—sa 
FROM THE CLOCK TOWER TO THE VICARAGE. 101 
surrounding it belonged to Lord Eliot, and were leased by Mr. 
Valentine Sparrow, whose widow died in 1748, Mr. John Wesley 
preaching her funeral sermon. He first visited Lewisham in 1746, 
and in 1747 speaks of ‘‘ retiring to Mrs. Sparrow’s, at Lewisham.” 
Mr. Ebenezer Blackwell, of the old banking firm of Martin, of 
the ‘‘ Grasshopper,” in Lombard Street, then took up the lease of 
the house, and also purchased the ground now occupied by Limes 
Grove and the houses in the High Street to Morley Road. This 
part of the property had another house, which stood about a 
hundred yards from ‘‘ The Limes,” with a small open green 
between it and ‘‘ The Limes’”’ gates.* Mr. Blackwell spent much 
time in beautifying the grounds, with a summer-house at the top of 
what is now Limes Grove. Mr. Wesley very frequently retired to 
PLaTe 43.—‘ THE Limes,” 1835. 
““The Limes,” and there wrote many of his sermons and other 
works until Mr. Blackwell’s death in 1782. His estate was after- 
wards purchased by Mr. Henry Mills, who also purchased from 
Lord Eliot the freehold of ‘‘ The Limes,” and obtained permission 
from the. Manor Court in 1804 to enclose the small green mentioned 
above. He was succeeded by his nephew, Mr. Edward Legh, who 
in 1858 built the houses known as Limes Terrace, Nos. 143 to 155, 
opened up Limes Grove for building, and also erected (1851-3) the 
houses from Limes Grove to Morley Road. Later, in 1867, the 
houses Nos. 175 to 185 were built on a further portion of the 
* The new Prudential Buildings stand on the site of the house and green. 
