David Lance and his lasting influence on Southampton

Chessel Avenue, Chessel Crescent, Chessel Bay, Lances and Little Lances Hill in Bitterne are all names that owe their origin to the important member of society. 

David Lance was born around 1757 and by his early twenties was in the Far East, as an agent for the East India Company.

Records from 1777 show David Lance shipping out two chests of Hyson - Lucky Dragon green tea - for himself.

While in the far east, he had become friendly with William Fitzhugh whose father Valentine Fitzhugh lived in Bitterne Manor House.

A commodity that the Chinese were really keen to get hold of was sea-otter fur with its exceptionally thick coat.

David Lance entered a partnership with William Fitzhugh and Henry Lane sponsoring voyages under trading companies to Canada.

On one voyage in 1786 Captain James Hanna drew up some charts, naming Fitzhugh Sound, Lane's Bay, Lance's Island and Cox's Island. Lance's Island, lying off Vancouver Island in Canada, is now spelt Lanz Island.

David Lance returned to England in 1789 a rich man and married William Fitzhugh's sister Mary. Their children were baptised at the former All Saints Church on the corner of East Street and High Street, so possibly the Lance family lived nearby.

Chessel House, built for Lance in 1796, was designed by John Kent, the architect responsible for Paultons Park near Romsey. Chessel House was situated on high ground south of Bitterne Road, and west of Peartree Avenue. 

The estate had three entrance lodges, one of which still remains at 1 Chessel Avenue, sometimes called Magellan. The reason for the name is unknown, but Jane Austen calls it “Chesil '' linking it perhaps to Chessel Beach.

Tragedy came to David and Mary Lance in April 1801 when their daughter Frances only lived for two weeks. Frances Lance was baptised at Jesus Chapel on Pear Tree Green and buried at All Saints in Southampton two days later. Emma, another daughter, died in 1810 aged nineteen.

Jane Austen, who lived in Castle Square between 1806 and 1809, was critical of Mrs Lance when she first visited her writing: “They live in a handsome style and are rich, and we gave her to understand that we were far from being so; she will soon feel therefore that we are not worth their acquaintance.” 

However, she developed a friendship and visited Chessel House on a number of occasions. Her letters also reveal that she sometimes met Lance’s two teenage daughters at balls in the Dolphin Hotel.

As Mansbridge was still the only bridge across the Itchen and the railway was not yet developed, access to Chessel House was rather difficult for visitors.

Lance invested in a company which built the first Northam Toll Bridge in 1799, and later, Bursledon Bridge.

David Lance was a man of influence. In 1794 he was made a Burgess of the Town and was the Sheriff of Hampshire in 1807. He was also a member of the exclusive Royal Southampton Archers. 

By the end of 1817 David Lance had sold Chessel House and lands to the Right Honourable Lord Ashtown.

The family then moved to Marylebone in London where David Lance died aged 63 in 1819.

His widow and his daughter Mary moved to Paris, where Mrs Lance died in 1835. 

In 1840 the property was acquired by Sir William Richardson and then passed to the eldest son, William Henry Richardson, known locally for his generosity, until his death in 1906.

The house was sold to developers and finally demolished in the 1920s.

Chessel Avenue and Chessel Crescent were named after the house as the area was developed. It’s not clear when Chessel Bay on the east bank of the River Itchen acquired that name.

The steep hill from Bitterne Park, known as (Great) Lance's Hill, is now incorporated into Bitterne Road, though the name survives in a car park near the top. Little Lances Hill, which ran up towards Chessel House, still retains its name.

Jack Wison is a tour guide with SeeSouthampton.co.uk .