HISTORICAL GARDENS 
3 11 
meadow. The great tree in 1865 measured 15 feet 
5 inches; in 1894, 17 feet 3 inches. The tulip tree died 
about the same time as the hickory. The honey locust 
(Gleditschia triacanthos ), one of Bishop Compton’s trees, 
only died last year, the large white elm in 1904, and, 
sad to say, the flowering ash ( Fraxinus ornus) was blown 
down in March 1907. The Wych elm and a beautiful 
walnut still flourish, and also the variety of Turkey oak 
(Quercus cerris lucumbeana or fulhamensis ), so in spite of 
many disasters Fulham Palace still can show some fine trees. 
Chelsea still abounds in gardens. There are the 
modern plots along the Embankment, laid out with 
the wriggling path that municipal authorities seem to 
deem necessary nowadays. The private gardens in front 
of some of the houses are an older institution, and some 
can boast of delightful patches of old gardens in their rear 
also. Behind Lindsay House the Moravian burial-ground 
is hidden away, and part of its wall may be the actual wall 
of Sir Thomas More’s garden. There are the remains of 
elms and several good mulberry trees. The large mulberry 
on the Embankment near looks as if it once might have 
been in the garden too. Chelsea further possesses one of 
the first botanical gardens in England, the Duke of York’s 
School with large grass area and fine elm trees, and the 
spacious grounds that surround the Hospital. Much 
of the old stately simplicity still clings to these latter, 
although last century saw many variations in their plan. 
The site was occupied by King James’s College, 
founded by Matthew Sutcliffe, Dean of Exeter, in 1610, 
which, in spite of the King’s patronage and the interest 
of Prince Henry, was a failure. It added to, rather 
than allayed, religious discussion, and was familiarly 
known as “ Controversy College.” The ground was, 
