Lely was a favoured portraitist of both Oliver Cromwell and Charles II and a very rich man. His Kew house (sited near the present Herbarium) was only one of those that he owned. Pepys describes 'a mighty proud man and full of state'. He was wealthy enough to be lending money to Charles II. He left the house to his only son but this was complicated by the fact that the lad was illegitimate and a minor when Sir Peter died. The difficulties were overcome by the intervntion of the current Lord of Richmond Manor.

O/S Co-ords:1875.7764
Source(s):

Kew Past

Meyer (1735 - 1789) was a member of a community of artists and musicians about Kew Green attending on the court's of George II and III. He was commissioned to paint miniatures for Queen Charlotte and George III. That of Sir William Chambers, who had major commissions from both George and his mother, is in the National Portrait Gallery. His home is on the site of the house of Sir Peter Lely. That was inherited by Lely's son who was a prime mover in the building of St Anne's church on Kew Green where Mayer is buried.

O/S Co-ords:1875.7764
Source(s):

Kew Past