This has an unusual setting here in the parish church of St Mary-at-Lambeth at the main gates of Lambeth Palace. A justification for this museum being on this site is that the two John Tradescants (the Elder 1570 to about 1638 and the Younger 1608-62) rest here having lived locally. The Elder had been head gardener for the Earls of Salisbury and then, until 1638, was in that position for Charles I. The Younger took over from his father in 1638 and remained there whilst Charles had a head. They were both considerable travellers and plant collectors. The Elder included Arctic Russia and the younger the State of Virginia in their wanderings. To display the results of his collecting the Elder created the Musaeum Tradescatianum hereabouts in Lambeth. That is claimed to have been the first museum open to the public (possibly in the UK). The younger was reportedly tricked when drunk into bequeathing the Musaeum to Elias Ashmole (1617-92) who presented it as the foundation of Oxford's Ashmoleum Museum. The Trandescants' sarcophagus, which was erected by the widow of the Younger in 1662, is east of the church. The reliefs on the sides, recarved by C.P. White in 1853, are considered remarkable designs and to be based on drawings now in the Pepys Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge. The present museum displays have been created by the Trandescant Trust which recovered the disused church in 1979. The plants presented here are the species and varieties that the Tradescants collected and introduced to the country. There are also gardening tools from all periods.
The church and the memorials it contains present other items of interest. The tower was rebuilt in 1370 and is characteristic of the late London medieval style of construction. Large parts of the body of the church date from the 1370's but, as well as various repairs and building over the centuries, there was major restoration work and additions by P.C. Hardwick in 1851-2.
The memorials include an item that might be unique in the London area which is an immersion font installed in memory of Archbishop Benson who died in 1896. One of the stained glass windows is devoted to the story of a medieval pedlar and his dog. This is supposedly because: the dog enriched his master by the discovery of local treasure trove; and, as well as presenting an acre of land to the parish, the one-time pedlar required the memorial window which had to include the dog.
Besides the Trandescants' sarcophagus the graveyard contains that of William Bligh (1754 to about 1817) unfairly renowned as Bligh of the Bounty. He was at one time, briefly resident at 100 Lambeth Road. His career in the Royal Navy was long, from 1769-1811, and considerably successful. He was commended by Nelson for his command of the Glutten during the battle of Copenhagen in 1801. His survival powers were not only demonstrated by his accomplishment of the 4,000 mile open-boat trip from Tahiti to Timor after Fletcher Christian had cast him adrift 28/04/1789. He also entered an honourable retirement, appointed admiral, after being imprisoned by mutinous soldiers from 1808-10 in New South Wales whilst he was governor.

O/S Co-ords:3061.7901
Source(s):

Chambers Biographical Dictionary

The Buildings of England - London 2: South

Westminster Abbey - Official Guide