For sake of simplicity, I've been informing anyone who will listen to me that I have relocated to London to start my new life. Strictly speaking, this isn't quite accurate. I'm actually currently residing with the Benn family in the borough of Sutton in an area called North Cheam. Basically, telling people I live in London is kind of like people from New Jersey citing the big apple as their residence. And since I'm no poser, I feel it's time to rectify the situation and finally determine where the crap I've been living. Upon being questioned about my actual whereabouts in relation to London, I answered with the utmost entirely fabricated confidence, "ummm....southwest?" I managed to stay composed when it turns out my guess was indeed correct and restrained myself from fist pumping the air whilst screaming, "who's your greatest downfall now geography!?!" So let's get this sorted, shall we?
This is what I know about North Cheam- it is north of the village of Cheam. Hah. Skills of deduction at their best. Cheam is a large suburban village with roots dating back as far as 1018 and appears in the Domesday Book as Ceiham. Henry VIII acquired part of Cheam in 1538 and constructed the ostentatious Nonsuch Palace, demolishing the church and most of the village to make way. The palace was later handed over to a mistress of Charles II and sadly was pulled down to cover her gambling debts. However, Nonsuch Park remains (where yours truly goes for her daily run) which was meant to be Henry's hunting grounds as well as the Gothic revival Nonsuch Mansion built in the early nineteenth century.
Nonsuch Palace (left) and Nonsuch Mansion (right)
Cheam Village then (early 1930s) and now
*granted, not as catchy as Carmen San Diego but I work with what I've got.
1 comment:
i love this history lesson! :) thanks for the updates - keep em comin gf. i cant wait to see it all in person next summer!
Post a Comment