Narcissus Luttrell who bought Shaftesbury House in 1710, then sited here, was the owner of a vast, although possibly rather indiscriminately collected, library and was envied by other bibliophiles. They claimed he was mean and anti-social but Thea Holme in her book 'Chelsea' quotes his diary to suggest that he was a gentleman behaving normally with due regard for his responsibilities to his family and the community in which he lived.

'5. November 1722. Rose this morning at 8. So to prayers in Chamber. Then down into garden. Drest after and breakfasted at 10 and being gunpowder plot day I would have gone to Church. But the rain hindered me so did odd things at home...To dinner after 3. So into the garden and had a tree dug up. Did business all the evening in the parlour. Supt about 9, up into Chamber after 12. So to prayers and to bed at 2.
December 2. It being rainy, son and I went with Will Hooper [a neighbour] in his Coach to Chelsey Church. Mr Stephens the Bishop of Winchester's Chaplain preacht....Went again to samne Church in that coach, Mr Shorthouse preacht... Called to see Dr King [the Rector] and staid with him and drank there.
Down to the Magpie in Chelsey where there was a meeting of justices &c, met about 8 or 10 of us. We settled and chose new Surveyors of the Highways and did other business... We dined there about 3 and broke up about 5... Home after 7 and undrest and read a sermon to family.'

O/S Co-ords:2635.7775
Source(s):

Chelsea