The Royal Hospital and Home for Incurables here on West Hill was once Melrose Hall. The first building was for a lady Rivers and then in the estate of Lord Spencer's Wimbledon Park was called West Hill. That was sold in the late 18th Century to John Arthur Rucker. His son Daniel was presented with a copy of 'The Lady of the Lake' by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) at Scott's home, Melrose hall, Roxburghshire. So he renamed his inherited home Melrose Hall. Via a Lord Stafford, who was termed 'a leviathan of wealth', it came into the possession of a Mr Beaumont who was requested to let it to an unusual visitor.

Edward VII (1841-1910) when Prince of Wales was entertained, on a trip to the Middle East, by Muhammad Sa'id in Alexandria and the Prince invited Sa'id to visit the United Kingdom to attend The Great Exhibition of 1851. The visit was fraught with diplomatic niceties. Muhammad Sa'id had achieved the title of wali or governor of Egypt. This was the position of a provincial governor in the Ottoman Empire and the Sultan, with whom the British wished to maintain good relations, was concerned to be assured that the treatment of Sa'id should not elevate his status. So, this accommodation was arranged for Sa'id.

Sa'id had expected a palace, as had been provided for the Prince of Wales in Alexandria, and he arrived on a wet evening at this house on West Hill, Putney. He did not like it. After two nights he, with one companion, took a cab to his yacht in Woolwich and stayed there instead. The British servants in the house were not able to cope with the entourage and walked out. The neighbours also complained about the household which had, on Sa'id's arrival included 80 slaves.

O/S Co-ords:2420.7410
Source(s):

The Wandsworth Historian