Fairfield House, Tooting. T. R. Way. Signed and dated 1899. Lithograph. Source: Reliques of Old London, 85. Click on image to enlarge it.
Commentary by H. B. Wheatley from Reliques of Old London
THIS fine old mansion, which is an ornament to the othennse conmonplace suburb of Tooting, appears to have been built in 1622. We may assume this from that date appearing on an inscribe stone now in the garden, but which once formed a part of the house.
It has not always borne the name of Fairfield House, but was called at one time the "White House." Some fifty years or more ago the house was occupied as a boy's school and was known as Dr. Lord's Academy. Dr. Lord added to the house for the purposes of his school. The freehold of the house, with its large garden behind, was lately bought by the Chelsea Vestry for the purpose of a suburban workhouse to relieve the pressure on their Chelsea workhouse. There is a large panelled entrance hall and a grand staircase. Both the front and the back doors are surmounted by a splendid canopy, the one over the front door being shown in the drawing. [81]
The entrance gate is also worthy of special notice.
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Bibliography
Way, T. R., and H. B. Wheatley. Reliques of Old London upon the Banks of the Thames and in the Subburbs South of the River. London: George Bell and Sons, 1909. [title page] Internet Archive version of a copy in the Boston Public Library. Web. 22 April 2012.
Last modified 23 April 2012