Oakley Street

Chelsea, King's Road (SW3) In a map of 1838 there is no trace of this street, but only a great open space where Winchester House formerly stood. At No. 32 lived Dr. Phené, who was the first to plant trees in the streets of London. In the garden of Cheyne House was grown the original moss-rose, a freak of nature, from which all other moss-roses have sprung. Beerbohm Tree and his wife lived here for a short time after their marriage. No. 4 has had a series of notable inmates. William Dyce, R.A., was the occupant in 1846, and later on Daniel Maclise, R.A. Then came George Eliot, with Mr. Cross, she intending to stay in Chelsea for the winter, but three weeks later she caught cold and died in this house. (Chelsea, G. E. Mitton, ed. Besant, pp. 26-30)