beyond the old brick
gateway, was built by Mr. J. Meyrick, who died there in 1801. Ho was the
father of Sir Samuel Meyrick the well-known antiquary. Ho purchased the
house, in 1794, of R. Heavyside, Esq., and pulled down the old mansion
that stood close to the site of the ancient maze, which became converted
into a lawn at the rear of the modern house. The place was originally
[Picture: Old Gate of Peterborough House] termed Brightwells, or
Rightwells, and here, in 1569, died John Tarnworth, Esq., one of
Elizabeth's privy counsellors, who lies buried at Fulham.

Brightwells afterwards belonged to Sir Thomas Knolles, who, in 1603, sold
it to Sir Thomas Smith, who had been secretary to the unfortunate Earl of
Essex, and became, under James I., Clerk of the Council, Latin Secretary,
and Master of the Requests; and here he died in 1609, and was buried in
the chancel of Fulham Church, where a handsome monument is erected to his
memory. After Sir Thomas Smith's death, his widow married the first Earl
of Exeter, and continued to reside at Brightwells until her death, in
1633. Sir Thomas Smith's only daughter having married the Honourable
Thomas Carey, the Earl of Monmouth's second son, he became possessed of
the estate in right of his wife, and after him the place was called Villa
Carey, which has led to the belief that old Peterborough House was built
by him. It stood facing the pond on Parson's Green, and at about the
same distance from the road as the present house. Francis Cleyne, who
came over to England in the reign of Charles I., was certainly employed
to decorate the rooms. Mr. Carey died about 1635; and his widow, about
five years afterwards, married Sir Edward Herbert, Attorney-General to
King Charles. Sir Edward was a firm loyalist, and resided at Parson's
Green till the death of his royal master, when he accompanied Charles II.
in his exile, who created him Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and he died
abroad in 1657. His estate was ordered to be sold with the estates of
other loyalists in 1653, but the sale does not appear to have taken
place, as Villa Carey, in 1660, was in the possession of Lord Mordaunt,
who had married the daughter and heiress of Mr. Carey. Lord Clarendon
bears honourable testimony to the daring spirit and devoted zeal in the
royal cause evinced by this "young gentleman," and to the no less
chivalric conduct of his charming bride.

"He was," says the historian, "of great vigour of