The South View of Cheswick

This coloured engraving shows a view of Chiswick with the church of St Nicholas predominant in the centre. It is derived from a drawing by Jean Baptiste Chatelain which was engraved by James Roberts and publicised in a book in 1750 entitled ‘50 small original and elegant views of the most splendid churches, villages rural prospects and masterly pieces of architecture adjacent to London’.

The church stands in Church Street, Chiswick on the banks of the River Thames near the former ferry, which was the only means of crossing the river for many years. The dedication of a church to St Nicholas, patron saint of sailors and fishermen, was a common practice where the parishioners’ livelihood depended on water. The connection persisted until recent times in the name of Fisherman’s Place (formerly known as Slut’s Hole), a row of ancient cottages which sheltered against the south wall of the churchyard by the river.

This view was a popular one and was frequently reproduced; this engraving was published by Laurie and Whittle in the 1790s.