1717, a tree occupying the
spot assigned to "The Queen's Elm," is called "The Cross Tree," and in
the vestry minutes it is designated as "The High Elm," which latter name
is used by Sir Hans Sloane in 1727. Bostocke's arbour, however, had the
effect of giving to the cross-road the name of "The Nine Elms." Steele,
on the 22nd June, 1711, writing to his wife, says, "Pray, on the receipt
of this, go to the Nine Elms, and I will follow you within an hour." {88}
And so late as 1805, "The Nine Elms, Chelsea," appeared as a local
address in newspaper advertisements.

Again let me crave indulgence for minute attention to the changes of
name; but much topographical difficulty often arises from this cause.

The stump of the royal tree, with, as is asserted, its root remaining in
the ground undisturbed, a few years ago existed squared down to the
dimensions of an ordinary post, about six feet in height and whitewashed.
But the identity appears questionable, although a post, not improbably
fashioned out of one of the nine elms which grew around it, stood till
within the last few years in front of a public-house named from the
circumstance the Queen's Elm, which house has been a little altered since
the annexed sketch was made, by the introduction of a clock between the
second floor windows, and the house adjoining has been rebuilt,
overtopping it.

[Picture: Queen's Elm Public House]

On the opposite or north side of the Fulham Road, some small houses are
called SELWOOD PLACE, from being built on part of the ground of "Mr.
Selwood's nursery," which is mentioned in 1712 by Mr. Narcissus Luttrell,
of whom more hereafter, as one of the sources from which he derived a
variety of pear, cultivated by him in his garden at Little Chelsea.

CHELSEA PARK, on the same side of the way with the Queen's Elm
public-house, and distant about a furlong from it, as seen from the road,
appears a noble structure with a magnificent portico. [Picture: Chelsea
Park Portico] The ground now called Chelsea Park belonged, with an
extensive tract of which it formed the northern part, to the famous Sir
Thomas More, and in his time was unenclosed, and termed "the Sand Hills."
It received the present name in 1625, when the Lord-Treasurer Cranfield
(Earl of Middlesex) surrounded with a brick wall about thirty-two acres,
which he had purchased in 1620 from Mr. Blake. In 1717 Chelsea Park,
which extended from the Fulham to the King's Road, was estimated at f