.

There will also be “musical rides” in a thirty-foot ring. Anybody who can mount a horse, and having mounted it, keep his seat, may ride to music supplied by a band. Much fun of an exciting character may be expected in this department.

The whirling roundabout, and the flying swing will be in evidence, and you may “Try a shot, sir,” at the “Niagara Ride Range,” where many breathless contests take place for the greatest number of “bulls,” “magpies,” and “outers,” with the accompanying honour of not paying for them.

All the elaborate and mammoth scenery has been painted by Mr. John England, who has supplied the “settings” for many a notable Sydenham production. He is an old pupil of Mr. T. E. Ryan.

All things considered, it must be admitted that the approaching season in the North Tower gardens of the Crystal Palace promises to be both entertaining and alluring.

"Love" Raffaelle Monti

Chess Turk Crystal Palace Sydenham

The first device of this kind, "The Turk" was built in 1770, by Wolfgang von Kempelen.

It toured Europe and America, beating Benjamin Franklin and Napoleon Bonaparte, before it was revealed in the 1820's to contain a human operator. Embarassed by it's success Von Kempelen went on to work on steam engines and ways of recreating human speech, inspiring Alexander Graham Bell to create the telephone.

The Turk, after many changes of human "director" and owner, disappeared in a fire on 5 July 1854 at the Chinese Museum in Philadelphia, just over a month after the Crystal Palace opened in Sydenham.

The Turk Mk II, was "Ajeeb" Arabic for "strange or unexplainable" built by Bristol cabinet maker Charles Hooper and first shown at the Royal Polytechnical Institute in 1868. Again the secret was that he contained a human operator, and was at the Crystal Palace until 1876, when he moved to The Royal Aquarium in Westminster. Hooper then took him to the U.S., where he appeared the the Musee Eden in New York. Hooper returned to England in 1895, and most accounts report that Ajeeb disappeared in a fire at Coney Island in 1929 where the collection moved to when the Musee Eden closed in 1915.

This fascinating 1940's article from the New Yorker records that Ajeeb still survived in parts, with his eccentric owner keeping the wax head at home "smearing its eyelids with vaseline, massaging its cheeks and combing its long beard."

Christchurch Road Streatham Hill

William Wetmore Story 1819 – 1895

Arcadian Shepherd Boy 1855. Purchased by subscription for Boston Public Library

Elm Lodge - Agar Town

Elm Lodge

Elm Lodge map

Counsellor Agar" was William Agar of Lincolns Inn, who purchased the lease of the mansion house belonging to the Prebend of St. Pancras in the Fields near London called Kentish Town, from the executors of Henry Newcombe, in 1810, together with the coachhouse, stable, yard and large garden, pleasure grounds, plantation, the Lawn, East Field and Near Field.

The freehold of the manor of St. Pancras belonged to the Prebendary of St. Pancras in St. Paul's Cathedral, it was leased by the Prebendary from time to time.

It was leased on 8th January, 1549, by John Weston, clerk, Residentiary of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul and Penitentiary thereof and Prebendary of St. Pancras, To Richard Wylkes, citizen and merchant taylor of London for 40 years, and after his death this lease passed to Henry Spence, citizen and innholder of London, who obtained an extension of the lease for a further period of 31 years from the Prebendary (Rev. James Calfhill) on 24th July, 1564.

Henry Kinge, D.D., Prebendary, leased it on 12th October, 1641, to John Kinge of the Inner Temple, gentleman, for 21 years, the area of the manor then amounting to 75 acres.

In 1734 it was in the possession of Lady Millington (Ann Millington of St. George the Martyr) whose brother, William Bourchier of Salisbury, Doctor of Physic, assigned the lease to Henry Newcome of Hackney, LL.D., on 5th April, 1755.



The lease to Henry Newcome was renewed in 1757, by the Prebendary (Rev. Fifield Allen, D.D.) to his son Henry Newcome, and again leased 26th March, 1798, to Henry Newcome of Devonshire Place, for 21 years.

His executors obtained a fresh lease for 21 years on 3rd April, 1805, and, on 2nd March, 1816, it was leased by the Prebendary (the Rev. William Beloe) to William Agar, the son of William Agar of Dunnington Hall, York.

He was born in 1767, called to the Bar in 1791 and died 1838.

The last lessee was his son William Talbot Agar of Milford House, Lymington, born 1814, died 1907.

When occupied by the Agar family this house was known as Elm Lodge.

Practically the whole of the Prebendal Manor of St. Pancras has since been occupied by the Midland and Great Northern Railway Companies, now the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and the London and North Eastern Railway.