James Wortley's Developments

In 1858 James Stuart Wortley took up residence at East Sheen Lodge. He had been Solicitor-General but a riding accident had compelled him to give up public life at the age of 51. He paid £11,500 for the 16 acres of East Sheen Lodge and he later purchased the adjoining estate of Percy Lodge with 12 acres for £10,300. He also acquired land in Stonehill field between the present Vicarage Road and Stonehill Road. Soon afterwards he sold off land on the west side fronting on to the road leading to Sheen Common on which three houses were built: Eastdale, Halsteads and The Cottage.

Eastdale was designed by Edward Ingress Bell. It survives as 57 Christ Church Road. The Halsteads was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield. It was one of the first houses in the history of English architecture to be built of concrete. The building contractor who developed this use of concrete was Joseph Tall, and he was sufficiently regarded in architectural circles to be charged with the building of this thirty-room house at East Sheen. It was considerably refurbished in the 1980s. The Cottage was also designed by Blomfield, in 1863, and it was his home for five years. It still stands as 53 and 55 Christ Church Road