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garrets. The cellar had a bathtub and there being no
bathroom, water would have to have been carried into the ANNOUNCEMENTS
house (at Roehampton he had a water cart to bring in water
presumably from a reasonable distance away). The rooms in
the Strand house were supplemented by various carpets
tapestries, curtains and looking glasses which would give a
richness beyond most Jacobean houses. One of the rooms
was designated as John Angus’s chamber; Angus was his
servant.
London in the early years of the 17th century was prone to
several bouts of its own epidemic – the plague – and it may
have been partly with this in mind that George Heriot
sought to move to a second, more distant house.

Heriot had four clocks and two

watches which suggests he may
have been a stickler for timekeeping

George Heriot’s second residence is much easier to uncover.
The histories tell us that he purchased a house in
Roehampton, which at that time lay south of and outside
GEORGE HERIOT London, in the county of Surrey. This was a place where
those wishing to escape the hurly-burly of the capital – with
land shortages in places like Putney and elsewhere - might
move to. There were only about 30 houses in Roehampton
IN LONDON in 1617 and the records tell us that David Papillon, a
Huguenot developer, built several substantial houses in the
village between 1620 and 1626. Papillon sold the first house
he built (with sizeable surrounding land) to George Heriot in
Most people with knowledge of George Heriot are fully aware The stately houses ran all the way from what is now Trafalgar Square to 1622. We have noted the water cart in the garden; there
that he left Edinburgh to live and work in London, where he today’s Temple station (only Somerset House still stands today). Many was also a kitchen, three public rooms, a hall, two large Herioter President:
later died and is buried. This is all covered in the various of the houses on the north side of the Strand also appear to have bedrooms, referred to as the Black and Yellow room and the welcome to Jac Pentland
Blue rooms. Overall, Heriot had four clocks and two watches
histories which also tell that he had two separate residences in included substantial gardens to the north; that is, until they come close
to the Temple Bar on the east. Heriot’s will also refers to his property in which suggests he may have been a stickler for timekeeping.
the capital; there are also bits of information which can take The votes were counted and verified and we are delighted to welcome
the parish of St Martin’s in the Fields lately being purchased from Sir Although there was no list of fine wines, the Founder had
things a bit further and help us uncover a little more. £1,050 of “ready money” in his house, equivalent to Jac Pentland (1997) onboard as the next Herioter President.
Nicholas Fortescue and his son William which pre-empts speculation
What do we know about Heriot’s first house in London? He was said to whether his house in the Strand was the successor to a previous £700,000 today. This marks the conclusion of the first election of its kind to be held for
live In the Strand in the Parish of St Martin in the Fields. The Strand was residence – the answer to which is beyond the scope of this article. After Heriot’s death the house was occupied by James the Former Pupil body.
one of the main thoroughfares of London, heading from Charing Cross Jac told Quadrangle:
The whereabouts of Heriot’s house in the Strand is not known, but Jossie (Heriot’s son in law) and later by Eliab Harvey, the
near the north-west boundary of the city in an easterly direction. It
perhaps on the north side, opposite one of these grand houses, may be brother of William Harvey who famously discovered the “I can’t tell you how delighted I am to have been given the opportunity
linked Westminster with the City of London and at its western end was
a possibility – and looking on these grand residences may have given properties of blood and explained the workings of the to be the Heriot’s FP President! Thank you so very much to everyone
close to the Palace of Whitehall where royal power was concentrated.
him the idea to build a new house elsewhere. A little earlier, the poet circulation system within the body – and died in his who took the time to put themselves forward and to vote.
Beyond the Strand and through Fleet Street eastwards to Newgate was
John Donne worked at York House in the Strand and Heriot would no brother’s house.
also where Christ’s Hospital – the inspiration for Heriot’s - was situated. I hope that over the next couple of years we can work together to
doubt come into contact with many notables during his time there. This house and its successor have since vanished but the site develop connections with each other and between the school and the
The Strand was one of London’s wider thoroughfares although as most (in what was Elm Grove) is now Digby Stuart College, part of
FP community. I can’t wait to get started!”
travel was done on foot – in 1625 there were only 20 hackney cabs in Roehampton University.
the city – the street would still be narrow and muddy. the house had a cellar, The Development Office would like to thank all FPs who took the time
kitchen, three public rooms, For the introduction to Heriot’s inventory I am indebted to to vote and extend a special thank you to all of the candidates; each
The south side of the Strand was notable at this time for being full of
James Melville’s (Head of History at GHS) work during the showed a great commitment to Herioters across the globe and we are
stately houses – which were the homes of aristocrats: York House, Suffolk five bedrooms and garrets 1930s; it is hoped that this article will bring readers a little
incredibly grateful for your support, as always.
House – later known as Northumberland House –followed by Durham closer to the Founder.
House (home to Sir Walter Raleigh among others) Salisbury House, The location of Heriot’s house in the Strand may elude us, but we can The Development Office is looking forward to working with Jac, to
Fraser Simm, Honorary Historian engage former pupils everywhere and we wish her the best of luck.
Worcester House, Savoy Palace, Somerset House and Arundel House. All turn to his will to get a good description of it. Apart from a back garden
of these houses had gardens which stretched south to the river Thames. the house had a cellar, kitchen, three public rooms, five bedrooms and To contact Jac, please email herioterpresident@george-heriots.com