from The Illustrated London News, 1842

from The Illustrated London News, 1843

TATTERSALL'S, 10 GROSVENOR PLACE, entered by a narrow Lane, at the side of St. George's Hospital a celebrated mart for the sale of horses, and so called after Richard Tattersall, (d. 1795), originally a training groom to the second and last Duke of Kingston. Tattersall acquired the foundation of his fortune by the purchase, for 2500l., of the celebrated horse "Highflyer." All horses for sale must be sent on the Friday before the day of sale. The days of sale are Mondays throughout the year, and Thursdays in the height of the season. Here is a subscription-room, under the revision of the Jockey Club, and attended by all the patrons of the turf, from noblemen down to innkeepers. Days of meeting, Monday and Thursday throughout the year. Settling days, Tuesday after the Derby, Monday after the St. Leger. It is necessary to have an introduction from a subscriber. Annual subscription, 21. 2s. The number of members is stated to be between three and four hundred. The betting at Tattersall's regulates the betting throughout the country.

Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850

Tattersall's Enclosure, 1856 [ILN Picture Library]

Auction, 1865 [ILN Picture Library]

Tattersall's exterior, 1864 [ILN Picture Library]

see also George Sala in Twice Round the Clock - click here

TATTERSALL'S. - To the right of the entrance at Albert Gate, Knightsbridge, are a dwelling-house and offices devoted to the use of the manager. To the left is the subscription room, an exceedingly lofty and well-ventilated apartment, 60 feet in length, by 30 feet in width. it is lighted from two domes in the roof, and a skylight and windows at either end. In rear of the offices and subscription room is the court-yard, in which the sales by auction will be conducted. It is neatly gravelled, and of sufficient size to show the paces of the most mettlesome hunter or hack, being 180 by 60 feet.

Cruchley's London in 1865 : A Handbook for Strangers, 1865

At the back of St. George's Hospital used to be the famous stables and horse auction-yard of Tattersall's, or Tat's, - now removed to KNIGHTSBRIDGE (named from a bridge over the Westbourne stream in the ancient manor of Neyte), about a quarter of a mile off, in the direct road west of Piccadilly, which skirts Hyde Park and is continued through Kensington.

Herbert Fry, London, 1889

see also W.J.Gordon in The Horse World of London - click here

A SALE AT TATTERSALL'S.

Tattersall's is famous for its horse auctions, and as the headquarters of betting on the Turf. Our picture shows one of the regular Monday sales, which are supplemented in the season by auctions on other days. Round the yard is stabling for the horses, and the galleries are filled with carriages for sale. Amidst the vehicles on the ground floor is a temple-like covering to a pump which is surmounted by the figure of a fox. The bust is that of George IV., who, as a young man, was a frequenter of Tattersall's. Formerly the mart was situated in Grosvenor Place, but in 1865 the present building was erected at the junction of the Brompton Road with the main thoroughfare along Knightsbridge. Richard Tattersall, training-groom to the last Duke of Kingston, started these horse auctions in 1773, after his master's death.