The History of Wandsworth Common

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Last modified: 30 October 2026 · Build 1

The Anderson Rose Family
Research notes

James Anderson Rose was a London solicitor with an unusual practice: his clients included Whistler, Rossetti, Frederick Sandys and Morris & Co. He acted for Whistler in his libel action against Ruskin in 1878, and was the first major collector of Whistler’s etchings.

He lived beside Wandsworth Common, next to Fernside, signed the great poster of 1870, and tried to give the Common an extra five acres. His brother William Anderson Rose also has a page on this site.

The main page so far is James Anderson Rose. These are working notes; the newest findings are in the research log.

How sure each point is: confirmed in a reliable source; to check stated somewhere but not yet verified; lead an inference, not yet sourced.

Contents

The family in outline

Arthur Rose, oil merchant of Southwark confirmed

James Anderson Rose (1819–19 September 1890), solicitor and collector confirmed

William Anderson Rose, his brother confirmed

James’s wife and children, if any, are still to be traced. to check

James Anderson Rose

James Anderson Rose, engraving by C. W. Sherborn after Frederick Sandys
James Anderson Rose: engraving by C. W. Sherborn after Frederick Sandys (National Portrait Gallery). (Click to enlarge.)

The son of Arthur Rose, an oil merchant of Southwark, he practised from Salisbury Street, off the Strand, in partnership with Ralph Thomas junior from 1862 to 1875. confirmed He died on 19 September 1890. confirmed

Whistler’s solicitor

Whistler's will of 1866, naming James Anderson Rose
Whistler’s will of 1866, which named Anderson Rose as an executor. (Click to enlarge.)

Rose acted for Whistler in Whistler v Ruskin (1878), and was an executor of Whistler’s will of 1866, made before he sailed for Valparaiso. His other clients included Rossetti, Sandys and Morris & Co. He built up the first major collection of Whistler’s etchings. confirmed

The house by Fernside

The houses from Nightingale Cottage to Fernside
The houses from Nightingale Cottage to Fernside. (Click to enlarge.)

He lived next to Fernside, roughly where Airedale Road is now. confirmed The name of his house is still to be confirmed. to check

The Common: 1870 and the Railway Enclosure Piece

Rose signed the poster of 1870 calling for subscriptions to save the Common. (Chronicles, April 2022) confirmed

The Railway Enclosure Piece on the Ordnance Survey of 1893
The “Railway Enclosure Piece”, Ordnance Survey of 1893. (Click to enlarge.)

He bought the “Railway Enclosure Piece”, about five acres around today’s Ravenslea and Mayford Roads, meaning it to be added to the Common. After his death the vestry refused it in 1892 at the asking price of £7,200, and it was built over. (Chronicles, November 2023) confirmed

Open questions

Research log

30 October 2026 — Page started, drawing together the James Anderson Rose page and the Chronicles. The earlier pages stay where they are and are listed under Sources.

Sources

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