Streatham

Streatham Park was the home of Mr and Mrs Henry Thrale. It was 6 miles from London and was on the edge of the common between Streatham and Tooting in a green, rural area. 89 acres of land were bought from the Duke of Bedford (for a 10 year supply of ale and porter from the Thrale’s brewery, it was said) by Mr Thrale’s father in 1730.

On 12 October, 1763 Mr Thrale brought his 22 year old bride Hester Salusbury to live at Streatham. She recounted her view of it some years later:

“what a House it was then! A little squeezed miserable Place with a wretched Court before it, and all these noble Elm Trees out upon the Common…”

Over the years it was added to as the family and income increased. In its heyday, the house was set in a park of 109 acres with kitchen gardens surrounded by 14 feet high brick walls, farm buildings, domestic offices, greenhouses, stables and an ice-house. An extensive meadow was created which was separated from the adjoining heavily wooded park by a three acre lake. An island in the lake housed a boat and drawbridge. A two mile circular gravel walk was bordered by shrubbery and a ha-ha. A sweeping drive of a hundred yards led from the lodge gates to the house. How it had grown in size and status.

The wooden summerhouse loved by Dr. Johnson

It was here that Mr and Mrs Thrale brought up the surviving 5 of their 11 children (though of the 5, the only boy, Harry, died when he was 9 years old) and entertained their intellectual and artistic friends including Fanny Burney, her father, Doctor Johnson, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Edmund Burke (politician), Goldsmith (writer), Garrick (actor) and others. James Boswell visited on 6th October 1769 and wrote:

“I found, at an elegant villa, six miles from town, every circumstances that can make society pleasing. Johnson, though quite at home, was yet looked upon with awe tempered by affection, and seemed to be equally the care of his host and hostess. I rejoiced at seeing him so happy”

Fanny’s description of Mr Boswell’s behaviour in the presence of Dr Johnson on this visit is worth noting:

“In truth, when he met with Dr. Johnson, he commonly forbore even answering anything that went forward, lest he should miss the smallest sound from that voice to which he paid such exclusive, though merited, homage. But the moment that voice burst forth, the attention which it excited in Mr. Boswell amounted almost to pain. His eyes goggled with eagerness; he leant his ear almost on the shoulder of the Doctor; and his mouth dropped open to catch every syllable that might be uttered: nay, he seemed not only to dread losing a word, but to be anxious not to miss a breathing; as if hoping from it, latently or mystically, some information.”

In 1773 a new bow-windowed room above the Library was added for Dr Johnson. As well as a summer house which he loved. In August 1777 Mrs Elizabeth Montagu (“Queen of the Blues” – the bluetocking ladies) wrote:

“On Wednesday I dined at Streatham…we had a most elegant dinner, and the best of all feasts, sense and wit and good humour. Mrs Thrale is a woman of very superior understanding, and very respectable as a Wife, a Mother, a friend and a Mistress of a Family…Mr Thrale has a fruit garden and kitchen that may vie with the Hesperian Gardens for fruit and flowers.”

Mrs Thrale and her daughter, Hester (Queeney), by Sir Joshua Reynolds (Now in the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, New Brunswick, Canada)

Fanny’s visits to Streatham

It was not until August 1778 that Fanny Burney visited Streatham. She wrote:

“I have now to write an account of the most consequential day I have spent since my birth; namely, my Streatham visit. Our journey to Streatham was the least pleasant part of the day: for the roads were dreadfully dusty, and I was really in the fidgets from thinking what my reception might be, and from fearing they would expect a less awkward and backward kind of person than I was sure they would find.

Mr Thrale’s house is white, and very pleasantly situated, in a fine paddock….We left them at about 8 o’clock and Mr Seward, who handed me into the chaise, added his interest to the rest of them, that my father would not fail to bring me. And my ride home was equally happy with the rest of the day…”

So that is the estate but more of the people inside the stately house. Thanks to the brewery, the Thrales were wealthy and could entertain opulently and generously. It was not a marriage of love but they were extremely well suited, both being intelligent and socially interested. Henry was tall, thoughtful and courteous; Hester was tiny , witty, well-read, gifted at languages and socially skilled. Leo Damrosch in his fascinating book, “The Club” writes, “The convivial ambiance at Streatham was the direct expression of Hester Thrale’s personality, in ways that don’t always show up clearly in written accounts. Virginia Woolf put it convincingly “By the exercise of powers difficult to define – for to feel them one must have sat at table and noticed a thousand audacities and deftnesses and skilful combinations which die with the moment – Mrs Thrale had the reputation of a great hostess.”

She was warm and loving to her friends and really was the best friend of Dr. Johnson, giving him a home in his old age and supporting him in his depressions. Leo Damrosch speculates on their psychosexual relationship quoting examples of Dr. Johnson’s need to be dominated and even humiliated by a woman. He quotes Mrs Thrale as writing in her diary in 1779 when Johnson had been at Streatham for thirteen years, that “every man was likely at some time to live ‘under the dominion of some woman – wife, mistress, or friend…’”

Mrs Thrale’s relationship with Fanny was fascinating. In a way it exemplified the qualities of each of them. Fanny was taken to Streatham by her father who taught music to the daughter Queeney. After the publication and success of Evelina, Mrs Thrale was keen to meet Fanny. Fanny wrote to her sister, “Mrs Thrale! She, is the goddess of my idolatory”. So Fanny became a regular visitor, staying there when sick, spending hours with Dr. Johnson and keenly observing all the guests. But she was a prude, and was critical of Mrs Thrale’s boisterousness. They both kept diaries and their reports on one another were revealing. Admiration but criticism. In Thraliana, Mrs Thrale wrote about Fanny

“She is a graceful looking girl, but tis the grace of an actress, not a woman of fashion – how should it? The Burneys are, I believe, a very low race of mortals….” And also later, Fanny wrote that Hester was ”warm-hearted, generous, sweet tempered and full of active zeal for her friends and of fervent devotion in religion. She was replete with wit and pleasantry, and her powers of entertainment exceeded those of almost any woman I ever knew. But her manners were flaunting, her voice was loud, and she had no peace, and allowed none to others, but in the display of her talents.”

With Dr. Johnson, a close friendship grew. They spent a lot of time together at Streatham and Fanny visited him at his house in Bolt Court in London right up until his death. He called her “my little Burney”. She describes their first meeting:

“When we were summoned to dinner, Mrs. Thrale made my father and me sit on each side of her. I said that I hoped I did not take Dr. Johnson’s place;—for he had not yet appeared.

‘No,’ answered Mrs. Thrale, ‘he will sit by you, which I am sure will give him great pleasure.’

Soon after we were seated, this great man entered. I have so true a veneration for him, that the very sight of him inspires me with delight and reverence, notwithstanding the cruel infirmities to which he is subject; for he has almost perpetual convulsive movements, either of his hands, lips, feet, or knees, and sometimes of all together.”

Dr. Johnson by Sir Joshua Reynolds (now in the National Portrait Gallery)

Fanny records delightful conversations about Evelina and its characters …

‘Oh, Mr. Smith, Mr. Smith is the man!’ cried he, laughing violently. ‘Harry Fielding never drew so good a character!—such a fine varnish of low politeness!—such a struggle to appear a gentleman! Madam, there is no character better drawn anywhere—in any book, or by any author.’

I almost poked myself under the table. Never did I feel so delicious a confusion since I was born!”

“Dr Johnson put his hand on my arm, and shaking his head, exclaimed:

‘Oh, you are a sly little rogue!—what a Holborn beau have you drawn!’

‘Ay, Miss Burney,’ said Mrs. Thrale, ‘the Holborn beau is Dr. Johnson’s favourite; and we have all your 79characters by heart, from Mr. Smith up to Lady Louisa.’

Mrs Thrale gloried in her patronage of Fanny, she repeated all the praise she heard of Evelina invited people to Streatham to meet the successful author. But all this social life left Fanny little time for writing. She had a sad experience with a play, The Witlings, a comedy satirising rather too obviously literary life and London society so was persuaded by her father and Daddy Crisp not to publish it. Her next book , “Cecilia, or Memoirs of an Heiress” was published in 5 volumes in 1782 by Messrs Payne & Cadell (who paid her £250). It was considered to be more skilfully and carefully constructed than Evelina. Dr Johnson praised her gift of “character-mongering”; Burke sent her a letter full of high praise but it wasn’t universally applauded – too much Dr. Johnson and Horace Walpole.

When the widowed Mrs Thrale confessed her attachment to Signor Piozzi, an Italian singer, both Fanny and Dr Johnson were dismayed. In the carriage going back to London, as they turned into Streatham Common, Dr Johnson exclaimed, pointing backwards: “That house is lost to me for ever!” A few weeks later, the house was let to Lord Shelburne and Mrs Thrale, moved to Brighton. She married Signor Piozzi in 1784. When visiting Dr Johnson before he died, Fanny asked if he had heard from Mrs T. “No” cried he, ”nor write to her. I drive her quite from my mind…”

My Trip to Streatham

So, Maryly La Follette and I set out to drive the 6 miles to Streatham Park from central London and to see what was left of the Thrale estate. Thank goodness for Sat Navs.

We crossed the river and went down through Stockwell, Brixton, Streatham all ribbon high roads lined with shops, some flourishing like the supermarkets, Boots, Pound stores, food or coffee places but many closed or abandoned and of course a fair smattering of charity shops. There were pockets of African/ Carribbean food places, or Islamic, near the Islamic centre.

Past St. Leonards Church of England (where the Thrales are buried) along Tooting Bec Gardens and there was the Common on our right. We turned left into Aldrington Road which marks the eastern boundary of the original estate.

The Thrale’s estate covered the area between North Drive, down West Drive to the junction with Thrale Road (where the tree-lined drive to the house began), along Ullathorne Road to Aldrington Road and up to North Drive.

A blue plaque on one of the flats overlooking Emmi’s reads:

Streatham Society

On this site stood STREATHAM PLACE

the villa of the Thrales in which

Dr SAMUEL JOHNSON frequently stayed

between 1766 – 1782

The famous mulberry tree stood in the part of Streatham Park where the villa was, close to the north wall of the house. It was damaged by strong winds in 2017 and was felled. What we saw was an outcrop from the root of the tree. Maybe it will flourish and grow for 250 years supposedly like its parent.

It is very difficult to imagine what Streaham Park looked like in the 18th century so we imagined Kenwood House and its park in this area. It wasn’t an easy visualisation. How to describe the development? Mrs Piozzi sold Streatham Park in 1825. It was demolished in 1863 and the estate broken up for development. (Dr. Johnson’s summerhouse went to Kenwood but was destroyed by fire in 1991. The artist, Alan Byrne built an exact replica in his Islington garden.) After 1863 rather substantial Victorian houses were built but even these were later demolished although there were still a few Edwardian houses along West Road and on North Drive we saw a handsome Arts and Crafts house designed by Charles Voysey about 1901 known as Dixcot. In the 1960s and 1970s the housing estate which we saw was developed. Endless double storey joined housing, rabbit warren of streets with blocks of flats. Nothing beautiful but the provision of somewhere for families to live and build a community.

It took us about 35 minutes to drive from central London but in the 18th century it would have taken 3 to 4 hours by coach. (Fanny got into the chaise at 8 pm so it must have been rather late when they got back to central London.) Although all physical signs of the Thrale occupation have disappeared, their names and that of Dr. Johnson are used freely on pubs and streets.

We couldn’t find an appealing place to lunch, turning away from Samuel Johnson Tavern and drove back to Lambeth to the Garden café in the Garden Museum beside Lambeth Palace.

Looking from the windows of the cafe at the Garden Museum can be seen a tomb for William Bligh and his wife. On the tombstone there is a reference to Otaheite. Otaheite is Tahiti where Omai (see St. Martin’s Street) came from. The “O” seems to have been added to both names by the English as Omai is apparently Mai. When Captain William Bligh visited Otaheite in 1789 he enquired after Omai who had returned to Huahine (one of the Society Islands near Tahiti) with Captain Cook in 1777 and was told that Omai had died about 2 and a half years after Cook’s departure. After leaving Otaheite in 1789, some of the crew of the Bounty mutinied and Captain Bligh and 18 crew were set adrift in a launch eventually reaching Timor.

We drove along North Drive to Colson Way to look at the mulberry tree associated with Dr. Johnson.

Flats in Colson Way opposite the Mulberry stump

Looking towards West Drive from Thrale Road

Bligh was a friend of James Burney, Fanny’s brother. James edited the journal of William Bligh with his account of the Bounty Mutiny for its publication in 1792.

Looking towards the garden cafe and Bligh's tomb