Knight's
Hill lay in the parish of Lambeth, between Dulwich and
Norwood. When Lord Thurlow purchased the estate from the
Duke of St Alban's, there was only a farm house on the
land. Thurlow 'new-fronted' the farmhouse and made several
additions to it ... and then grew tired of the house,
demolished the entire structure, and built the mansion
pictured above, which was designed by Mr Holland, architect
of Drury Lane Theatre.
In
the early nineteenth century the house was remarkable
for "new invented cone flooring", and for its
lovely views over Kent, Surrey and London itself. From
its windows you could see the Thames from Chelsea to Gravesend.
