Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 8.djvu/338

 276 NOTES AND QUERIES. [i2s.vm. APRIL 2, 1921. KINGSTON HOUSE, KNIGHTSBBIDGE (12 S. viii. 230). The "Authorities" have little to say with regard to Kingston House. Wheatley mentions it ('London, Past and Present ' ) under both Kensington and Knightsbridge, but in neitner does he give any description of the building, or the date of its erection. Walford (' Old and New London') is equally silent. Besant ('Fas- cination of London,' Kensington) suggests a date subsequent to 1760. Most of the handbooks, such as E. V. Lucas, Whitten, neither house nor duchess ! Referring to the Westminster Rate Books I find that Kingston House was built 17578, and came into the occupation of the Hon. Miss Chudleigh, Michaelmas, 1758. The house has been described as in Knightsbridge as in Brompton as in Kensington Gore its designation to-day is either Prince's Gate, or Ennismore Gardens. I have never been able to obtain a contemporary print of Kingston House, but I have a woodcut of, I should say, the early seventies, judging from the costumes of the ladies in the street. No one but the present owner, Lord Listowel, can probably say whether the inside of the house has been altered ; the outside I should say remains almost in its original state. To judge from the position it occupies on London maps of various dates I should imagine that its boundaries have not been changed though its surroundings have been covered with more modern buildings. W. COURTHOPE FOBMAN. Compton Down, Nr. Winchester. Apparently no authoritative identification of the date of erection has been published. Henry George Davis ( ' Memorials of the Hamlet of Knightsbridge, 1859,' p. 164) is probably at fault in stating it was " built about 1770," because he is mistaken in adding " and when first erected attracting notice by the conservatory attached to it." This greenhouse or conservatory is of much later date. Col. Prideaux in his ' Notes on Salway's Plan,' p. 40, says " The house was built about 1770," but against this must be set the statement of a later writer (Mr. Beresford Chancellor, ' Knightsbridge and Belgravia,' p. 184), suggesting it was built in 1757, and quoting from Count Kilman- segge's diary a record of a visit paid there Mar. 15, 1762. The fact that the invitation was issued by " Miss " Elizabeth Chudleigh would not justify the subsequent statement^ " Kingston House was indeed erected by- Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston." That " the conservatory was erected in- 1800 by Lord Listowel's great-grandfather "" is more acceptable. The whole matter is indefinite, and an authoritative statement is required. ALECK ABRAHAMS. TAVERN SIGNS (12 S. viii. 170, 236). I believe there was once a race-horse, famous under the name of "Flying Scud," but I know nothing of its performances. The commemoration of it might conduce to the- patronage of a "pub." As for British Queen one need not turn to the strawberry bed bo find one who has been attractive and popular. I have no doubt that the Rose of Denmark embodies an intended compliment to Queen Alexandra. A Blade Bone is not what I should expect butchers to choose as significant of their mystery, though a Shoulder of Mutton has figured as a sign. The " speal " has certainly oracular pretensions, but I am not aware- of its being tempted in a tavern. ST. SWITHIN. I am much obliged to MR. R. S. PENGELLY for his interesting and ingenious solutions. May I ask for one more ? It is a new sign to me, which I came across a few days ago in Brick Lare, off the Bethnal Green Road,, and is the Duke's Motto. Who was the- Duke and what was his motto ? PHILIP GOSSE. 25 Argyll Road, Kensington, W.8. DIOCESAN CALENDARS (12 S. vi. 296? vii. 19, 118, 453). The following are the dates of first issue of some of the nugiish Calendars: Lichfield, 3856: Chester. 1857; Gloucester and Bristol, 1859 ; Worcester, 1860 ; Ripon, 1862 ; York, 1863 ; LlandafT, 1872 ; Chichester, 1874 ; Durham, 1878 ;. Newcastle, 1882. J. W. F. BOOK WANTED (12 S. viii. 210). The work required is ' Annals of Ireland, by the four masters.' There are several editions of it. One appeared in 1846 in one volume, 4to, translated by O. Connellan, with annotations by P. MacDeimott. Another appeared in 1848 edited by J. O'Donovanr in. 7 vols., 4to. This was reprinted in 1849,. 1851, and 1856 (the latter in 7 vols., 8vo).. It can be consulted at the British Museum,, and possibly at the London Library or any of the great reference libraries, being fairljr common. W. JAGGARD, Capt.
 * Highways and Byways,' &c., mention