The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-03-29

zone of the most interesting
streets in the whole world" Be that
as it may, says Christian Science
Monitor, many who wander far afield
in search of the quaint and old-fash-
toned might with profit wander down 1t
as it is today, though most Of the land
marks have disappeared, and rumor
says that many Of the old houses left
are soon to make way for the broad
road that is to take the place of what
was once known as Church lane-the
only street in Chelsea.
Starting at the Queens Elm, some
what grotesque reminder of the ia
nous tree under which Queen Eliza
beth took shelter from storm, and in
royal language commanded, "Let this
henceforth be called the Queens tree"
and also the site of the Chelsea turn
pike where, in 1913, a court of guard
was established when the common
council of London, alarmed by the
near approach of the kings forces,
ordered London to be fOrtified,"-it
stretches like a link between the past
and the present, to the Kings road,
once thu Kings highway, where it cuts
through and narrOws down to the
veritable lane that once it was, at the
corner of which the old church stands
guard by the waters Of the Thames.
Fine Old Houses.
Though little more than slum, this
end of Church street is full Of interest,
for there are many old Georgian
houses left, and some red roofs in JUS
tice walk speak Of when Fielding,
the novelist, dwelt here, while Law
renee street near by reminds one OF
how often DR.. johnson, in his broad
brimmed hat, must have wendell his
way along this very spot, followed by
his housekeeper, bearing the covered
basket, on his way to the china fac
tory.
A little farther on stands the rec
tory, one of the finest old houses Of
which Chelsea boasts. Here, as far
back as 1894, DR.. John King, rector
on Chelsea. speaking of it as "A sweet
and pleasant village situated on the
north side Of the noble river Thames
next to Westminster" and here Eliza
beth Tudor planted mulberry tree.
under the boughs of which the Duke
Of Wellington often used to sit with
his brother, the rector.
Almost opposite to the rectory is
tow-roofed Georgian building, now
used as motor works, once the stables
Of the old Chelsea stage coaches, while
beyond, where picture palace stands.
| Is said to be the site Of the ancient
| village stocks.
Has Character All Its Own.
Crossing the Kings road, we come
to the more fashionable part Of Church
street. or to speak accurately, the part
which the well-meant efforts Of many
architects have failed to make fash
lonable-for despite some fine red
buildings Of a modern character, and
rows of sedate houses in such rural
sounding spots as Mulberry walk, and
The Vale, Church street remains what
It always has been, "a little bit of
everything and all sorts, belonging
neither to a time nor period, but
possessing a character all its own"
There are little houses and big houses
In Church street, short houses and
tall houses, new houses trying to look
Did, and old houses trying to look new.
little shops, and large gardens in
whose fine old trees the song Of the
thrush and the starting is heard.
Truly, for q London street, Church
street is a veritable home Of birds,
and perhaps it is that which helps to
give it the old world charm of which
neither time nor change has entirely
robbed 1t.
Church street re-echoes to the foot
steps Of many Of the great ones of
history. Dr. Atterbury, distinguished
| In wit, learning and poetical talent,
dwelt here in 1895; DR.. Arbuthnot,
Queen Anne's witty physician, hid a
house at the lower end, and was often
visited by his friends, Swift, Pope, and
the poet Gay. Sir John Shadwell. son
If the poet laureate, was also resi-
lent. and Swift, who lodged here for
n time, comments IN his journal to
Stella on his zone silly room, coarse
sheets, and awkward bed"