Across the expanse of Blackheath, facing Greenwich Park, sits Ranger’s Cottage. Originally, this elegant villa wasn’t called Ranger’s Cottage. It began its life with a different name and a different purpose. In the 1670s, Andrew Snape, Serjeant Farrier to Charles II, constructed three houses on this land. One stood on the very spot where Ranger’s Cottage now stands. Years later, around 1700, part of Snape’s house became home to Captain Francis Hosier. He would soon transform the property. Hosier, rising to the rank of vice-admiral, demolished Snape’s original structure around 1722-1723. In its place, he built a grand red-brick villa. The location was ideal for a Navy man, with easy access to ships on the Thames and the Royal Hospital for Seamen nearby. It’s believed that John James, clerk of works for the hospital, designed Hosier’s new house. Sadly, Hosier didn’t enjoy his home for long. He died of yellow fever in 1727 while blockading Spanish treasure ships near Panama. His story was immortalized in the ballad “Admiral Hosier’s Ghost.” In 1748, the lease passed to the 4th Earl of Chesterfield. He transformed the house further, adding a gallery for his art collection and even extending the building into Greenwich Park. Ranger’s Cottage then became a social hub and a retreat where Chesterfield penned his famous letters. Over the centuries, Ranger’s Cottage has witnessed a fascinating parade of residents, from royalty to politicians. It has housed art collections, served as headquarters during wartime, and even been a tea room and sports club. Today, Ranger’s Cottage stands as a testament to its rich and varied past, a beautiful Georgian villa with stories to tell.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to