A SHORT HISTORY OF RIPLEY HOUSE

Early l700s Thomas Ripley, a Yorkshire man walked to London and after working hard at his craft — he was a carpenter — he set up a business in Wood Street, Cheapside  He married a servant of Sir Robert Walpole, who later became his patron.

1721 Thomas Ripley was appointed chief carpenter to all His Majesty’s Works and Buildings in Britain.

1724 He was engaged on designing the Admiralty building in Whitehall which was completed by Adam who contributed the facade. Ripley also designed part of the interior and the roof of Greenwich hospital. He was appointed Controller of the Board of Works in succession to Sir John Vanbrugh.

Thomas Ripley is described in ‘Old and New London’ as ‘A lucky pushy man who soon obtained work from the Crown and a seat on the Board of Works He supplanted Vanbrugh to the infinite disgrace of a generation.’

1738 It is reported that an ‘Ale House’ stood on the site and that it was used as a changing house for twenty four coach horses. Local folklore had it that Dick Turpin hid in the house having stolen the Manor House silver.

1758 Thomas Ripley died after completing the design for the house.

1764 Construction/remodelling of the property in its present form was undertaken to the Thomas Ripley design. The existing cellar dating from the ‘Ale house’ period includes “many prepared recesses for barrels and casks”.  Mr J R Ripley, the son of Thomas Ripley, occupied the property at this time.

1796 The eighteenth century historian Lysons tells us that Streatham had a population of 1,590 and consisted of 265 houses. Very few of them, if any, remain today.

1819 Mr J R Ripley died, his will directing that £240 Navy 5% stock should be transferred into the name of the Rector and Churchwardens to be distributed to the relief of six poor men and women.

1838 Mrs Ripley, daughter in-law to J R Ripley, became the owner.

1841 The Census Entry records a Mrs Sarah Ripley, aged 43 years and her children Maria, Sophia, John and Charles took residence in the house.

1851 Mrs Ripley died.  Her children remained in the house

l908 Miss Sophia Ripley died at the age of 80 and Charles William, who predeceased her died aged 77.  Mr Charles James Robinson a retired chemist, bought the house.

1918 The stables (for 24 coach horses) at the back east wall of the garden were demolished.

1928 Mr Robinson died at the age of 94.

1932 A Mr James Gaffney, a dentist and former assistant to Mr Robinson, acquired the property and lived there until 1938.