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buildings, now the Navy's University, were themselves to become
equally famous as the original palace for they now house the
nation's Maritime Museum.
The commanding position held by Greenwich in the 17th
century, began to wane during the 18th century partly due to the
conversion of the Palace into a hospital which induced many of
the fashionable people to leave the area. Nevertheless, although the
Court was no longer in permanent residence and Blackheath was
still plagued with highwaymen and footpads, its position continued
to appeal to influential people of the times who still frequented
Greenwich or lived in the fine buildings in its environs. Lord
Chesterfield, friend of Voltaire and Pope, lived and wrote many of
his celebrated "Letters" to his son at the Rangers House.
McCartney House adjoining was the home of General Wolfe—
Angerstein, father of "Lloyds" of London, whose paintings became
the foundation of the National Portrait Gallery, lived at the "Wood—
lands". Sir John Morden, the founder of Morden College, a
delightful Wren masterpiece, lived locally in a handsome mansion
at Wricklemarsh. Dr. Johnson, the lexicographer and poet, who
lodged locally, composed in and often strolled the park with his
biographer, James Boswell. Notable occupants of other stately
homes such as Charlton House, one of the country's finest examples
of Jacobean architecture, of Vanbrugh Castle and Mince Pie House,
both erected by the designer of Blenheim Palace and the Mansion
House, and of the Manor Houses at Crooms Hill and East and
West Combe, gave evidence of the continued popularity of
Greenwich.
Within its boundaries Greenwich had two traditional fairs.
Granted to Charlton by Henry III at the same time as sanction for
its market received Royal Assent, Horn Fair was held on St. Luke's
Day, October 18th, when horn trinkets of all kinds were sold and
where a carnival of the most restrained kind was included. However,
over the years the procession became more ribald and the
crowds so disorderly that it was ended by an Order in Council
dated March 1872.
That Greenwich Fair held on 12th- 14th May and llth-13th
October was one of London's brightest attractions is emphasised
by the numerous clever skits and drawings which emanated from
the various journals and papers of the day. It came into prominence
at the beginning of the 18th century originally as a cattle fair but
gradually became a place noted not only for the sale of eatables
and for its variety of amusement but also for its riotous and
disreputable character. Despite its doubtful reputation Charles
Dickens thoroughly enjoyed the fair and gives an amusing account
of it in his "Sketches by Boz". In addition to theatrical and