The house built here by Sir John Danvers on 'the lands called Moorhouse, in Chelsea' in 1622 was demolished in 1716. Sir John lived here for just 5 years with his first wife, Magdalen Herbert a widow with 10 children, but then with two further wives. As well as being, reportedly, an amazingly handsome man he was also a capable architect and gardener and the house and its gardens were much admired. One of his friends was John Aubrey (1626-97) described as a renowned antiquary and folklorist. He commended the house as 'very elegant and ingeniose' which because of its situation with the main area of gardens to the north and a slope to the river on the south allowed 'as you sit at dinner in the Hall you are entertained with two delightful Vistos'. A particularly nice feature of the gardens that he describes is that there were walks, which had hyssop and thyme in the borders, allowing Sir John to brush his beaver hat through as he passed 'which did perfume it with its natural essence and would last a morning or longer'. The house was let from 1660 to 1685 to John Lord Robartes, later Earl of Radnor, who despite having fought for Cromwell was able to entertain Charles II within months of the restoration. Samuel Pepys was also a visitor and 'found it to be the prettiest contrived house that I ever saw in my life'.

O/S Co-ords:2700.7764
Source(s):

Chambers Biographical Dictionary

Chelsea