Did you know that...
The 11th-century Domesday Book records this South West London area as Patricesham. At that time, it was under the ownership of Chertsey Abbey. Montrose House on Petersham Road is a notable building. It dates from the 17th century. Although the house was built for Sir Thomas Jenner, it takes the name of the Dowager Duchess of Montrose who lived here in the 19th century. In 1969, rock and roll start Tommy Steele bought this grade II listed house. He is considered UK’s first teen idol. The nearby Rutland Lodge is another notable building that dates from 1660.
Archibald Campbell was born here in 1682. He is the founder of the Bank of Scotland. The Royal Bank of Scotland banknotes feature his face. Glen Cottage in River Lane housed explorer George Vancouver. He was a Royal Navy officer who explored North America’s Pacific Coast. Vancouver Islands, Vancouver City in British Columbia, Canada, Vancouver City in Washington, USA, Mount Vancouver in North America, and Mount Vancouver in New Zealand carry his name. He wrote a detailed narrative of his journey while staying at Glen Cottage. He died here and he is buried in the Petersham Parish Church graveyard. His Portland stone gravestone is a grade II listed work. Other notable people who lived here include author Lynne Truss, illustrator Charles George Harper, and Rolling Stones’ financial manager Prince Rupert Loewenstein.
Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell lived at Pembroke Lodge. He was the grandson of Prime Minister John Russell, 1st Earl Russell who received Pembroke Lodge from Queen Victoria in 1847. The grade II listed mansion housed the special reconnaissance unit GHQ Liaison Regiment during World War II. Charles Stanhope, 4th Earl of Harrington gave the Petersham name to a type of watch-coat. The Royal Navy ship HMS Petersham takes its name from this TW10 area as well.
