Chapter XI: Appendix: II

THE CROMWELL TRADITION.

UNTIL the year 1853 there stood a curious and lonely mansion in the Brompton Lanes known as Cromwell House. The original name was Hale House, but it was never called by it within the memory of any now living. There are one or two versions of the story attached to this old house printed; but they do not entirely agree with that which I have always heard—to the effect, that on some occasion Cromwell’s troop was quartered at Knightsbridge; and he one day venturing to stray among the lanes of Brompton, was met by some cavaliers who knew him, and pursued him to this house, where he was sheltered till assistance arrived from Knightsbridge and liberated him. And a confirmation was presumed to exist in the inscription on the inn’s front at Knightsbridge that Oliver’s bodyguard was once quartered there, and that it was once his “posting-house.”

I am perfectly aware that almost every village has its Cromwellian legend, and also that every endeavour to connect the Protector and this mansion has hitherto failed. But I own I am by no means inclined to throw over the pleasing belief entirely. There is a charity at Kensington still, called Cromwell’s Gift, which always has been ascribed by parish officers and inhabitants to the generosity of the great ruler; and although this is unaccountably not entered in the parish books, I do not consider such an omission a reason for disbelieving the history handed down by successive generations of parish officers, and still to be read in the church porch. In true earnest, I think the omission favourable to my view. No other origin has ever been assigned to the charity; and the church authorities at the Restoration would scarcely have permitted a laudatory inscription to the Protector to remain. There are no other claimants, and never were: the tradition is, and always has been, that to Oliver Cromwell Kensington is indebted for this charity, and to him alone.

What reason, then, for this remembrance? The old legend of Cromwell House, is the answer. We know the Parliament forces were frequently quartered here. Through Knightsbridge ran the high-road from Oxford; and Cavaliers proceeding thence would most probably take the bye-road as they neared the metropolis. And the idea is surely not an improbable one that Cromwell may have been met with in the manner related.

So far for the legend; but apart from this is another consideration. In 1668, the Lawrences of Shurdington, in Gloucestershire, rented Cromwell House of the Methwolds. Henry Lawrence was President of Cromwell’s Privy Council, and in other ways a staunch adherent of his policy. If it could be proved he resided here at any time during his official career, a new light would be thrown on the subject, and probably clear it up. On the whole, therefore, I consider there are grounds, though they may be but slight, for not entirely discarding the tradition, which may yet be some day entirely unravelled.