HISTORIC HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 6

HISTORIC HOUSE.

WHERE COOK LIVED.

DESTRUCTION PLANNED.

LINK WITH DISTANT PAST.

While Captain Cook's cottage in Yorkshire is being transported to Augtralia, his last home at 22, North Side, Clapham Common, may be destroyed. It was in this historic house that he planned his last voyage nearly 160 years ago. From the front of the house, when Cook lived there, he had a fine panoramic view of Clapham Common, and from the rear he could look over the open spaces and marshes of what is now Battersea, a densely populated suburb of London, and could see the River Thames winding towards Deptford, where his ship was fitting for his final expedition. His widow remained thero until her death in 1836, when over 90 years of age; then the house passed into other hands and was allowed to fall into a state of neglect. It was a five-storey building, of 24 rooms, and was in the Queen Anne style of architecture, supplying an interesting link with the days of Sir Christopher Wren, for there is little doubt that Wren, as an old man, passed on the plans of the terrace of houses of which No. 22, North Side, forms a part. The red brick walls and inside panelling of pine have stood well for 200 years, and the only deterioration appears to be that which is traceable to neglect. Lovers of the historic will regret that this house should be demolished. Part of the panelling of some of the rooms would be a fitting and valuable acquisition to a New Zealand museum, and a portion of the wrought-iron railing that surrounds the house should also be pre-, served. Mrs. Cook was fond of relating the story of the capture of Quebec, in which her husband played a leading part. The boat attack upon the Heights of Abraham, where Wolfe won immortal glory, was planned by Cook, who at that time was master's mate (navigating officer) on the British flagship. It was Cook's surveying ability on this occasion that brought him into prominence, and paved the way for his future career, and it is interesting to note that some Admiralty charts of the River St. Lawrence in use to-day are from surveys by "Mr. James Cook." His reputation as a navigating surveyor and astronomer was already established before he set out on his great voyages of discovery.