e house derives its name from the bowling-green formerly
attached to it, and for more than sixty years (1690-1750) the most
famous green in the neighbourhood of London. The house had large rooms
for public breakfasts and assemblies, was a fashionable place of
entertainment, and noted for "deep play." South of this Bowling Green
House is Scio, a charming residence, with beautiful lawns facing the
main Kingston Road, in the Gothic style, and from here the flagstaff and
windmill on the heath are noticed. Close by was the gallows in the olden
time, and here it was that one of the last of the highwaymen--Jeremiah
Abershaw--hung in chains in 1795, after suffering the penalty of the law
on Kingston Common, then the place of execution for Surrey. Being
crossed by a main road, this dreary neighbourhood was formerly much
frequented by footpads and highwaymen. Aubrey mentions the gallows near
here, and adds that Roman urns are often found in the dry, gravelly
ground.

Putney Heath merges into Wimbledon Common, a fine expanse of 1,000 acres
of breezy upland. The headquarters of the National Rifle Association
till 1889 were in the Windmill, a picturesque landmark seen from far and
near; but owing to increasing danger and the enormous crowds that
flocked to the camp it was removed to Bisley in Surrey. The Windmill was
formerly a favourite resort of duellists. Some distance from the
windmill is Caesar's Well, the most historical spot on Wimbledon Common,
and its water is said to possess medicinal properties. This common and
Putney Heath were in the last century the scene of frequent reviews.
George III. reviewed the Surrey volunteers here in 1799, as he had
previously done the Guards in 1767; and Charles II., in 1684, also
reviewed his forces on the heath. At the north-west corner of the heath
lies the village of Roehampton, snugly nestling in a valley, and
consisting of a small cluster of houses. The centre of the village is at
the angle of Roehampton Lane, where a drinking-fountain, a gift of Mr.
Lyne-Stephens, stands in the road, with the Catholic chapel of St.
Joseph's, approached through a beautiful carved oaken lych-gate, facing
it. This chapel and rectory stand in the grounds of Manresa House, a
training college of the Jesuit Fathers. To the north is a quaint old
village inn, the Montague Arms, flanked by a row of old cottages.
Ponsonby Road and Medfield Street are lined with small houses, for the
most part new, very clean, and