East & West Molesey

A Dictionary of Local History

Rowland G. M. Baker, 1972

 
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A mansion, now demolished, which stood on the south side of Hurst Road on land now occupied by Wilton Gardens. The most distinguished resident was Sir Henry Thompson (1820 - 1904) a noted surgeon who was one of the first to operate successfully for the removal of Gall-stones. He operated on both the King of the Belgians and Napoleon the Third. He was as well an amateur astronomer and had an observatory at Hurstside which included a telescope twice the size of any other then in use. He was an excellent artist, a writer of novels, and his interest in hygiene led him to become one of the first in this country to advocate and popularise cremation.


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