Petersham History

PETERSHAM, a parish in the first division of Kingston hundred, county Surrey, 2 miles N. of Kingston, and 12 S.W. of London. It is situated on the southern bank of the river Thames. The village, which is of small extent, may be considered a suburb of Richmond. Petersham derives its name from having belonged to the abbey of St. Peter's, Chertsey. It gives the title of viscount to the family of Stanhope, Earls of Harrington.

The neighbourhood is sheltered from the N. and E. winds by Richmond Hill. A considerable part of the land is cultivated as gardens and lawns, and the remainder is in woods and parks, chiefly the property of the crown. William IV., when Duke of Clarence, had a house here, which was subsequently pulled down and the grounds thrown into Richmond Park.

The living is a curacy annexed to the vicarage of Kew, in the diocese of Winchester. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is supposed to have been erected about the commencement of the 16th century, and subsequently enlarged. It contains several tombs of great antiquity, and is the burial-place of the Duchess of Lauderdale. The register dates from 1574. The parochial charities produce about £7 per annum. There is a parochial school for both sexes.

Ham House is supposed to have been erected by James I. in 1610, as a residence for his son Henry Prince of Wales, and was considerably altered by Charles II. In the centre is a hall surrounded with an open balustrade of walnut wood, and embellished with military trophies. It was the place where the "Cabal" ministry met, and where the celebrated John Duke of Argyll, was born. The ceilings are painted by Verrio, and the room contains a library and many rare old paintings and portraits.

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003] These pages are intended for personal use only, so please respect the conditions of use.