Streatham Park summer house
Summer House at Streatham Park. Click on image to enlarge.
Streatham Park featured a summer house loved by Samuel Johnson.
On Queeney's 16th birthday in 1780, Hester Thrale wrote in Thraliana …
“It is this day given me by God to see my first born offspring, my dear Hester,—sixteen Years old— virtuous in Heart, prudent in Behaviour, pleasing in Person, & accomplished in Knowledge……
We always have a Dance on her Birthday for the Servants, and they shall have it this Year too—in spite of past Sorrows. Mr Johnson’s Birthday is the next day to hers, & we keep them together, &. fill the Summer House with Food, Fiddles &c, today being Sunday, the Balls must be tomorrow & Tuesday. Sure nothing will ever happen that will keep me from rejoycing on the 17: & 18 : of September, the Birthdays of my Daughter & my Friend.,—.”
The Times newspaper. 25 September 1968. Click on image to enlarge.
The summer house was moved to Ashgrove in Knockholt, Kent in 1826 by Susannah Arabella Thrale, who died on 5 November 1858 aged 88 and was buried in Knockholt Church. In 1962 it was bought in a tumbledown condition by Mr. W.H. Wells who presented it to London County Council.
After restoration, the summer house was relocated to Kenwood House in 1968. I believe - but am not absolutely certain - that the summer house was destroyed by fire in the last few years. Source: The Times newspaper 5 May 1984.
