Portobello House was one of the largest and most imposing of Mortlake houses. It may be something of a surprise to discover that it was at the corner of Sheen Lane and South Worple Way.

The picture of the House was posted last week.

Built in 1747 for Vice-Admiral Perry Mayne it took its name from the naval action which resulted in the capture in 1739 from the Spanish of Porto Bello in the West Indies in which Mayne took part under Admiral Vernon. The entrance was in South Worple Way.

Mr Joseph Gandolfi resided in the house around 1782. Lady Constantia Mostyn, a  Catholic, lived here from 1842 to 1849. There was no nearby Catholic church, so  she fitted up her hayloft as a place of worship. Many of the local Irish market-garden workers attended this small chapel. Consequently St. Mary Magdalene’s Church was built in Worple Way in 1852.

The illustration shows the house ten years before demolition in 1893. So from 1846 until then it was adjacent to the Richmond Railway.

Vernon and Howgate Roads were laid out on the grounds in 1898.