On the Petersham road are the mansions of the Ladies CHAP. II. H. and E. Ashburnham, called Nightingale cottage, having a lawn and shrubberies tastefully laid out; the Hon. Captain Clifford, R. N. the seat of the late duchess of Devonshire, Pertersham meadows; her Grace the duchess of Buccleuch, whose lawn reaches the water's edge, and by a subterraneous passage underneath the road is connected with the offices on the opposite side, and the pleasure grounds, which extend nearly to the summit of the hill; Mrs. Bland; Mrs. Watkins; Robert Smith, Esq.; Mrs. Harrison; Enos Smith, Esq.; J. C. Symes, Esq., Riverdale cottage; Rt. Hon. Lady Ann Bingham; the Misses Fanshaw; Miss Budd, Gothic house, an establishment for young ladies of high respectability; the scholastic establishments of the Rev. Robert Gream, A. M. and the Rev. W. Bewsher, D.D.; Samuel Paynter, Esq. whose mansion was built by the modern Terence, the late George Colman, Esq. on the site where Queen Elizabeth's almshouses formerly stood, and was afterwards the residence of Sir Drummond Smith, and the countess of Kingston it has undergone considerable improvement by the present proprietor, and is decorated with some valuable paintings. The lawn has a delightful aspect from the river, looking as it does upon the Twickenham meadows. Indeed it is the abode of rural elegance and enjoyment* The bridge forms a very prominent object at Rich- Bridge. mond. The first stone was laid Aug. 23, 1774, and it was finished December, 1777. Messrs. Paine and Couse were the architects, and it does credit to their skill and activity. The width of the river here is three hundred • Evans's Richmond, p. 193. BOOK V feet; the length of the bridge is of that extent, exclusive of the causeways; it consists of five stone arches, the central being twenty-five feet high and sixty wide. The expense amounted to about £26,000, of which sum the whole, excepting £1000, was raised upon tontine shares of £100 each. The traffic over the bridge has been very considerably increased since the reduction of the tolls, which are now not one fourth of the original impost, besides the extra Sunday tolls being totally abolished. In passing over the bridge, especially when on horseback or in an open carriage, the view on either side possesses singular beauty; that towards the hill has a grandeur and richness not to be exceeded. The mansions, mingled with lofty trees, and graced with sloping gardens, are set off by all the garniture of rural scenery "Mark where yon beauteous bridge with modest pride Its polish'd surface of unsullied white Or commerce, that upholds the wealthy thane, MAURICE. Near the bridge is a neat obelisk.* CHAP. II. wells. Richmond has some mineral springs; there is one in Springs. the New Park, at the summit of the hill, which, running down into the adjacent vale, exhibits indications of an ochreous description. This, slight as it may appear, might be gathered into a basin, and become subservient to the health of visitants. One respectable medical gentleman has mentioned that he has used with advantage the water in its present scattered dispersion. Its metallic scurf must have attracted notice, and it only wants some spirited individuals to concentrate its streams, in order to subserve the purposes of restoration. About a century ago there was a place of entertain- Richmond ment, much frequented, called Richmond wells. The following advertisement is copied from a journal called the Craftesman, of June 11, 1730.-" This is to give notice to all gentlemen and ladies, that Richmond wells are now open, and continue so daily; where attendance is given for gentlemen and ladies that have a mind either to raffle for gold chains, equipages, or any other curious toys, and fine old china; and likewise play at quadrille, ombre, whist, &c. And on Saturdays and Mondays during the summer season, there will be dancing as usual." These wells were situate in the gardens on the hill, now the property of the earl of Cardigan. "Upon it are the following distances, which must furnish the stranger with acceptable information:— To Hyde Park Corner, eight miles three quarters.-Westminster bridge, ten miles three quarters.-Blackfriars bridge, eleven miles. -London bridge, eleven miles one quarter.-Hampton, four miles.Sunbury, 6 miles one quarter.-Walton, seven miles three quarters.Chertsey, ten miles and a half.-Hounslow, three miles three quarters. Staines, nine miles and a half.—Colnbrook, ten miles three quarters.-Windsor, fifteen miles three quarters."-Evans's Richmond. BOOK VI It is wonderful how, in the course of a century, places rise into notice, or fall into disuse, according to the whim or caprice of the existing generation. At Bath, the story of the leprous sow and her pigs wallowing in the warm springs of that far famed valley, gave rise to its long and permanent celebrity! And at Tunbridge Wells, the next most ancient watering place, a certain nobleman in a state of extreme debility, withdrawing from the enervating luxuries of a court, stumbled on a chalybeate, which restored him to his wonted health, and consigned over the lucky spot to the admiration of succeeding generations. Spring water at Richmond is obtained from the inmost recesses of the earth, by boring to a considerable depth, an operation suggested by the modern discoveries of philosophy. The marquis of Stafford and the duchess of Buccleuch adopted this method, which was attended with success; it was done under the direction of Mr. Selfe, of Kingston, assisted by Whiteland, of Richmond. In the grounds of the marquis of Stafford, which now belong to the marquis of Lansdowne, the depth from the surface of the earth was three hundred - and twenty-six feet before water was found, the last twenty-six feet being through a stratum of chalk and flint. The water rose fifteen feet, and ran twelve gallons in a minute from a bore of three inches in diameter A small, simple, but curious self-acting engine, erected by Mr. Euston, of the Strand, raises the water one hundred and ten feet perpendicular at the distance of one hundred and forty yards from the engine to the house, having a reservoir on the top, which is always supplied. A tank in the garden, containing ninety-six hogsheads, is ever full. At the duchess of Buccleuch's also, nearer the river, at a lower elevation by twenty feet, the depth was two CHAP. II. hundred and fifty-four feet, through a hard blue clay, and rose twenty-six feet perpendicular above the surface, running eight gallons in a minute. The water at both places having been analyzed by Mr. Henry Hopwood, perpetual pupil of the Royal Institution, Albemarle-street, and assistant to his father, a respectable chemist, near the bridge, Richmond, was found free from every metallic substance, and perfectly salubrious. It likewise underwent the examination of that late eminent physician, Dr. Baillie, who coincided in the above account. Richmond green, surrounded by lofty elms, lies at the Green. bottom of the town, and is a square or parallelogram almost as large as Lincoln's inn fields. It is a scene of much life in the summer season. Here matches at cricket are frequently played by the inhabitants and those of the neighbouring towns; and the game of bowls also is much practised in the summer evenings, a rural pastime of no mean celebrity. One side of the green forms a noble walk, commonly called the High walk, parted by a slight iron fence and kept in good order. Near the centre of the green stands also a small but neatly erected dial. Penkethman, of facetious memory, opened a new Theatre. theatre at Richmond, June 6, 1719, and spoke a humorous prologue on the occasion, alluding to the place having been formerly a hovel for asses! This theatre was probably the same that stood on the declivity of the hill, and was opened in the year 1756 by Theophilus Cibber, who, to avoid the penalties of the act of par liament against unlicensed comedians advertised it as a cephalic snuff warehouse! The General Advertiser, July 8, 1756, thus announces it-" Cibber and Co. |