OSTERLEY-HOUSE, (Middlesex) on the N. W. side of Brentford, was built about 1577 by Sir Thomas Gresham, the founder of the
Royal-Exchange, who being soon after honoured with a visit from Q. Eliz. she said the court of it was too large, and would
look better if divided by a wall. Upon this Sir Thomas, who had beforehand engaged her Majesty's stay there that night,
sent forthwith to London for a number of bricklayers, who built up a wall with so much speed and silence, that next
morning the Q. was mightily pleased, and not a little surprized, at the sudden performance; and one of her punning
courtiers said, 'Twas not strange that he who had built a change could so soon change a building. There is a park here,
which he impaled, and improved with many fish-ponds, that also afforded swans and other water-fowl, and served mills for
paper, corn, and oil; and in the park was then a very fine heronry. It was afterwards the seat of the famous Pt.-general
Sir William Waller; from whose family it was conveyed to Dr. Barebones; after whose death, it was the seat of the late
ald. Sir Francis Child, as it is now of his brother, Mr. Samuel Child the banker.