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St Stephen's Church, Rochester Row

We had been looking forward to member John Turpin's talk and visit to St Stephen's on 4th April, but it's back in the diary for 2021 !

St Stephen's Church, Rochester Row

Spring-Summer 2020 Newsletter

Spring-Summer 2020 Newsletter

Thorney Tales (19) Revd James Palmer and Palmer's Village

If you chanced to visit James Palmer at St Bride’s Church in Fleet Street in the early 17th century you may have found him asleep in the steeple. This was not because he was eccentric but because as vicars go he was very frugal - and Thorney Island was the beneficiary of this.

The Revd James Palmer was born in 1585 and baptised in St Margaret’s Church where he is also buried. At the north end of the church there is a rather blackened memorial to him as a priest and philanthropist, praising him as “a most pious & charitable man”. His priesthood was mainly spent at St Bride’s but he gave regular sermons on Thorney Island including to both houses of Parliament.

His philanthropy is still remembered today by Palmer Street which runs from Victoria Street by the side of the Albert pub to Caxton Street - close to the almshouses he established for 12 elderly men and women and the school for 20 pupils (boys). They occupied the land between today’s Palmer Street and Christchurch Gardens (currently in the course of reconstruction). The school, known as the Blackcoat school - not to be confused with the Bluecoat, Greencoat or Browncoat schools - was one of the founding parents of today's Westminster City School. (For more on the history of local schools, please see articles in our Newsletters Autumn/Winter 2018 and Spring/Summer 2019)

To ensure the survival of his endowment, the Revd Palmer established an extraordinary venture called Palmer’s Village nearby (roughly between Victoria Street and Howick Place - see map) which has been described as a recreation of Merrie England complete with pub, village green, blacksmith and even a maypole. It was all the more remarkable for being encroached on one side by the squalid deprivation of what came to be known as the Devil’s Acre (between Christchurch Gardens and the Abbey) and on the other by the swamps of Tothill Fields. Palmer’s Village lasted until Victoria Street blasted its way through in the mid 19th century.

James Palmer’s almshouses eventually merged with others including one set up by Emery Hill (who also has a thoroughfare named after him, Emery Hill Street). Both charities were incorporated in Westminster Almshouses which can be seen on the corner of Rochester Row and Emery Hill Street. Looking some way up the wall, you will see memorials to them both. A fitting reminder of how the philanthropy of a bygone age is still producing benefits today.

Thorney Tales (19) Revd James Palmer and Palmer's Village

Workshop by Jens Jakobsen, Master Florist at the Blewcoat School - March 2020

A lucky group of members spent a few hours in the 300 year old schoolroom of the Blewcoat School and treated to a workshop by Jens Jakobsen. Jens has created a beautiful garden around the building which has become a local treasure. Sadly the occupier of the schoolroom, Ian Stuart wedding dresses, has left and a new tenant is being sought by The National Trust. We do hope the new tenant can share the building and Jens can remain in the basement where he runs his acclaimed florestry business and operates a shop. To read further about the workshop, see page 7 in our Spring/Summer 2020 Newsletter (to be published soon) and do pass by to admire his beautiful seasonal creations.

Workshop by Jens Jakobsen, Master Florist at the Blewcoat School - March 2020

Ignatius Sancho, Short Talk by Victor Keegan - February 2020

This was the 2nd of our 35th anniversary series of short talks and we were treated to Victor Keegan's personal research into the unique and intriguing C18th Thorney Island resident, Ignatius Sancho.

Reading like a guest list to a royal garden party, Victor highlighted the numerous aristocrats of the day who subscribed to a book of Sancho's letters published after his death by Joseph Jekyll. The book became a bestseller which was quite extraordinary at the time for the memoirs of a black man born on a slave ship whose mother died of disease and his father from suicide. At 2 years old he was given to 3 sisters in Greenwich whose treatment and regard for him is not very complimentary and it was they who named him Sancho.

It was not until he met the Duke of Montague who took him under his wing, he learned to read and write and he flourished as a thinker of the day. He worked for the Montague family for many years until after the Duke's death and with money from the family, he moved to Charles Street, now King Charles Street (between the Treasury and the Foreign Office) and opened a small grocery shop. Married at St Margaret's Westminster, he lived with his wife and 6 children, not all of whom survived. They would have walked over Westminster Bridge, the only bridge in the area and strolled through St James's Park.

He had many important acquaintances and was a prolific letter writer to politicians, newspapers and reknowned thinkers and authors of the day. He urged them to talk and write about the abhorrant slave trade. He also wrote poems, plays and music. It was clear that this extraordinary man had a unique life in London at a dangerous time, at the height of the trade, when he could have been press-ganged, kidnapped or deported at any time. Clearly highly regarded, his portrait was painted by Thomas Gainsborough in 1768 and he is buried in what is now Christchurch Gardens and has no known decendents.

Ignatius Sancho, Short Talk by Victor Keegan - February 2020

Christchurch Gardens Reconstruction Short Talk - January 2020

Illustrative CGI used for previous public consultation in June 2018

We were delighted to welcome David Beamont, from Victoria Business Improvement District (BID), to launch our 35th birthday events and short talk series, fulfilling our plan to use our Archives for talks on planning and history.

The reconstruction of Christchurch Gardens in Victoria Street is now in full swing. The design and planning were extensive due to this very historic site including arrangements in the event of archaeology discoveries. Dating back to the 17th century this was the burial ground of St Margaret's, Westminster, prior to the construction of Christ Church in the 19th century, which was destroyed in the Blitz. Among those buried there are Captain Blood, who famously tried and nearly succeeded in stealing the Crown Jewels, and Ignatius Sancho who was born on a slave ship but educated himself to become a distinguished man of letters in Georgian England (more about Sancho in our February Talk).

David explained how with great reluctance they cut down a number of plane trees which prevented sufficient light from reaching the grass and gardens. New flowering trees are being planted and although it will be a long time before they have the same impact on carbon reduction, most people accepted that this had to be done if the gardens were to be made attractive for visitors and increase bio-diversity. New lighting and benches are being installed together with a new paved performance area. Flower beds would be re-installed with well chosen shrubs and permeable resin pathways would further aid drainage. The Purcell sculpture will be moved slightly to enhance its visability, the Suffragettes sculpture will stay where it is and then the back wall, against the ugly BT building, will be covered in flowering jasmin. To remember the history of the site, we have contributed to the content of a series of information noticeboards which are displayed together with a historical map.

With thanks to David and his team and we look forward to the new gardens opening in late summer.

Christchurch Gardens Reconstruction Short Talk - January 2020

Christmas Party 2019

Our Christmas Party at the Rochester by Blue Orchid Hotels was loud and fun with the South Westminster Community Choir and accompanying brass section. Many thanks to all for a great evening.

Richmond House, Whitehall - The Northern Parliamentary Estate

The Government has just applied for planning permission to radically alter their Northern Estate. They have been working towards the Restoration and Renewal project in the Palace of Westminster and the full decant of all the people who work there into the various buildings in the ‘northern estate’ – the block that contains Portcullis House at the south end and Richmond House at the north. It has been decided that the two parliament chambers will move, the House of Lords into the Queen Elizabeth ll Conference Centre, and the House of Commons into a temporary replica chamber. It is claimed that the only possible site can be achieved by demolishing the interior and rear façade of Richmond house.

SAVE Britain’s Heritage is leading a campaign to save the whole of Richmond House from demolition – see https://www.savebritainsheritage.org/campaigns/item/550/Richmond-House-a-building-worth-fighting-for

We will also object strongly to the demolition of the interior of Richmond House. Facadism might be acceptable in certain circumstances, but for the sake of a temporary building it should not be countenanced. We will also object to the alterations to the buildings facing Whitehall and encourage a more sympathetic treatment of the various gateways to the Estate than currently exists.

The Planning application can now be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/wqryu5t

It would be good if as many people as possible make their views known as a Comment through this web page.

20mph Throughout Westminster ? YES !

UPDATE ! FROM MONDAY 2nd MARCH, ALL CENTRAL LONDON ROADS WILL BE 20mph

PREVIOUSLY: Westminster are seeking opinions on a plan to restrict all their roads to 20mph. There are already some areas, mainly near schools, that already have 20mph restrictions. And there are other areas, for instance round Vincent Square, that have applied to become 20mph areas. The Council has had positive feedback on the experimental areas so far.

It may be that the decision is made for them because TfL are contemplating a 20mph speed limit on all their roads in central London. If this goes ahead it would be ridiculous for the main roads in Westminster to have 20mph speed limits while the side streets are 30mph. If TfL decides on 20mph then the whole of Westminster would become a 20mph zone.

Whatever happens on the TfL roads, WCC would still like to know people's views on this question. There have been some public consultations, but it is also possible to make your views known on-line at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/20mph. Click on Take the Survey.

Duck Island Volunteer Project

ONGOING ! This exciting collaboration with St James's Park is calling for volunteers from TTIS to help restore and revitalise Duck Island. If you are interested in helping clear brambles and paths, raking and tidying the meadow area and lake edges, making log and deadwood piles, sorting and documenting artefacts in the barn or helping in the cottage garden, please get in touch to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or post us a note to TTIS, 10 Old Pye Street, SW1P 2DG.

This is a really fun project and we are working one Wednesday a month, from 10am to 2pm. Next dates: 18th Dec '19, 15th Jan '20, 19th Feb, 18th March, 15th April and 20th May 2020.

Go directly to The Royal Parks volunteering website to register CLICK HERE Then book yourself in on the specific dates under "TRP Conservation Volunteers"