DOI Heft:
No. 26 (May, 1895)
DOI Artikel:The new "Magpie and Stump": a successful experiment in domestic architecture
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17294#0084
The "Magpie and Stump"
succession of facts as a proof of evolution were originality expressed in a distinguished manner,
folly. The north country farmer who expressed that has escaped from the trammels of precedent
his disgust of existing circumstances in the phrase, and yet loyally obeys the spirit of true art. One
" 'Tis as 'tis and can't be no tisserer," finding the may claim this for it without claiming absolute
language at his command unequal to his thought, perfection, and without holding it up as a model
boldly evolved new words. To-day in architecture for others to imitate. It expresses in a scholarly
one may indeed evolve a new style in such a way; fashion its owner's idea of a beautiful house to suit
but originality in literature based on a disregard for his personal requirements, and because it satisfies
grammar and the English language, equally with him fully, because his taste is good and his
knowledge of practical needs
ample, it becomes admirable
in itself.
The house in question is
situated in Cheyne Walk, Chel-
sea—facing the Thames —a few
doors west of Oakely Street.
It occupies the site of a well-
known inn, the " Magpie and
Stump," a title which its pre-
sent owner has kept for the
name of his new home. The
first mention of this hostelry
occurs in 1596, when a Mr,
Coxe Lisman, of Kynston, "was
buried from Jones of the Pie."
In 1662, as we find in Faulk-
ner's History of Chelsea, Mr.
James Leverett, in a will dated
August 20, gave his messuage,
called the " Magpie and
Stump" in Great Chelsea, to
his wife for life, and after her
death to John Heme and Eliza-
beth his wife, and the heirs of
the said Elizabeth, they paying
the yearly rental of ^14, as
follows: ,£10 thereof to the
churchwardens and overseers
to be by them equally divided
and paid quarterly, as the said
£xo should become due to
such poor housekeepers and
inhabitants as should not
the "magpie and stump" the drawing-room fireplace receive collections from the
parish, and the £4 residue
originality of design which neglects certain abiding thereof to be laid out in a dinner by the said
laws, gains its object at the expense of all other churchwardens and overseers at the said " Magpie "
qualities. The really original cannot be evolved quarterly as the same should become due. The
from nothing out of nothing, but must needs building itself was burnt down in 1886. While
rearrange old details with new expressions adapted digging the foundations for the new house the
to new requirements. workmen came across a fifteenth-century window-
To say that Mr. Ashbee's house (which is really head belonging to a still older structure, which
the text of this homily) is in a brand-new style, must from the style have been erected between
would be an absurd statement. Yet it shows 1480 and 1580. Many Elizabethan pipes were
68
succession of facts as a proof of evolution were originality expressed in a distinguished manner,
folly. The north country farmer who expressed that has escaped from the trammels of precedent
his disgust of existing circumstances in the phrase, and yet loyally obeys the spirit of true art. One
" 'Tis as 'tis and can't be no tisserer," finding the may claim this for it without claiming absolute
language at his command unequal to his thought, perfection, and without holding it up as a model
boldly evolved new words. To-day in architecture for others to imitate. It expresses in a scholarly
one may indeed evolve a new style in such a way; fashion its owner's idea of a beautiful house to suit
but originality in literature based on a disregard for his personal requirements, and because it satisfies
grammar and the English language, equally with him fully, because his taste is good and his
knowledge of practical needs
ample, it becomes admirable
in itself.
The house in question is
situated in Cheyne Walk, Chel-
sea—facing the Thames —a few
doors west of Oakely Street.
It occupies the site of a well-
known inn, the " Magpie and
Stump," a title which its pre-
sent owner has kept for the
name of his new home. The
first mention of this hostelry
occurs in 1596, when a Mr,
Coxe Lisman, of Kynston, "was
buried from Jones of the Pie."
In 1662, as we find in Faulk-
ner's History of Chelsea, Mr.
James Leverett, in a will dated
August 20, gave his messuage,
called the " Magpie and
Stump" in Great Chelsea, to
his wife for life, and after her
death to John Heme and Eliza-
beth his wife, and the heirs of
the said Elizabeth, they paying
the yearly rental of ^14, as
follows: ,£10 thereof to the
churchwardens and overseers
to be by them equally divided
and paid quarterly, as the said
£xo should become due to
such poor housekeepers and
inhabitants as should not
the "magpie and stump" the drawing-room fireplace receive collections from the
parish, and the £4 residue
originality of design which neglects certain abiding thereof to be laid out in a dinner by the said
laws, gains its object at the expense of all other churchwardens and overseers at the said " Magpie "
qualities. The really original cannot be evolved quarterly as the same should become due. The
from nothing out of nothing, but must needs building itself was burnt down in 1886. While
rearrange old details with new expressions adapted digging the foundations for the new house the
to new requirements. workmen came across a fifteenth-century window-
To say that Mr. Ashbee's house (which is really head belonging to a still older structure, which
the text of this homily) is in a brand-new style, must from the style have been erected between
would be an absurd statement. Yet it shows 1480 and 1580. Many Elizabethan pipes were
68