ROEHAMPTON, a hamlet in the parish of PUTNEY,
western division of the hundred of BRIXTON, county of
SURREY, 5 miles (S. W. by W.) from London. The
population is returned with the parish. This place is
pleasantly situated at the western extremity of Putney
Heath, bordering on which are several handsome villas
of the nobility and gentry, including that of the Earl of
Besborough, built by Sir William Chambers, and containing
some antique sculptures and paintings by Flemish
and Italian artists. Here also is Roehampton
House, formerly called Putney Park, which, in the reign
of Charles I.-, belonged to the Earl of Portland, and
was subsequently the property of Christiana, Countess
of Devonshire, a lady distinguished for her talents, who
is said to have had some share in the restoration of
Charles II. A chapel attached to this mansion, erected
by Lord Portland, was consecrated in 1632, and dedicated
to the Holy Trinity: it was taken down in 1777,
by Thomas Parker, Esq., then proprietor of Roehampton
House, who built a new chapel at a short distance.
This place suffered great injury from a violent hurricane
which occurred October 15th, 1780, and extended
from Lord Besborough's mansion to Hammersmith,
tearing up trees in its course, and  driving them to a
considerable distance; some buildings were unroofed,
and a windmill was thrown down.