Cheyne Walk
George Seymour
c. 1882-84
Source: Watson, “The Lower Thames — I,” 485
Other images of Cheyne Walk
Image capture and formatting by George P. Landow.
Just beyond the embankment lie the tall and venerable and time-stained houses of Cheyne Walk. The place has the air of the Eighteenth Century still. Alterations of some of the houses, the building of stone balconies, the construction of baywindows, have not deprived it of its former appearance of old-fashioned but dignified respectability. It seems odd, almost, that a place associated with the genius of so many generations should be so neat and prim, so suggestive of the affected exelusiveness of moderate station. Cheyne Walk appears to have natural associations with Chelsea porcelain. It seems altogether appropriate that china shepherds and shepherdesses should have come from a neighbourhood like this. If the doors of one of these serene old houses were to swing open, and there came therefrom a procession of beaux and fair ladies dressed in the fashions of Watteau, who could affect to be surprised at the circumstance. In connection with Cheyne Walk there presents itself the rolling figure of Dr. Johnson, hurrying down to the factory to test the worth of some new ideas in porcelain manufacture, and then coming back slowly and discontentedly, because tlie vase he had modelled on his novel principles had fallen to pieces in the oven. This row of old houses, with its stolid High-Dutch impressiveness, is among the most illustrious sights in all England. With what greatness has it not been associated? by what genius is it not made venerable still? But to this generation even Cheyne Walk must yield precedence to Cheyne Eow. This is a dull, heavy, unpicturesque street, only the end of which can be seen from the river. One wonders how Carlyle could have been content to live in such a house as No. 5 for over forty years, or how Maclise, his neighbour, could endure to look for day after day on nothing but a high brick wall. On Carlyle's contentment, however, we are permitted to cast doubts. Has not Harriet Martineau told us how one day he sallied forth on a lean pony, with a map of the world in his pocket, in search of a new home?
The houses Watson loathed: Left: Carlyle's home at no. 5. and two large, very beautiful buildings by Richard Norman Shaw: The Clock House and Swan House. [Click on these images for larger pictures.]
At the end of Cheyne Walk there has lately arisen a stupendous pile of red -brick mansions. They are very ambitious, and have a studied quaintness. Nevertheless they contrast but ill with the plainer beauties of the houses of an earlier century. They have also the demerit of concealing the finest view of Chelsea Hospital, which may never more be seen from the river to the same advantage as of old.
Bibliography
Watson, Aaron. “The Lower Thames — I.” The Magazine of Art. 6 (1882-83): 485-92. Internet Archive version of a copy in the University of Toronto Library. Web. 15 November 2014
Last modified 15 November 2014