Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Estate Of The Royal Commissioners For The Exhibition Of 1851.
removal of the British Museum Collections has brought the Kensington Gore Estate prominently forward , and may , even at the eleventh hour , give a body to the willo ' -the-wisp that has eternally danced away from the feet of those who followed in its track . For this reason , then , we believe that it will be not unhistruetive to pass in review thc history of Che Royal Commissioners'
proceedings , and to learn the terms on which the nation may obtain a part of their estate for public purposes . The year following that of the Great Exhibition , the green sward grew again over the area which the building had covered , and of its existence no trace was left but a pump and two blighted elms . The Commissioners found themselves embarrassed with a considerable surplus
fund . Then it was that ambitious promptings stirred their minds , ancl they put forth a notable proposition , which was lacking in one most important requirementthat medium , by the aid of which alone is there any hope of erecting structures of a description more substantial than castles-in-the-air . They conceived a most comprehensive plan , which was nothing less than founding an
institution that should extend over the British Empire the influence of science and art upon the productive industry . This institution was to be established in the metropolis , and to be rendered , by various means , capable of affiliating local establishments in this country , in India , and throughout our colonies , for the purpose of spreading , as widely as possible , tbe benefits of its labours , and
keeping up a constant interchange of information between the parent institution and tho various bodies with which it was associated . Not only our own people aud dependencies were to share in the advantages conferred , but , with true cosmopolitan spirit , it was laid down that the the citizens of foreign countries should eujoy equal facilities . In the -midst of their sounding periods , misgivings appear to have shaken the minds of the Commissioners ,
and they expressed themselves sensible of the iact , that the sum at their disposal was altogether inadequate to the execution of such a plan as they were contemplating . The aid of the State , and of the public at large was absolutely necessary for its development and completion . The first want was , necessarily , laud on which to build , and this was found without much difficulty . It happened
that a Commission , * appointed " to consider the question of a site for a new National Gallery , " had reported in favour ofthe neighbourhood of Hyde-park and Kensington , and the Government had made some overtures for a piece of ground , situated at Kensington Gore . The negotiation was broken off , and the Commissioners ( through the instrumentality of Mr . Kelk ) obtained
possession of the land for which "the Government had been treating . This was known as the " Gore House Estate , " and consisted of 21-Jr acres , with a frontage to Kensington-road of between 500 and 600 feet . The sum paid for it was £ 60 , 000 . Availing themselves ofthe ample powers conferred by the Crown in a supplemental charterdated 2 nd
, December , 1851 , which allowed them to invest the surplus fund " in such manner as they might think fit , " aud to "hold lands and hereditaments in any part of her Majesty ' s . dominions , and to apply or dispose of them" at their own pleasure , the Commissioners passed a resolution authorizing the outlay of a sum not exceeding £ 150 , 000 in the purchase of land ( including their first
purchase ) , on condition that the Government would engage to recommend to Parliament the contribution of a similar amount , for a separate , or joint account , or for division , as might afterwards be determined . Having obtained an assurance of support from the Government , the Commissioners next turned their attention to the land adjoining the Gore House Estate , and bought 48 acres of the Baron de Villars for £ 153 , 500 , paying down a deposit of £ 15 , 000 .
In fulfilment of the promise given by thc Government , the Chancellor of the Exchequer ( Mr . Disraeli ) , brought the subject before the House of Commons ( Gth December , 1852 ) , and Parliament granted £ 150 , 000 . Eventually the Commissioners obtained a private Act to enable them to stop certain roads and make new ones on their property ; and they resolved to advance a further sum of £ 15 , 000
retaining in their hands a balance of £ 21 , 000 * for current expenses and contingencies . Application was made to-Parliament for a contribution , supplemental to the original vote , and a grant was made of £ 25 , 000 , which was subsequently increased to £ 27 , 500 . Thus a total fund of £ 34-2 , 500 was raised , of which £ 177 , 500 was voted by Parliament , and £ 165 , 000 supplied by the
Commissioners . The extent of land secured was 86 acres . Cost . Average per Acres . ( including acre ( in round interest . ) numbers . ) Gore House Estate 21 £ 60 , 834 7 8 ... £ 2 , 900 Villars do . 48 155 , 793 11 0 ... 3 , 250 Harrington Estate ' and houses in Gore-lane 17 ...
—Total 86 Inconvenience having arisen from the joint tenancy aswell as from inaction , the partnership between the Government and the Commissioners ( in whom the legal title had been vested ) , was dissolved with mutual consent by means of a Bill , brought in by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr . Spoonerand which received the
, Eoyal Assent , 12 th July , 1858 . Under this Act the lands of the Commissioners were released upon repayment by them of tbe monies granted in aid of their funds . The monies set forth in the Acts as due consisted of the Parliamentary grants before mentioned , together with a moiety of the net rents received up to 31 st March , 1858 , amounting to £ 3 , 879 4 s . 2 cZ ., and made altogether
the sum of £ 181 , 379 4 s . 2 cL Under clause 2 of the said Act the Government retained the piece of land , containing 12 acres , in the occupation of the Department of Science and Art , together with the buildings thereon , known as the South Kensington Museum . The valueset on these twelve acres was £ 60 , 000 , and the Eoyal Commissioners repaid the difference , or £ 121 , 379 4 s . 2 c ..,
with a loan from the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital of £ 120 , 000 at 4 per cent ., on mortgage of their estate . In order to defray the yearly interest , the outlying portions of the property , four in number , and containing about 12 acres , iu lots of , respectively , Sjf , 2 | , 5 j , and lj- aci'es , were let on building leases . The estate is thus distributed : —
Acres . Bet-iined hy the Government for the Department of Science and Art about 12 Leased to Horticultural Society „ 22 Lent to the Society ot Arts for the International Exhibition of 1862 „ 16 J Outlying- pieces let for building purposes „ 12 Devoted to roads „ 9 "Unappropriated „ 15
Total 86 The space which remains at the disposal of the Commissioners lies partly along Prince Albert ' s-road on the west , Kensington-road on the north , and Exhibition-road on the east of the main square . At the corner of Kensington and Exhibition-roads a small property of two acres , belonging to Lord Auckland , called Eden Lodge , intervenes .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Estate Of The Royal Commissioners For The Exhibition Of 1851.
removal of the British Museum Collections has brought the Kensington Gore Estate prominently forward , and may , even at the eleventh hour , give a body to the willo ' -the-wisp that has eternally danced away from the feet of those who followed in its track . For this reason , then , we believe that it will be not unhistruetive to pass in review thc history of Che Royal Commissioners'
proceedings , and to learn the terms on which the nation may obtain a part of their estate for public purposes . The year following that of the Great Exhibition , the green sward grew again over the area which the building had covered , and of its existence no trace was left but a pump and two blighted elms . The Commissioners found themselves embarrassed with a considerable surplus
fund . Then it was that ambitious promptings stirred their minds , ancl they put forth a notable proposition , which was lacking in one most important requirementthat medium , by the aid of which alone is there any hope of erecting structures of a description more substantial than castles-in-the-air . They conceived a most comprehensive plan , which was nothing less than founding an
institution that should extend over the British Empire the influence of science and art upon the productive industry . This institution was to be established in the metropolis , and to be rendered , by various means , capable of affiliating local establishments in this country , in India , and throughout our colonies , for the purpose of spreading , as widely as possible , tbe benefits of its labours , and
keeping up a constant interchange of information between the parent institution and tho various bodies with which it was associated . Not only our own people aud dependencies were to share in the advantages conferred , but , with true cosmopolitan spirit , it was laid down that the the citizens of foreign countries should eujoy equal facilities . In the -midst of their sounding periods , misgivings appear to have shaken the minds of the Commissioners ,
and they expressed themselves sensible of the iact , that the sum at their disposal was altogether inadequate to the execution of such a plan as they were contemplating . The aid of the State , and of the public at large was absolutely necessary for its development and completion . The first want was , necessarily , laud on which to build , and this was found without much difficulty . It happened
that a Commission , * appointed " to consider the question of a site for a new National Gallery , " had reported in favour ofthe neighbourhood of Hyde-park and Kensington , and the Government had made some overtures for a piece of ground , situated at Kensington Gore . The negotiation was broken off , and the Commissioners ( through the instrumentality of Mr . Kelk ) obtained
possession of the land for which "the Government had been treating . This was known as the " Gore House Estate , " and consisted of 21-Jr acres , with a frontage to Kensington-road of between 500 and 600 feet . The sum paid for it was £ 60 , 000 . Availing themselves ofthe ample powers conferred by the Crown in a supplemental charterdated 2 nd
, December , 1851 , which allowed them to invest the surplus fund " in such manner as they might think fit , " aud to "hold lands and hereditaments in any part of her Majesty ' s . dominions , and to apply or dispose of them" at their own pleasure , the Commissioners passed a resolution authorizing the outlay of a sum not exceeding £ 150 , 000 in the purchase of land ( including their first
purchase ) , on condition that the Government would engage to recommend to Parliament the contribution of a similar amount , for a separate , or joint account , or for division , as might afterwards be determined . Having obtained an assurance of support from the Government , the Commissioners next turned their attention to the land adjoining the Gore House Estate , and bought 48 acres of the Baron de Villars for £ 153 , 500 , paying down a deposit of £ 15 , 000 .
In fulfilment of the promise given by thc Government , the Chancellor of the Exchequer ( Mr . Disraeli ) , brought the subject before the House of Commons ( Gth December , 1852 ) , and Parliament granted £ 150 , 000 . Eventually the Commissioners obtained a private Act to enable them to stop certain roads and make new ones on their property ; and they resolved to advance a further sum of £ 15 , 000
retaining in their hands a balance of £ 21 , 000 * for current expenses and contingencies . Application was made to-Parliament for a contribution , supplemental to the original vote , and a grant was made of £ 25 , 000 , which was subsequently increased to £ 27 , 500 . Thus a total fund of £ 34-2 , 500 was raised , of which £ 177 , 500 was voted by Parliament , and £ 165 , 000 supplied by the
Commissioners . The extent of land secured was 86 acres . Cost . Average per Acres . ( including acre ( in round interest . ) numbers . ) Gore House Estate 21 £ 60 , 834 7 8 ... £ 2 , 900 Villars do . 48 155 , 793 11 0 ... 3 , 250 Harrington Estate ' and houses in Gore-lane 17 ...
—Total 86 Inconvenience having arisen from the joint tenancy aswell as from inaction , the partnership between the Government and the Commissioners ( in whom the legal title had been vested ) , was dissolved with mutual consent by means of a Bill , brought in by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr . Spoonerand which received the
, Eoyal Assent , 12 th July , 1858 . Under this Act the lands of the Commissioners were released upon repayment by them of tbe monies granted in aid of their funds . The monies set forth in the Acts as due consisted of the Parliamentary grants before mentioned , together with a moiety of the net rents received up to 31 st March , 1858 , amounting to £ 3 , 879 4 s . 2 cZ ., and made altogether
the sum of £ 181 , 379 4 s . 2 cL Under clause 2 of the said Act the Government retained the piece of land , containing 12 acres , in the occupation of the Department of Science and Art , together with the buildings thereon , known as the South Kensington Museum . The valueset on these twelve acres was £ 60 , 000 , and the Eoyal Commissioners repaid the difference , or £ 121 , 379 4 s . 2 c ..,
with a loan from the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital of £ 120 , 000 at 4 per cent ., on mortgage of their estate . In order to defray the yearly interest , the outlying portions of the property , four in number , and containing about 12 acres , iu lots of , respectively , Sjf , 2 | , 5 j , and lj- aci'es , were let on building leases . The estate is thus distributed : —
Acres . Bet-iined hy the Government for the Department of Science and Art about 12 Leased to Horticultural Society „ 22 Lent to the Society ot Arts for the International Exhibition of 1862 „ 16 J Outlying- pieces let for building purposes „ 12 Devoted to roads „ 9 "Unappropriated „ 15
Total 86 The space which remains at the disposal of the Commissioners lies partly along Prince Albert ' s-road on the west , Kensington-road on the north , and Exhibition-road on the east of the main square . At the corner of Kensington and Exhibition-roads a small property of two acres , belonging to Lord Auckland , called Eden Lodge , intervenes .