Chatterton lodged in Shoreditch with Mrs Ballance, a relative, who was herself a lodger of the main tenant, Mr Walmsley, who lived in the house with his wife and a nephew and niece.

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Chatterton needed space and privacy, instead he shared the nephew's bed.

No Wonder he sat up writing into the early hours; writing, writing, forever writing.

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It can't have been much of a surprise when, 37 days later and desperate for privacy, he moved to a private attic room, in Brooke Street. 

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Coincidentally, the landlord of the Shoreditch house was Herbert Croft, author of Love and Madness; and so, the plot thickens!

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In a letter that Croft wrote to Stevens in 1782, he states he got much of his knowledge about Chatterton from his tenants. He mentions Walmsley specifically. 

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Croft used the knowledge he gained, along with Chatterton's personal letters to enhance the plot of Love and Madness. The book became irresistible to 18th century readers, going through five or more editions in the 1780s alone.

 

It is obvious that Croft was not always a man to be trusted. He convinced Chatterton's sister to lend him Chatterton's letters & promised to return them forthwith, instead, the devious devil left town with the letters. Yes his methods were devious and underhand, it's true, but so much of what we know of Chatterton is thanks to Herbert Croft.