Chelsea

Cheyne Walk, Chelsea Old Church and Roper's Garden

London SW3

Chelsea Old Church and Statue of Sir Thomas More - photo courtesy S Worsfold

Cheyne Walk is alongside the River Thames and is full of 18th century houses wich have blue plaques on them commemorating their famous residents who have lived there.  The artist JMW Turner (who painted the "Fighting Temeraire", lived at No. 119, and Ian Fleming who wrote the James Bond books lived in Carlyle Mansions Cheyne Walk. 

Chelsea Old Church is also in Cheyne Walk (see photo above). The original church was built in Mediaeval times and it contains some marvellous Tudor memorials.  The most famous one is to Sir Thomas More, the statesman, scholar and saint, and Lord Chancellor to King Henry VIII . He was one of the most honest men who ever held the office of Lord Chancellor. He had principles and standards, and would not be bullied by the King to bend the rules so that Henry could cast aside his first wife Catherine of Aragon and marry his latest fancy Ann Boleyn.  Henry VIII retaliated by throwing Thomas More into the Tower and he had him killed by beheading.  A simple statue to Sir Thomas, who worshipped in this Church, stands outside. The church was badly damaged by the Nazi Blitz in WWII but has been restored.

Roper's Garden is a small park outside Chelsea Old Church named after Margaret Roper who was Sir Thomas More's daughter, and her husband Will Roper who wrote Thomas More's biography.  Margaret was educated by her father, and was one of the most famous women scholars of Tudor times.  She carried on her father's work with the poor (he gave away most of his family assets to the poor of London) and she continued his translations of famous works such as "Utopia".

Nearest Tube station: South Kensington then a 20 minute walk.

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