Roehampton

ROEHAMPTON, a hamlet, in the parish of Putney, union of Wandsworth and Clapham, W. division of the hundred of Brixton, E. division of Surrey, 5½ miles (S. W. by W.) from London; containing 595 inhabitants. It is pleasantly situated at the western extremity of Putney Heath, and comprises several handsome villas of the nobility and gentry. Roehampton Grove, formerly called Putney Park, in the reign of Charles I. belonged to the Earl of Portland, and was subsequently the property of Christiana, Countess of Devonshire, a lady distinguished for her talents, and said to have had some share in the restoration of Charles II., who frequently visited her. A chapel attached to the mansion, erected by Lord Portland, was taken down in 1777, by Thomas Parker, Esq., then proprietor of Roehampton Grove, who built a new chapel at a short distance. The district church of the Holy Trinity was consecrated in February 1843; it is in the early English style, and is built of Kentish ragstone, with ornamental parts of Bath stone. The living is in the gift of the Bishop of London. This place suffered great injury from a violent hurricane which occurred October 15th, 1780, and extended from Lord Besborough's mansion to Hammersmith, tearing up trees in its course, and driving them to a considerable distance; some buildings were unroofed, and a windmill was thrown down.