Place Name
George Bessant (1840 – February 23, 1875) was a local market gardener. Married to Mary Cotter, he was living at 7 Wrights Walk, Mortlake, at the time of his death. Charles Hailstone in Alleyways of Mortlake and East Sheen writes: “George Bessant worked extensive market gardens and fruit orchards in the part of Mortlake now called East Sheen, much of it disappearing into the Hammersmith and North Sheen cemeteries [after the farm was bought by the London County Council following the First World War]. Bessant’s farmland was at West Hall, being now occupied by Brick Farm Close, whilst the farmhouse was converted into the present West Farm.” Cassell’s Topographical Guide to the County of Surrey noted: “Great quantities of vegetables and fruit are grown for the London market: and in one sense the parish of Mortlake had a sweeter savour some years hence since than at present, for there were large fields of lavender, of which but little is grown.”
