The Royal Hospital Chelsea

The home of the Chelsea Pensioners. Right bank above Chelsea Bridge

1758: A Description of The Thames, Binnell & Griffiths

But what graceth this Village [Chelsea] most of all, is that royal Foundation for sick, wounded, decayed, or superannuated Soldiers, commonly called Chelsea-College, built in the Room of a College, which was designed by King James I. for Students in Divinity, who were to make it their whole Business to oppose the Church of Rome, incorporating it by the Name of King James the First's College, he laying the first Stone of the Building himself; yet, after the Expence of £3000 and not an eighth Part of the Building finished, or more advanced than the outward Shell, it lay neglected till King Charles the Second's Reign, who began the present Royal Hospital, which was continued by King James the Second, and finished by King William and Queen Mary, and is one of the best Foundations of its Kind in the World. The Architect of this noble Structure, was Sir Christopher Wren.

1802: Picturesque View on the Thames, Samuel Ireland -

Chelsea Hospital, 1802

Chelsea Hospital, 1811

The Canoe, which is seen in the print, has been naturalized to this part of the river by a gentleman, who passes, and has for many years passed, much of his time in such aquatic excursions as this exotic vessel will allow him.

The above was written by William Bernard Cooke in 1811, and the original drawing was by Samuel Owen. I guess one or other of them was in the canoe!

Chelsea Hospital,Tombleson 1830

[ Cox is to blame, but the hysterical reaction of the crew have made it much worse and might cause a capsize ]