Charles Price's Land

In 1877 Sir Charles Price of Spring Grove, Richmond, sold some land to the west of Temple Sheen adjoining Sheen Common. Three substanial houses were built on this land, two of of which were designed by Ingress Bell. Longfield, from the field name, was built for John Lambert Ovans, a solicitor. The architect's drawing of 1879 is shown on the left. The house survives today.

The other Ingress Bell house, known as Hindley Cottage, was built for Octavius Leigh Clare MP, of Hindley, Lancashire. The architect's drawing (right) was exhibited at the Royal Academy exhibition in 1882. A contemporary report in The Architect stated "though but little more than a cottage in size, the staircase, mantels, ceilings and wainscoting gave the interior all the character of a gentleman's residence, and externally all the moulded brickwork was hand-wrought". It concluded, "Mr George Easton of Mortlake was the builder and he has done his work well". Easton has also been mentioned as the builder of Longfield.

The third house was built by Sir Montagu Ommanney, a grandson of Sir Francis Ommanney who had figured prominently in Mortlake life earlier in the century. He called it Manaton after his great-grandmother's family. Sir Montagu started his career in the Royal Engineers and ended it as Permanent Under-Secretary for Colonial Affairs. Manaton survives today as York House, 83 Christ Church Road.