There was a house here from the end of the 16th century which was known as Holly Bush House but then became East End as which it lasted until 1884. One of the most fortunate tenants was Admiral Sir Charles Wager. When commanding four English ships in 1708 during the wars of the Spanish Succession, he attacked a Spanish fleet of 17 and sank the flag-ship which reputedly had £7 million of gold and silver on board from which the gallant admiral was able to save £100,000 for himself. A less fortunate tenant was Mrs Fitzherbert (1756-1837) who was a tenant here from 1808. She was a devout catholic who after being twice widowed attracted the then Prince of Wales and later George IV. They were 'married' on 15/12/1785 by the Prince's Chaplain, Robert Burt, who was the then vicar of St Mary's, Twickenham. The marriage was invalid in English law because of her religion and his royal status but George also denied that it had ever happened. George married Princess Caroline of Brunswick for her money when he came to the throne. The house had 16 acres of gardens including rose garden, orangery, orchard, fruit garden and sweeping lawns with many fine trees.

O/S Co-ords:2520.7646
Source(s):

A History of Fulham

Twickenham Past

This has been the site of: 'Stoutes Tenement' mentioned in manorial records of 1391; Albion House built at the end of the 17th century; Park House built in 1841 by Thomas Cubitt; and Henniker House built to house pauper children in 1889, before becoming incorporated in Lady Margaret School in the 20th century. Albion House was at one time a school. One of the pupils was Robert Banks Jenkinson (1770-1828) who was subsequently educated at Charterhouse and Oxford, inherited his father's title as Earl of Liverpool in 1808, and was Prime Minister of the UK from 1812 to 1827. The name of Henniker House was given in memory of Jane Livesey Henniker who was the first woman to be a member of the Fulham Board of Guardians which constructed the building.

O/S Co-ords:2514.7650
Source(s):

Chambers Biographical Dictionary

A History of Fulham