Montagu House, Blackheath

Montagu House (sometimes also spelt Montague) was a prominent residence situated at the southwest corner of Greenwich Park (today the junction of Charlton Way and Chesterfield Walk), overlooking the common at Blackheath in what is today southeast London. Adjacent to the Ranger's House, it was the royal residence of Caroline of Brunswick before being demolished in 1815.

For other houses of this name, see Montagu House.

Satirical cartoon showing Sir John and Lady Douglas being led to the pillory outside Montagu House, Blackheath, after being discredited in giving evidence against Queen Caroline.

History

The house was built as a country residence for Ralph Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu in the late 17th century. Two adjacent buildings, Montagu House and Park Corner House, were constructed, with the latter being occupied for a time by a George Moult (it was briefly known as 'Mole's Corner')[1] and the subject of a drawing (c. 1781) by Paul Sandby now held by the British Museum.[2]

The former slave and (later) writer, Ignatius Sancho, was for two years (1749 to 1751) butler to the family of John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu at Montagu House,[1][3][4] returning to the family's service in 1766 as valet to the duke's son-in-law.[5]

Leased from the Duchess of Buccleuch,[6] Montagu House later became the residence of the estranged wife of the Prince Regent (later King George IV). Caroline of Brunswick lived in the house from 1799 to 1812[1][7] (other sources suggest 1797 or 1798 to 1814) after she had given birth to Princess Charlotte, who lived with a governess at the nearby mansion of the Duchess of Brunswick (today the Ranger's House).[8] A contemporary account by a Miss Aikin described Montagu House:

"The princess's villa at Blackheath is an incongruous piece of patchwork; it may dazzle for a moment when lighted up at night, but it is all glitter, and glare, and trick; everything is tinsel and trumpery about it; it is altogether like a bad dream."[9]

The Delicate Investigation

Montagu House was the location of alleged affairs between Queen Caroline and various lovers, investigated as part of "The Delicate Investigation" in 1806 and which heard testimony from neighbours in Greenwich, Major-General Sir John Douglas and his wife Charlotte. Lady Douglas became Caroline's companion, living for a time at Montagu House[10] before their friendship broke down, and rumours about scandalous events at the house began to circulate; Lady Douglas alleged that Caroline had admitted to having had an illegitimate child, William Austin. A secretive investigation cleared Caroline of adultery (and poured doubt on the Douglas testimonies) but questioned other aspects of Caroline's behaviour. However, public sympathy tended to side with Caroline; an 1813 cartoon following the "Delicate Investigation" showed the ridiculed Sir John and Lady Douglas being led to a pillory erected outside Montagu House.[11]

All the Montagu House buildings were demolished in 1815[7] (the site is now occupied by the Chesterfield Walk tennis courts). A rear wall, now part of the Park wall, survives as does, inside the Park, a plunge bath called 'Queen Caroline's bath', previously situated in an area enclosed by Caroline when she created a lawn and pleasure ground after being appointed Ranger of Greenwich Park in 1806.[6] Plaques commemorating Caroline and Sancho are set in the wall nearby.[1]

  • Plaque to Ignatius Sancho
  • Montagu House description
  • Plaque to Queen Caroline
  • Queen Caroline's Bath
  • Site of Montagu House

References
  1. "View of Park Corner House (part of Montagu House), Blackheath, seen among trees". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  2. "Duke of Montague's Blackheath". British Museum. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  3. Ellis, Markman (1996). The Politics of Sensibility: Race, Gender and Commerce in the Sentimental Novel. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 57.
  4. Walvin, James (1997). "Ignatius Sancho: The Man and His Times". In King, Reyahn (ed.). Ignatius Sancho: an African Man of Letters. London, UK: National Portrait Gallery. p. 96.
  5. Inglis, Lucy. "Ignatius Sancho, Britain's first Black voter". Georgian London. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  6. Lysons, Daniel (1811). Volume 1, Issue 2 of The Environs of London: Being an Historical Account of the Towns, Villages, and Hamlets, Within Twelve Miles of that Capital: Interspersed with Biographical Anecdotes, Daniel Lysons (2 ed.). London: Cadell and Davies. p. 522.
  7. "Montagu House, Blackheath, c. 1790". Ideal Homes: A History of south east London suburbs. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  8. "Caroline of Brunswick". English Monarchs. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  9. Old and New London: Volume 6 - Blackheath and Charlton. London: Cassell, Petter & Galpin. 1878. pp. 224–236. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  10. Bloy, Marjorie. "The Queen Caroline Affair, 1820". The Web of History. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  11. "Anticipations for the Pillory". British Museum. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
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