“Lost, like whispers in the wind,” echoes the story of The Firs. This early Georgian house once stood proudly at the corner of Old Road and Manor Lane Terrace. Today its physical presence is gone. But The Firs’ story remains woven into the very fabric of this area.
The Firs was not just any house. It was a statement. Built around 1700 it became the town residence for the Papillions. This prominent Huguenot banking family previously lived in Norton Folgate, Spitalfields. They also maintained a country house in Acrise near Folkestone. Three generations of Papillions called The Firs home over the next century. Phillip, the first owner, was an MP for Dover. He lived until 1736 aged 80. His son David also an MP for Dover lived until 1762. The final Papillion owner, also named David, passed away in 1809.
After the Papillions, The Firs saw a series of notable owners. General Edward Paget stands out among them. He served as second in command to the Duke of Wellington. This was during a portion of the Peninsula War. He later became Governor of Ceylon. He was also Governor of the Royal Military College at Sandhurst.
Later, The Firs became home to the Sladens. They were known for their hospitality and charity. The Sladens were charitable to the poor of Lee. Joseph Sladen lived at The Firs until 1855. Their family tomb can still be found in the old churchyard at St Margaret’s Lee.
John Wingfield Larking became the last owner of The Firs. He likely moved in after the Sladens. By 1862 he was certainly on the electoral register. Wingfield Larking hailed from a wealthy Kent family. He had been a merchant in Egypt and British consul in Alexandria.
One of the most interesting chapters in The Firs’ history unfolded in 1884. Wingfield Larking hired a young Thomas Sanders. Sanders had been working as a gardener at the Palace of Versailles. His task was to care for the grounds of The Firs. Sanders transformed the gardens. He created a winter garden and a series of large conservatories. The winter gardens at The Firs became well-known. Arthur William Head captured their beauty in a trio of paintings.
For Thomas Sanders, The Firs was a stepping stone. He moved on to edit Amateur Gardener in 1887. Sanders eventually settled in Ladywell. He became a Councillor for Lewisham Park in 1912.
The gardens Sanders created did not last long after Wingfield Larking’s death in 1891. The area around The Firs changed rapidly. By 1894 the first homes on Lochaber Road and Lee High Road were completed. These were built on the former estate of The Firs. Soon after, housing on the western side of Old Road followed. Abernethy, Murillo and Rembrandt Roads emerged.
The Firs may be gone but its legacy lingers. Street patterns, roads, and local memories all bear witness to its existence. The story of The Firs is intertwined with the families who lived here. The Firs reflects the ambitions of builders, and the artistry of gardeners. It all remains a part of Lee’s rich history. So, while the red-brick house is no longer visible, its story continues to echo through the streets.