The life of Sir John Danvers c.1588 - 1655 Homes and Gardens

Through marriages Sir John acquired Dauntsey House adjoining Dauntsey Church and there he spent a great amount of money building gardens. Later he acquired West Lavington and remnants of the gardens he built there can still been seen today. After the death of his brother, Sir Henry, Sir John inherited Danby Castle in North Yorkshire. His house there nowadays forms part of the North York Moors Visitor's Centre. Sir John also built a home in Chelsea in 1622 which was surrounded by a substantial garden beside the Thames. Nothing remains of the house as it was demolished in 1716, the driveway which lead to the front of it is now called Danvers Street.

Danvers House, Chelsea The house built here by Sir John Danvers on 'the lands called Moorhouse, in Chelsea' in 1622 was demolished in 1716.  Sir John lived here for just 5 years with his first wife, Magdalen Herbert a widow with 10 children, but then with two further wives.  As well as being, reportedly, an amazingly handsome man he was also a capable architect and gardener and the house and its gardens were much admired.  One of his friends was John Aubrey (1626-97) described as a renowned antiquary and folklorist.  He commended the house as 'very elegant and ingeniose' which because of its situation with the main area of gardens to the north and a slope to the river on the south allowed 'as you sit at dinner in the Hall you are entertained with two delightful Vistos'.  A particularly nice feature of the gardens that he describes is that there were walks, which had hyssop and thyme in the borders, allowing Sir John to brush his beaver hat through as he passed 'which did perfume it with its natural essence and would last a morning or longer'.  The house was let from 1660 to 1685 to John Lord Robartes, later Earl of Radnor, who despite having fought for Cromwell was able to entertain Charles II within months of the restoration.  Samuel Pepys was also a visitor and 'found it to be the prettiest contrived house that I ever saw in my life'. O/S Co-ords:2700.7764 Source: Chambers Biographical Dictionary, Chelsea

Homes and Gardens - Dauntsey West Lavington  Chelsea Danby

Updated 20 Aug 2004              (C) Gary Danvers                   Music: Guitar.mid

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