Early history The word Chelsea (also formerly Chelceth, Chelchith, or Chelsey, originates from the Old English term for “landing-place [on the river] for chalk or limestone” (Cealc-hyð: chalk-dock, Anglo-Saxon ). Chelsea was the site of the Chelsea Synod in 787 AD. The earliest record of Chelsea manor predates the Domesday Book. It records that Thurstan,…