Courtesy of Wikipedia: Author Abravelle. 26 February 2021.
On Cheyne Walk facing the river, lies a truly magnificent grade II listed 15th century mansion. Now privately owned, it is the only surviving example of a medieval merchant house in London. While that’s quite impressive, it’s not actually the secret.
Originally built in 1466 for Sir John Crosby a wealthy city wool merchant, occupants read like a who’s who of English history.
They’ve included Richard III, the King who was blamed for the murder of the two Princes in the Tower, Catherine of Aragon the first Queen of Henry VIII, Thomas More and Sir Walter Raleigh. Shakespeare is also known to have been a guest here.
Guessed the secret yet? While the building looks like it’s always been a Chelsea resident, it’s actually a relative newcomer. Its original location was along Bishopsgate in the City and was moved here, stone by stone in 1910.
Why? The building had fallen into disrepair and was threatened with demolition leading to a campaign to save it. The answer was to move it about five miles to the west to its new home along Cheyne Walk, where it has undergone sympathetic refurbishment and now look truly splendid. The city’s loss, Chelsea’s gain I’d say.