Streatham Park, London
Streatham Park by W.H. Brooke. Click
on image to enlarge.
Streatham Park, or Streatham Place, was built in 1730 by Ralph Thrale (1698-1758) on 89 acres of land bought from the local Lord of the Manor - the fourth Duke of Bedford. It was rumoured that the sale price was a ten-year supply of ale and porter for the Duke’s home, Woburn Abbey.
Location
The estate was on the edge of the common between Streatham and Tooting in a district which then was wholesome, green and rural.
The land is now bounded by Tooting Bec Common to the north, Thrale Road and West Road to the west, and the London to Brighton railway to the east. This area is still known as Streatham Park today. Google map of area »
Building and gardens
The house was in an extensive meadow and were separated from the adjoining heavily wooded park by a lake, large enough to accommodate a boat, and a drawbridge. The lake contained an island. The grounds were elegantly planted, with a two mile long circular gravel walk, shrubbery and a ha-ha (A walled ditch or sunken obstacle, such as a hedge, serving especially as a barrier to livestock without impairing the view or scenic appeal).
Streatham Park was occasionally called a villa, but was a 3 storey white stucco (originally brick) Georgian country mansion. The house consisted of a main central block with a pedimented front; two low extensions, with a balustrade on each side of it. At the rear were farm buildings, domestic offices, greenhouses, stables and an ice house . The kitchen gardens, Henry’s pride, were surrounded by fourteen feet high brick walls, with ample greenhouses.
Johnsonian connections
Johnson lived here in his own apartment with the Thrale's almost as part of their family from 1765.
On the occasion of James Boswell's first visit to Streatham Park on 6th October 1769, Boswell wrote …
“I found, at an elegant villa, six miles from town, every circumstances that can make society pleasing. Johnson, though quite at home, was yet looked upon with awe tempered by affection, and seemed to be equally the care of his host and hostess. I rejoiced at seeing him so happy.”
Streatham Park by Walford. Click on image to enlarge.
On 24 July 1771 Samuel Johnson asked the builders to leave about 100 loose bricks as…
“I can think of no better place for Chimistry in fair weather, than the pump side in the kitchen Garden”.
Between 1771-1773 Henry several improvements were made, including the addition of a library and several other rooms. In July 1773, Samuel Johnson’s new room - a bow windowed room above the library - was completed. There was also a summer house which was much loved by Samuel Johnson.
In August 1777 Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu wrote
“On Wednesday I dined at Streatham ... We had a most elegant dinner, and the best of all feasts, sense and wit and good humour. Mrs Thrale is a woman of very superior understanding, and very respectable as a Wife, a Mother, a friend and a Mistress of a Family… Mr Thrale has a fruit garden and a kitchen garden that may vie with the Hesperian Gardens for fruit and flowers”
The library and the Streatham worthies
The building of the library was completed by Henry Thrale in June 1773. The library formed part of a two-storey extension to Streatham Park, which comprised the library on the ground floor with a guest room for Johnson above. The library, which had a west-facing bow-front and three large windows, became the focal point of the Thrales's social life. It containing books purchased on Johnson's recommendation, and portraits by Reynolds of his notable friends, which was later known as the Streatham Worthies.
The 17 September 1823 sale catalogue shows that the Thrale’s Streatham library included the following ana texts: Parrhasiana (1701); St. Evremoniana (1701); Thuana (1711); Longuerana (1754); Carpenteriana (1724); Pithoeana et Colomesiana (1700); Segrasana (1723); Bolæana (1726); Naudae et Patiniana (1748); Arliquiniana [n.d.]; Gasconiana (1708); Chevraeana (1700); Poggiana (1720); Ducatiana (1738); Furetieriana (1696); Scaligerana (1695); Huetiana et Cannina (1724); Valesiana (1694); Matanasiana (1740); Omniana (Southey) (1812); Maintenoniana (1773); Maupertiusiana (1753). Hester Thrale's 1806 manuscript catalogue of books at Brynbella indicates that texts in the Thrale library also included: Menagiana; Sevigniana; Sorberiana; Santoliana; Perroniana and Buonaparteana.
Summer House at Streatham Park. Click on image to enlarge.
It was at Streatham that Fanny Burney wrote the verses of the Streatham Flasher in March 1779.
In early 1781 the Thrale's spent some time in Grosvenor Square. On 17 April 1782 - after Henry’s death - Hester returned to Streatham.
Hester and Gabriel Piozzi
Streatham Park was let until April 1790, after which Gabriel and Hester Piozzi returned. Much damage was done during the seven and a half years during which it had been rented. £2,000 was spent on restoration which was completed by the time of their seventh wedding anniversary when the Piozzis threw a grand party. The numbers at the party gives some concept of the size of the house. 36 people sat down to dine at a long table in the library, and 12 people were seated for dinner in the adjoining dressing room.
On 12 October 1790 Hester wrote of Streatham in Thraliana…
“On the Morning of this Day twenty seven years ago I first opened my Eyes in this House, to wch my Mother, myself, my Uncle & distant Relation the Rev: Thelwall Salusbury who had married us—were brought by Mr Thrale to reside. And what a House it was then! a little squeezed miserable Place with a wretched Court before it, & all these noble Elm Trees out upon the Common. Such Furniture too! I can but laugh when it crosses my Recollection. Yet how serious and how thankful should every Thought of my heart be, at the Remembrance that every Year has produced some singular Improvement, & that here I am, blessed with Health to enjoy all that has been done by both my Husbands for my Satisfaction and Comfort. Poor Piozzi has sure enough, a little over-done the Business; & put us into a little Distress for Money, to pay these last Bills: which amount to no less than two thousand Pounds.”
Streatham Park by William Ellis. Published 1 August 1792 by Harrison & Co. Click on image to enlarge.
On 3 January 1791, Hester wrote in Thraliana ...
“Streatham looks divinely itself; my present Master has been an admirable Steward for my past Mistresses, who I hope will approve his Works, tho’ I’m told they always censure mine. Our Nursery Garden, Shrubbery &c. is in the finest Order I ever yet saw them; & the House has an Appearance of Gayety never attempted in Mr Thrale’s Time. Constant Company, elegant, expensive and tasteful Furniture; splendid Dinners and fine Plantations. I am glad that Hanover Square house is let, or going to be Let to Lord Dumfries ; our Establishment here is too magnificent for the admission of other Expences, and if we are prudent even Bath must be given up for this Season, for one cannot do every thing; tho' by Dint of Management I see that a great Deal may be done with 3000£ o’Year. M r Piozzi is a capital Manager.”
On 27 January 1791, Hester wrote in Thraliana …
“We are going to Bath for the Season, most of our great Debts paid, & our Hearts at Ease: the Servants always plague one I think— but that's of small Consequence”.
In Thraliana on 17 September 1791, on Queeney's 27th birthday, Hester Thrale wrote of the improvements at Streatham since her birth 27 years previously in 1764,
“Here was then neither Lawn, nor pond, nor Shrubbery without doors; nor Eating Parlour, Drawing Room or Library within—but a little Brick House with four Walls, & there a Gate. The Park divided into Fields or Closes, & all the Pleasure Ground Common.”
In Thraliana on 17 April 1795, Hester curiously wrote that her bedchamber at Streatham was 31 of her steps wide and 28.5 long (remember that she was only 4 feet 11 inches tall), whilst Brynbella's was 26x26 steps.
In 1798 some land from Streatham Park was leased to Reynold Davies who built "Streatham University" a school for children under 12 years old. A further field was leased to him in 1802. His lease expired in 1828.
Tenants
Prime Minister Shelburne
In September 1782 Streatham was let to the Prime Minister of the day, Lord Shelburne, for three years. Hester Thrale and Dr Samuel Johnson left Streatham shortly afterwards on 7 October 1782. Shelburne became Prime Minister in July 1781. Shelborne used Streatham because his own home at Bowood in Wiltshire was too far away.
Peace with France (with whom Britain was then at war) was negotiated at the Thrale’s Streatham Park whilst Prime Minister Shelburne was in residence. Jeremy Beptham tells of meeting the Viscount de Vergennes, son of the French Prime Minister, in Henry Thrale’s library, and hearing him ask, “Are there any such people in England as authors?” while Sir Joshua Reynolds portraits of Samuel Johnson’s coterie looked down upon him as sufficient answer.
Shelburne resigned from Government in 1783, after which he had little use for Streatham, and he returned to Bowood. The following year he was created 1st Earl of Lansdowne.
Streatham Park by Augustus Butler. Click on image to enlarge.
Other tenants
Streatham Park was let the following year to Major-General Dalrymple for a year.
On 10 October 1786, Streatham was let to Thomas Steele Esq. of the HM Treasury for eighteen months, by John Cator (Henry Thrale’s executor) at an annual rental of £300 until April 1790.
In 1795 Streatham was let again. On 3 June 1798, Hester wrote in Thraliana that Streatham was let for another three years to Mr Giles of Mark Lane Tower Street, a Cornfactor for £550 per year. Mr Giles had the house until May 1807 when he was unwilling to pay the increased rent Mrs. Piozzi then asked, to offset the new war taxes. During Mr Giles tenure, the Piozzis regularly stayed with Mr Giles at Streatham during the weekend.
1822 plan of Streatham Park. Click on plan to enlarge.
In 1807 Mr. Gillon let Streatham Park to Mr Abram Atkins who leased the house for seven years at £500 per year, plus all the taxes except the property tax. At the end of this lease there was so much dilapidation that extensive repairs were necessary.
The house was then leased to Count Lieven the Russian Ambassador for three years at £600 per year. He cancelled his lease on 14 March 1815, because he could no longer afford the rent of £600 per annum.
Decline
The famous portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds in the library were sold by Hester Thrale in May 1816. Later that year it was leased to Mr. Elliott who rented the unfurnished house at a rent of £260 a year.
Just before she died in 1821, Hester wrote to Madame Fanny D'Arblay 1752-1840 (née Burney), as follows…
“You would not know poor Streatham Park, I have been forced to dismantle and forsake it; the expenses of the present time treble those of the moments you remember; and since giving up my Welsh estate my income is greatly diminished. I fancy this will be my last residence in the world, meaning Clifton, not Sion Row, where I only live until my house in the Crescent is ready for me ... The village of Streatham is full of rich inhabitants, the common much the worse for being spotted about with houses.”
The contents of the library were sold in Manchester on 17 September 1823.
Streatham Park was demolished and the materials sold in May 1863. The site of the estate was replaced by a residential area of housing known as Streatham Park. In 1946 the houses came under the control of the London County Council.
