LONDON
AND ITS
ENVIRONS
DESCRIBED.
VOL. V.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONDON
AND ITS
ENVIRONS
DESCRIBED.
CONTAINING
An Account of whatever is most remarkable for GRANDEUR, ELEGANCE,
CURIOSITY or USE,
In the CITY and in the COUNTRY
Twenty Miles round it.
COMPREHENDING ALSO
Whatever is most material in the History and Antiquities
of this great Metropolis.
Decorated and illustrated with a great Number of Views in Perspective,
engraved from original Drawings, taken on purpose for this Work.
Together with a PLAN of LONDON,
A Map of the ENVIRONS, and several other
useful CUTS.
VOL. V.
LONDON:
Printed for R. and J. DODSLEY in Pall Mall.
----------
M DCC LXI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
_Monument._
_S. Wale delin._ _J. Green sc. Oxon._
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONDON
AND ITS
ENVIRONS
DESCRIBED, &c.
MON
MONUMENT, a noble fluted column, erected by order of parliament, in
commemoration of the burning and rebuilding of the city, on the east
side of Fish street hill, in a square open to the street.
This stately column, which is of the Doric order, was begun by Sir
Christopher Wren, in the year 1671, and completed by that great
architect in 1677. It much exceeds, in height, the pillars at Rome of
the Emperors Trajan and Antoninus, the stately remains of Roman
grandeur; or that of Theodosius at Constantinople; for the largest of
the Roman columns, which was that of Antoninus, was only 172 feet and a
half in height, and 12 feet 3 inches, English measure, in diameter. But
the diameter of this column at the base, is 15 feet, and consequently it
is 120 feet high; the height of the pedestal is 40, and the cippus or
meta with the urn on the top 42, making 202 feet in the whole. On the
cap of the pedestal, at the angles, are four dragons (the supporters of
the city arms) and between them trophies, with symbols of regality,
arts, sciences, commerce, &c.
Within is a large staircase of black marble, containing 345 steps, 10
inches and a half broad, and 6 inches in thickness, and by these there
is an ascent to the iron balcony (which is the abacus of the column).
Over the capital is an iron balcony, encompassing a cone 32 feet high,
supporting a blazing urn of brass, gilt.
In the place of this urn, which was set up contrary to Sir Christopher’s
opinion, was originally intended a colossal statue, in brass, gilt, of
King Charles II. as founder of the new city, after the manner of the
Roman pillars, which terminated with the statues of their Cæsars; or
else a figure erect of a woman crowned with turrets, holding a sword and
cap of maintenance, with other ensigns of the city’s grandeur and
re-erection.
Prior to this, the same gentleman made a design of a pillar of somewhat
less proportion, viz. 14 feet in diameter, and after a peculiar device:
for as the Romans expressed by _relievo_ on the pedestals, and round the
shafts of their columns, the history of such actions and incidents as
were intended to be thereby commemorated; so this monument of the
conflagration and resurrection of the city of London was represented by
a pillar in flames; the flames, blazing from the loop-holes of the
shaft, intended to give light to the stairs within, were in brass work
gilt, and on the top was a phœnix rising from her ashes, also of brass
gilt. _Parentalia._
The west side of the pedestal is adorned with curious emblems, by the
masterly hand of Mr. Cibber, father to the late Poet Laureat, in which
the eleven principal figures are done in _alto_, and the rest in _basso
relievo_. The principal figure, to which the eye is particularly
directed, is a female, representing the city of London, sitting in a
languishing posture on a heap of ruins: her head droops, her hair is
dishevelled, and her hand, with an air of languor, lies carelessly on
her sword. Behind is Time, gradually raising her up: at her side, a
woman, representing Providence, gently touches her with one hand, while
with a winged scepter in the other, she directs her to regard two
Goddesses in the clouds, one with a cornucopia, denoting Plenty, the
other with a palm branch, the emblem of Peace. At her feet is a
bee-hive, to shew that by industry and application the greatest
misfortunes may be overcome. Behind Time, are citizens exulting at his
endeavours to restore her; and, beneath, in the midst of the ruins, is a
dragon, the supporter of the city arms, who endeavours to preserve them
with his paw. Still farther, at the north end, is a view of the city in
flames; the inhabitants in consternation, with their arms extended
upward, and crying out for succour.
On the other side, on an elevated pavement, stands King Charles II. in a
Roman habit, with his temples incircled by a wreath of laurel, and
approaching the figure representing the city, with a truncheon in his
hand, seems to command three of his attendants to descend to her relief:
the first represents the Sciences, with wings on her head, and a circle
of naked boys dancing upon it, holding in her hand Nature, with her
numerous breasts ready to give assistance to all: the second is,
Architecture, with a plan in one hand, and a square and pair of
compasses in the other: and the third is, Liberty, waving a hat in the
air, shewing her joy at the pleasing prospect of the city’s speedy
recovery. Behind the King, stands his brother the Duke of York, with a
garland in one hand to crown the rising city, and a sword in the other
for her defence. Behind him are Justice and Fortitude, the former with a
coronet, and the latter with a reined lion. In the pavement, under the
Sovereign’s feet, appears Envy peeping from her cell, and gnawing a
heart; and in the upper part of the back ground the re-construction of
the city is represented by scaffolds, erected by the sides of unfinished
houses, with builders and labourers at work upon them.
The other sides of the pedestal have, each, a Latin inscription. That on
the north side may be thus rendered.
‘In the year of Christ 1666, the second day of September,
eastward from hence, at the distance of 202 feet, (the height of
this column) about midnight, a most terrible fire broke out,
which, driven by a high wind, not only laid waste the adjacent
parts, but also places very remote, with incredible noise and
fury: it consumed 89 churches, the city gates, Guildhall, many
public structures, hospitals, schools, libraries, a vast number
of stately edifices, 13,200 dwelling houses, 400 streets: of
twenty-six wards it utterly destroyed fifteen, and left eight
others shattered and half burnt. The ruins of the city were 436
acres, from the Tower by the Thames side to the Temple church,
and from the north east, along the city wall, to Holborn bridge.
To the estates and fortunes of the citizens it was merciless,
but to their lives very favourable. That it might, in all
things, resemble the last conflagration of the world, the
destruction was sudden; for in a small space of time, the same
city was seen most flourishing, and reduced to nothing. Three
days after, when this fatal fire had, in the opinion of all,
baffled all human counsels and endeavours, it stopped, as it
were, by a command from heaven, and was on every side
extinguished.’
The inscription on the south side is translated thus:
‘Charles the Second, son of Charles the Martyr, King of Great
Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, a most
gracious Prince, commiserating the deplorable state of things,
whilst the ruins were yet smoaking, provided for the comfort of
his citizens, and ornament of his city, remitted their taxes,
and referred the petition of the magistrates and inhabitants to
parliament; who immediately passed an act, that public works
should be restored to greater beauty, with public money, to be
raised by an impost on coals; that the churches, and the
cathedral of St. Paul’s, should be rebuilt from their
foundations, with the utmost magnificence: that bridges, gates,
and prisons should be new erected, the sewers cleansed, the
streets made straight and regular, such as were steep levelled,
and those too narrow to be made wider. Markets and shambles
removed to separate places. They also enabled, that every house
should be built with party walls, and all in front raised of
equal height; that those walls should be of square stone or
brick; and that no man should delay building beyond the space of
seven years. Moreover, care was taken by law to prevent all
suits about their bounds. Anniversary prayers were also
enjoined; and to perpetuate the memory thereof to posterity,
they caused this column to be erected. The work was carried on
with diligence, and London is restored; but whether with greater
speed or beauty, may be made a question. In three years time the
world saw that finished, which was supposed to be the work of an
age.’
The inscription on the east side contains the names of the Lord Mayors
from the time of its being begun, till its being compleated; and round
the upper part of the pedestal is the following inscription in English.
‘This pillar was set up in perpetual remembrance of the most
dreadful burning of this protestant city, begun and carried on
by the treachery and malice of the popish faction in the
beginning of September, in the year of our Lord 1666, in order
to the carrying on their horrid plot for extirpating the
protestant religion, and Old English Liberty, and introducing
popery and slavery.’
This inscription, upon the Duke of York’s accession to the crown, was
immediately erased; but soon after the revolution it was restored again.
This monument, says the author of _The Review of our public buildings_,
“is undoubtedly the noblest modern column in the world; nay, in some
respects, it may justly vie with those celebrated ones of antiquity,
which are consecrated to the names of Trajan and Antonine. Nothing can
be more bold and surprizing, nothing more beautiful and harmonious: the
bas relief at the base, allowing for some few defects, is finely
imagined, and executed as well: and nothing material can be cavilled
with but the inscriptions round about it.” These, however, Sir
Christopher Wren had prepared in a more elegant and masculine style, as
appears by the _Parentalia_; but he was over-ruled.
MONUMENT _yard_, New Fish street hill, so called from the Monument placed
in it.
MOOR _court_, 1. Fore street, Cripplegate, so called from its vicinity to
Moorfields. 2. Miles lane, near Crooked lane.
MOORFIELDS, a large piece of ground to the north of London wall, lying
between the east end of Fore street, and the west end of New Broad
street, and extending as far as Hoxton. These fields originally took
their name from their being one continued marsh or moor; so that Roger
Achiley, Lord Mayor, in 1521, caused the ground to be levelled, and
bridges and causeways to be erected over these fields, in order to
render them passable: but since that time the ground has been raised and
drained, and the whole encompassed with houses.
Moorfields being a very extensive piece of ground, is now divided into
Lower Moorfields, Middle Moorfields, and Upper Moorfields. The first of
these divisions has the hospital of Bethlem, a noble building, extending
along the whole south side: and here the fields are divided into four
different squares, by very strong, but clumsey, wooden rails, each
containing a large grass plat, surrounded on each side by a row of
trees. Between these squares, which are generally denominated the
quarters, are gravel walks; and one extending from east to west, with a
row of trees on each side, forming a tolerable vista, is usually
denominated the City Mall; a great concourse of well-dressed citizens of
both sexes walking there, particularly every Sunday noon in fine
weather, and on evenings.
The east side of this part of Moorfields is taken up by shops, where old
books are sold at the south east corner, and second-hand goods of all
sorts along that side.
The rest of Moorfields, containing the two other divisions, still lie
waste, though they might be converted into gardens or public walks, and
thus be rendered one of the principal ornaments of this metropolis.
MOORGATE, situated near the north end of Coleman street, and 1664 feet to
the west of Bishopsgate, was first erected in the year 1415, and
received its name from its opening into Moorfields.
The present edifice, which is one of the most magnificent gates of the
city, was erected in the year 1674, and consists of a lofty arch, and
two posterns for foot passengers. The arch is built higher than the
common rules of proportion, for the sake of the city trained bands
marching through it with their pikes erected; a weapon now laid aside.
Others, however, are of opinion, that its height was intended for the
better convenience of bringing carts or waggons loaded with hay into the
city, it having been intended to make a market for hay in Little
Moorfields; a design which did not take effect. The upper part is
ornamented with Corinthian pilasters, supporting their proper
entablature, and with a round pediment, in which is the city arms. The
apartments over the gate are appropriated to the use of one of the Lord
Mayor’s carvers.
MOOR’S _alley_, 1. King’s street, Westminster.† 2. Norton Falgate, near
Shoreditch.†
MOOR PARK, near Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, is at present the seat of
Lord Anson. The park is not large, but is very beautiful, whether we
consider it within itself or with regard to the fine and extensive
prospects from it. The house was originally built by Cardinal Wolsey,
and, passing through many hands, was afterwards in possession of the
Duke of Monmouth. Then it came into the hands of Mr. Stiles, who
enlarged, repaired, and beautified it, under the direction of Sir James
Thornhill. It stands on a hill, not quite on the summit. It is of stone
of the Corinthian order; and, if not in the highest stile of
architecture, is yet very noble. The south, or principal front, has a
portico and pediment of four columns. The offices are joined to the
house by a beautiful circular colonade of the Ionic order, which
terminates very elegantly with domes on each side their entrance. One
cannot help wishing the house on the top of the hill, or that part of
the hill were removed, for you can’t now see the principal front till
you are upon it. Even in the view given in the print, part of one of the
wings is hid by the rising ground.
MOOR _street_, Hog lane, Soho.†
MOOR _yard_, 1. Fashion street, Spitalfields.† 2. St. Martin’s lane,
Charing Cross.† 3. Old Fish street.†
MORAVIANS, a set of dissenters lately established in England. They have
the following places of worship. 1. Lindsey House, Chelsea. 2.
Monastery, Hatton Garden. 3. Nevill’s alley, Fetter lane.
MORDEN COLLEGE, on the east side of Blackheath, for the support of poor
decayed and honest merchants, was erected by Sir John Morden, Bart. a
Turky merchant, several years before his death, which happened in the
year 1708. It consists of a large brick building, with two small wings,
strengthened at the corners with stone rustic. The principal entrance,
which is in the center, is decorated with Doric columns, festoons, and a
pediment on the top, over which rises a turret, with a dial; and from
the dome, which is supported by scrolls, rises a ball and fane. To this
entrance there is an ascent by a flight of circular steps; and having
ascended them, and passed through this part of the building, we enter an
inner square, surrounded with piazzas. The chapel is neatly wainscoted,
and has a costly altar-piece.
This structure Sir John erected at a small distance from his own
habitation, in a place called Great Stone Field, and endowed it, after
his Lady’s decease, with his whole real, copyhold, and personal estate,
to the value of about 1300_l._ _per annum_.
The founder of this noble charity placed in this hospital twelve decayed
Turky merchants in his life time; but after his decease, the Lady
Morden, finding that the share allotted her by Sir John’s last will was
insufficient for her decent support, some parts of the estate not
answering so well as was expected, she was obliged to reduce the number
to four.
But upon her death the whole estate coming to the college, the number
was increased, and there are at this time thirty-five poor gentlemen;
and, the number not being limited, it is to be increased as the estate
will afford; for the building will conveniently hold forty.
The Treasurer, who receives the rents and revenues, and keeps the books
of the accounts and disbursements of the college, has 40_l._ a year; and
the Chaplain, who reads prayers twice a day, and preaches twice every
Sunday, had at first a salary of 30_l._ _per annum_, which the Lady
Morden doubled at her death. She was, in other respects, a benefactress
of the college, and, as she put up her husband’s statue in a niche, over
the gate, the trustees put up her’s in another niche, adjoining to that
of her husband. The pensioners have each 20_l._ a year, and at first
wore gowns, with the founder’s badge; but this badge has not been worn
for some years. They have a common table in the hall to eat and drink
together at meals; and each has a convenient apartment, with a cellar.
The Treasurer, Chaplain, and Pensioners, are obliged to reside in the
college; and, except in case of sickness, no other persons are to
reside, live, or lodge there; but no person can be admitted as a
pensioner, who cannot bring a certificate to prove his being upwards of
sixty years of age.
Seven Turky merchants have the direction of this hospital, and the
nomination of the persons to be admitted into it; to them the Treasurer
is accountable; and whenever any of these die, the surviving trustees
chuse others in their room. _Stow’s Survey._ _Tour through Great
Britain._
MORGAN’S _alley_, Greenwalk, Southwark.†
MORGAN’S _ground_, Chelsea.†
MORGAN’S _lane_, 1. Old Horselydown lane.† 2. St. Olave street, Tooley
street.†
MORGAN’S _rents_, Greenwalk, Southwark.†
MORGAN’S _yard_, by Morgan’s rents.†
MORRELL’S _Almshouse_, near the Nag’s head in Hackney road, was erected by
the Goldsmiths company, in the year 1705, pursuant to the will of Mr.
Richard Morrel, for the reception of six poor members of that company,
each of whom has two neat rooms, 2_s._ per week, half a chaldron of
coals, a quarter of a hundred of faggots, and a gown every year.
_Maitland._
MORRICE’S _Almshouse_, in the Old Jewry, was erected by the company of
Armourers, in the year 1551, pursuant to the will of the Lady Elizabeth
Morrice, for the reception of nine poor widows, who, according to the
discretion of the company, are allowed from six to twenty shillings per
quarter, and nine bushels of coals each yearly. _Maitland._
MORRISON’S _court_, New lane, Shad Thames.†
MORRIS’S _alley_, New lane, Shad Thames.†
MORRIS’S _causeway stairs_, Southwark, opposite Somerset House.†
MORRIS’S _wharf_, near Thames street.†
MORSE’S _alley_, Marshal street, Southwark.†
MORTAR _alley_, Shoreditch.
MORTIMER _street_, Cavendish square.
MORTIMER _yard_, Tower Hill.†
MORTLACK, in Surry, is situated on the Thames, between Putney and
Richmond, about one mile west of Barnes. Here are two charity schools,
and a famous manufacture for weaving tapestry hangings.
MOSES _alley_, 1. Willow street, Bank side, Southwark.* 2. Smock alley,
Spitalfields.*
MOSES AND AARON _alley_, Whitechapel.*
MOSES _court_, Nightingale lane.* 2. Moses alley, Willow street.*
MOSLEY’S _court_, Philpot lane.†
MOULDMAKERS _row_, St. Martin’s le Grand.
MOULSEY, two towns, thus denominated from the river Mole, which runs
between them into the Thames; _East Moulsey_ is situated opposite to
Hampton Court, and was granted by King Charles II. to Sir James Clarke,
grandfather to the present lord of the manor, who had the ferry from
thence to Hampton Court, in the room of which he has lately erected a
handsome bridge, where a very high toll is taken of all passengers,
carriages, &c.
_West Moulsey_ is situated about a mile and a half west from Kingston, and
here is a ferry to Hampton town, which likewise belongs to the same
gentleman.
MOUNT _court_, Gravel lane, Houndsditch.
MOUNTFORD’S _court_, Fenchurch street.
MOUNTMILL, at the upper end of Goswell street. Here was situated one of
the forts erected by order of parliament in the year 1643; but that
becoming useless at the end of the civil war, a windmill was erected
upon it, from which it received its present name, which is also given to
the street.
MOUNT _passage_, Mount street, near Grosvenor square.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Little Gray’s Inn lane.
MOUNT _row_, David street, Grosvenor square.
MOUNT _street_, By Mount row.
MOURNING _lane_, Hackney.
MOUSE _alley_, East Smithfield.
MUDD’S _court_, Broad street, Ratcliff.†
MULBERRY _court_, 1. Bermondsey.‡ 2. White’s alley.‡
MULLIN’S _rents_, Shoe lane.†
MUMFORD’S _court_. Milk street.†
MUSCOVY _court_, Tower hill.
MUSEUM. See the article BRITISH MUSEUM.
MUSICIANS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King James
I. in the year 1604.
They are governed by a Master, two Wardens, and twenty Assistants, and
have a livery of thirty-one members, who on their admission pay a fine
of 40_s._ but have no hall.
MUSICK HOUSE _court_, Upper Shadwell.
MUSICK HOUSE _yard_, Upper Shadwell.
MUSTARD _alley_, Castle alley.
MUSWELL HILL, in Middlesex, on the east side of Highgate, took its name
from a spring or well on the hill, by a house built by Alderman Roe,
which afterwards came to the present Earl of Bath. By this well, which
was esteemed holy, was a chapel with an image of our Lady of Muswell, to
which great numbers went in pilgrimage. Both the manor and chapel were
sold in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to Mr. William Roe, in whose
family they continued, till Sir Thomas Roe, the Ambassador, sold them in
the last century. Some time ago the manor house was converted into a
place of public entertainment.
MUTTON _court_, Maiden lane, Wood street, Cheapside.
MUTTON _lane_, Clerkenwell.
MY LADY’S _yard_, Harrow alley, Whitechapel.
[Illustration]
N.
NAG’S HEAD _alley_, 1. Bridge yard passage.* 2. Fenchurch street.* 3. St.
Margaret’s hill, Southwark.* 4. In the Minories.*
NAG’S HEAD _buildings_, Hackney road.*
NAG’S HEAD _court_, 1. Golden lane, Redcross street.* 2. Gracechurch
street.* 3. Great Tower hill.* 4. Leather lane, Holborn. 5. Snow hill.*
6. Three Colt street.* 7. Wentworth street.*
NAG’S HEAD _yard_, 1. Golden lane.* 2. Great Swallow street.* 3. Norton
Falgate.*
NAILER’S _yard_, 1. Queen street, in the Mint, Southwark. 2. Silver
street, Golden square.
NAKED BOY _alley_, 1. Barnaby street, Southwark.* 2. Piccadilly.*
NAKED BOY _court_, 1. Little Elbow lane, Great Elbow lane, Thames street.*
2. Ludgate hill.* 3. In the Strand.
NAKED BOY _yard_, 1. Back street, Lambeth.* 2. Deadman’s Place.*
NAN’S _hole_ or _yard_, Angel street, St. Martin’s le Grand.‖
NARROW _alley_, Stony lane.
NARROW _street_, 1. Limehouse. 2. Ratcliff.
NARROW _wall_, Lambeth.
NASING, a village in Essex, between Epping and Harlow.
NASSAU _street_, Gerrard street, by Prince’s street, Soho; probably thus
named in honour of King William III.
NAVESTOCK, a village near Brentwood in Essex.
NAVY OFFICE, in Crutched Friars. Here all affairs relating to the royal
navy are managed by the Commissioners under the Lords of the Admiralty.
It is a very plain building, that by its appearance gives us no idea of
its importance; but it must be allowed the merit of being extremely
convenient. The office where the Commissioners meet, and the clerks keep
their books, is detached from the rest, as a precaution against
accidents by fire, the papers here being of the utmost importance; and
in the other buildings some of the Commissioners and other officers
reside.
The Treasurer of the navy is an officer of prodigious trust, as he
receives and pays all sums for the use of the navy: his salary is
therefore 2000_l._ _per annum_, and 800_l._ for his instruments.
The seven Commissioners have all their different departments in the
management of the business of this office; and each has a salary of
500_l._ a year.
One is Comptroller of the navy: he attends and comptrols all payments of
wages; is obliged to know the market price of all stores belonging to
shipping, and to examine and audit all the treasurers, victuallers, and
storekeepers accounts. This Commissioner has two clerks who have 100_l._
a year each: one of 60_l._ a year, and nine of 50_l._ each. Besides in
his office for seamen’s wages he has a chief clerk who has 200_l._ a
year, and also nine others of 50_l._ each.
Two others are Joint-surveyors of the navy, and besides the salary of
500_l._ a year each, one of them has 80_l._ _per annum_ for house rent.
They are in general to know the state of all stores, and to see the
wants supplied; to survey the hulls, masts, and yards, and to estimate
the value of repairs by indenture; to charge all boatswains and
carpenters of the navy with what stores they have received; and at the
end of each voyage to state and audit their accounts. They have a chief
clerk, who has 100_l._ a year, and six others of 50_l._
The fourth is Clerk of the acts. It is his office to record all orders,
contracts, bills, warrants, and other business transacted by the
principal officers and commissioners of the navy. He has an assistant,
who has a salary of 300_l._ a year, and 50_l._ for house rent; a chief
clerk, who has 100_l._ a year; another has 70_l._ another 60_l._ and
nine others have 50_l._ _per annum_ each.
The fifth is Comptroller of the Treasurer’s accounts, and has a clerk of
100_l._ a year; another of 60_l._ another of 50_l._ and another of
40_l._ a year. The ticket office is under his inspection, and there he
has two chief clerks of 200_l._ a year each; another of 80_l._ six of
50_l._ a year each, and one of 40_l._ In this office there are also six
extra clerks who have 50_l._ a year each, and one who has 2_s._ 6_d._ a
day.
The sixth is the Comptroller of the victualling accounts, who has a
clerk of 100_l._ a year; one of 50_l._ and one of 40_l._ _per annum_.
The seventh is Comptroller of the store-keeper’s accounts, who has also
a chief clerk, that has a salary of 100_l._ a year; six clerks of 50_l._
a year each; and another of 40_l._ _per annum_.
Besides these there are three Extra Commissioners of the navy, who have
500_l._ a year, and 80_l._ each for house rent; and under these are
several clerks, and other officers.
There is also a Commissioner residing at Gibraltar, who has 1000_l._ a
year, and several officers who have considerable salaries under him: a
Commissioner resident at Chatham yard, at Portsmouth yard, and at
Plymouth yard, who have 500_l._ a year each; but Deptford and Woolwich
yards are under the immediate inspection of the navy board; as Sheerness
yard is under the inspection of the Commissioner at Chatham.
The number of these Officers and Commissioners have been increased on
account of the exigence of affairs; but the principal of them hold their
offices by patent under the great seal.
NEAL’S _yard_, Great St. Andrew street, Seven Dials.†
NEAT HOUSE _lane_, Upper Millbank.
NEAT HOUSES, Near Chelsea Bridge.
NECKINGER _lane_, Rotherhith wall.
NECKINGER _road_, Neckinger lane.
NEEDLEMAKERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by Oliver
Cromwell, in 1656, consisting of a Master, two Wardens, eighteen
Assistants, and forty-eight Liverymen, who upon their admission pay a
fine of 3_l._ 6_s._ 8_d._ but having no hall they transact their
business in Guildhall.
It is remarkable that by an act of Common Council in 1658, it was
ordered that every needlemaker free of the city, of whatever company
they be, should from thenceforward be subject to the search and survey
of this company; that no needlemaker of any other company should bind an
apprentice to himself, till he had first bound him to the Master or one
of the Wardens or Assistants of the Needlemakers company, who should
turn over such an apprentice to him, before the Chamberlain of London,
in order that all such apprentices might be made free of the
Needlemakers company; and that any such master, not being free of that
company, who should take an apprentice in any other manner, should
forfeit the sum of 20_l._
NELL’S _wharf_, St. Catharine’s.
NELMES, a village in Essex, on the east side of Rumford.
NELSON’S _court_, 1. Drury lane.† 2. Rosemary lane, Tower hill.†
NEPTUNE _street_, Wellclose square.
NETHERHALL, a village in Essex, on the north side of Chipping Ongar.
NETHERHALL, a village in Essex, near Great and Little Parndon, and at the
conflux of the Lee and the Stort.
NETTLETON’S _court_, Aldersgate street.†
NETTLEWELL, a village on the south west side of Harlow.
NEVILL’S _alley_, Fetter lane.†
NEVILL’S _yard_, Church street, Lambeth.†
NEVIS _court_, Near the Upper Ground, Southwark.†
NEW _alley_, In Hoxton.
NEW BEDFORD _court_, Eagle court, Strand.
NEW BELTON _street_, Long Acre.
NEW BLACK RAVEN _court_, Near Chiswell street, Moorfields.*
NEW BOND _street_, a street which consists of handsome new buildings, near
Oxford street.
NEW BOSVILE _court_, Carey street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.†
NEW BROAD _street_, 1. A handsome street inhabited by merchants and other
gentlemen; extending from the end of Broad street to Moorfields. 2.
Marshal street, Carnaby street.
NEW BUILDINGS, 1. Coleman street. 2. Dunning’s alley, Bishopsgate street
without. 3. Feathers alley, in the Maze, Southwark.
NEW BURLINGTON _street_, Swallow street.
NEWBURY’S _Almshouse_, on the north side of Mile-end green, also called
the Skinners Almshouses, was erected by that company in the year 1688,
pursuant to the will of Lewis Newbury, for twelve poor widows of the
Skinners company, who have an allowance of 5_l._ 10_s._ a year, and half
a chaldron of coals each.
NEWCASTLE _court_, 1. Butcher Row, by Temple Bar. 2. Newcastle street, by
Chick lane.
NEWCASTLE _street_, 1. Chick lane, Smithfield. 2. From Seacoal lane to
Fleet market. 3. Whitechapel.
NEW COCK _lane_, 1. Brick lane, Spitalfields.* 2. Swan fields,
Shoreditch.*
NEW _court_, 1. Angel alley. 2. Blackman street, Southwark. 3. Bow lane,
Cheapside. 4. Bowling alley, Dean’s yard, Westminster. 5. Brown’s
street. 6. Canon row, Westminster. 7. Carey street, Lincoln’s Inn
Fields. 8. St. Catharine’s court, near the Tower. 9. Fore street,
Cripplegate. 10. George yard, Whitechapel. 11. Goswell street,
Aldersgate street. 12. New Gravel lane, Shadwell. 13. Old Gravel lane,
Ratcliff Highway. 14. Great St. Anne’s lane, by Orchard street,
Westminster. 15. Hand alley. 16. Harrow alley, Petticoat lane. 17. Hart
street, Crutched Friars. 18. High Holborn. 19. Hog lane. 20. Kent
street. 21. Knightsbridge. 22. Lamb alley. 23. Little Broad street. 24.
Little Newport street. 25. St. Margaret’s hill. 26. Middle Temple. 27.
Moor lane. 28. Narrow street, Ratcliff. 29. Newington Butts. 30. New
street. 31. Nightingale lane. 32. Peter street, Westminster. 33.
Petticoat lane, Whitechapel. 34. Pig street, Threadneedle street. 35.
Quaker street, Spitalfields. 36. Rosemary lane, Tower hill. 37. St.
Swithin’s lane, Canon street. 38. Throgmorton street. 39. Wentworth
street. 40. White Horse yard. 41. White street. 42. York street.
NEW CRANE, Wapping Wall.
NEW CRANE _stairs_, Wapping.
NEW FISH _street_, By Great Eastcheap.
NEW FISH STREET _hill_, New Fish street.
NEWGATE, is situated 1037 feet south west from Aldersgate, and is thought
by most Antiquarians, to be so denominated from its being first erected
in the reign of Henry I. several ages after the four original gates of
the city: Howel is however of a contrary opinion, and asserts that it
was only repaired in the above reign, and that it was anciently
denominated Chamberlain gate; tho’ it is very extraordinary, that this
gate is not once mentioned before the conquest. But be this as it will,
it appears from ancient records, that it was called Newgate, and was a
common jail for felons taken in the city of London, or the county of
Middlesex, so early as the year 1218; and that so lately as the year
1457, Newgate, and not the Tower, was a prison for the nobility and
great officers of state.
At length Newgate being much damaged by the fire of London in 1666, the
present beautiful structure was erected. The west side is adorned with
three ranges of Tuscan pilasters, with their entablatures, and in the
inter-columniations are four niches, in one of which is a figure
representing Liberty; the word _Libertas_ is inscribed on her cap, and
at her feet lies a cat, in allusion to Sir Richard Whittington, a
benefactor to the prison, who is said to have made the first step to his
good fortune by a cat.
The inside of the gate is also adorned with a range of pilasters, with
their entablatures, and in three niches are the figures of Justice,
Mercy and Truth.
The author of _The Review_ observes,
“That Newgate considered as a prison, is a structure of more
cost and beauty than was necessary, because the sumptuousness of
the outside but aggravates the misery of the wretches within:
but as a gate to such a city as London, it might have received
considerable additions both of design and execution, and
abundantly answered the cost in the reputation of building. The
gate of a city erected rather for ornament than use, ought to be
in the style of the ancient triumphal arches; and it must be
allowed, that hardly any kind of building, admits of more beauty
or perfection.”
If Newgate be considered as a prison, it is indeed a very dismal one. It
is the county jail for Middlesex, both for debtors and malefactors, as
well as the city prison for criminals. The debtor rendered unfortunate
by the vicissitudes of trade, or unforeseen losses, has the reproach of
being confined in the same prison with the greatest villains; and too
often his being in Newgate is imputed by the ignorant to crimes which he
abhors. On the other hand, those confined as criminals, are, even before
they are found guilty by the laws of their country, packed so close
together, that the air being corrupted by their stench and nastiness,
occasions a dismal contagious disease, called the Jail distemper, which
has frequently carried off great numbers, and even spread its contagion
to the Court of Justice, where they take their trials. But to prevent
these dreadful effects the city has introduced a ventilator on the top
of Newgate, to expel the foul air, and make way for the admission of
such as is fresh; and during the sessions herbs are also strewed in the
Justice Hall, and the passages to it, to prevent infection.
In this prison there are however commodious and airy apartments for the
use of such as are able to pay for them; and the advantage of a private
passage behind the houses to Justice Hall in the Old Bailey, where they
are in no danger of being rescued, while going to, or coming back from
their trials. It is to be wished that this prison was made still more
commodious; that the little cells of the malefactors were enlarged and
rendered more airy, and that the proposal so often talked of, of
building another prison for the debtors, was carried into execution.
NEWGATE MARKET, before the dreadful fire of London, was kept in Newgate
street, where there was a market house for meal, and a middle row of
sheds, which Maitland says, were afterwards converted into houses,
inhabited by butchers, tripesellers, &c. while the country people, who
brought provisions to the city, were forced to stand with their stalls
in the open street, where their persons and goods were exposed to danger
by the passage of coaches, carts, and cattle that passed through the
streets. This must be allowed to have been a very inconvenient market,
and the houses or sheds in the middle of the street, must almost have
choaked up the passage, or at least have rendered it liable to frequent
obstructions. At that time Butcher hall lane was filled with slaughter
houses for the use of this market, and Blowbladder street was rendered
remarkable by blown bladders hanging in the windows of the shops, where
bladders were sold.
After the fire of London, which afforded an opportunity of rendering the
new streets more commodious than the old ones had been, it was ordered
by act of parliament that Newgate market should be removed from the
street, and a square was formed on the south side for that purpose,
surrounded by decent houses. This square is 194 feet long from east to
west, and 148 feet broad from north to south. In the middle is a market
house, under which are vaults or cellars, and the upper part of the
building is employed as a kind of warehouse for the fruiterers, and the
keepers of green stalls by night. In the shops under this building tripe
and other things are sold, and in the middle near the market house are
sold fruit and greens. At a convenient distance are shops for butchers,
the sellers of butter, &c. and the houses beyond these, which extend
along the sides of the market, are also taken up by butchers. It may be
proper to observe with respect to the butter shops, that some of these
contract for the produce of several dairies, and that it is not uncommon
for one of these shops to take 30 or 40_l._ for butter alone, in a
morning, even before eight or nine o’clock. The passages to the market
from Paternoster row and Newgate street, are taken up with poulterers,
bacon shops, fishmongers, and cheesemongers.
NEWGATE _street_, is a street of considerable trade, and extends from
Blowbladder street, to Newgate.
NEW GEORGE _street_, 1. Near Bethnal green. 2. St. John’s street,
Spitalfields.
NEW GRAVEL _lane_, Shadwell. Thus named from the carts loaded with gravel
passing through it to the Thames, where the gravel was employed in
ballasting of ships, before ballasting was taken out of the river. It
obtained the epithet of New, to distinguish it from the Old Gravel lane,
which was used for the same purpose long before.
NEWELL _street_, Berwick street, Old Soho.†
NEW JAIL, in Southwark, a prison lately erected near Bridewell alley, in
the Borough, for felons in the county of Surry.
NEWINGTON BUTTS, a village in Surry, extending from the end of Blackman
street, to Kennington common, is said to receive the name of Butts, from
the exercise of shooting at Butts, much practised, both here and in the
other towns of England, in the reign of King Henry VIII. &c. to fit men
to serve in the regiment of archers. But Mr. Aubrey thinks it received
this name from the Butts of Norfolk, who had an estate here. The Drapers
and Fishmongers company have almshouses here: and Mr. Whatley observes,
that here were planted the first peaches so much esteemed, distinguished
by the name of Newington peaches. The church here, which is dedicated to
St. Mary, is a rectory in the gift of the Bishop of Winchester, and the
profits arising to the Incumbent amount to about 140_l._ _per annum_.
_Maitland._ See STOKE NEWINGTON.
NEWINGTON _causeway row_, Blackman street.
NEWINGTON GREEN, a pleasant village between Islington and Stoke Newington,
chiefly consisting of a handsome square of a considerable extent
surrounded by houses which are in general well built; before each side
is a row of trees, and an extensive grass plat in the middle. It is in
the parish of Stoke Newington; on one side of the ground is a meeting
house. See STOKE NEWINGTON.
NEW INN, contiguous to St. Clement’s Inn, in Wych street, is one of the
Inns of Chancery, and was founded about the year 1485, for the reception
of the students of an Inn of Chancery, at the south east corner of
Seacoal lane.
New Inn is an appendage to the Middle Temple, and is governed by a
Treasurer and twelve Ancients, who, with the other members, are to be in
commons a week every term, or to compound for the same. _Maitland._
NEW INN _court_, Wych street.
NEW INN _passage_, Houghton street, Clare market.
NEW INN _yard_, Holiwell street, Shoreditch.
NEW _lane_, Shad Thames.
NEWMAN’S _court_, 1. In Cornhill.† 2. Farmer’s street, Shadwell.†
NEWMARKET _street_, Wapping.
NEW MARTEN _street_, Near East Smithfield.†
NEW NICOL _street_, Swanfields, Shoreditch.†
NEW NORTH _street_, Theobald’s row, Red Lion street, Holborn.
NEW PACKTHREAD _alley_, Grange road, Bermondsey.
NEW PACKTHREAD _yard_, Westminster.
NEW PALACE _yard_, by Union street, Westminster. When King Richard II.
rebuilt Westminster Hall in the year 1397, that part was called the New
Palace, and being inclosed with a wall, it had four gates, of which that
leading to Westminster stairs is the only one now standing. The three
others that have been demolished were, one on the north, which led to
the Woolstaple; another to the west, a beautiful and stately edifice
called High Gate, at the east end of Union street; and another at the
north end of St. Margaret’s lane. _Maitland._
NEW PARK, in Surry. See RICHMOND.
NEW PARADISE _street_, Rotherhith.
NEW PASSAGE, 1. Bull and Mouth street, St. Martin’s le Grand. 2. Newgate
market.
NEW PETER _street_, Peter street.
NEWPORT _alley_, Newport street, near Newport market.
NEWPORT _court_, Little Newport street, near Long Acre.
NEWPORT MARKET, Litchfield street, a square with shops round it, with a
market house in the middle, in which are shops for butchers, &c.
NEWPORT _street_, Castle street, near Newport market.
NEW PRISON, near the east end of Clerkenwell green, is a house of
correction for the county of Middlesex, in which rogues and vagabonds
are kept to hard labour. It was erected in the year 1615.
NEW PRISON _walk_, a passage leading to the New Prison, Clerkenwell.
NEW PUMP _court_, Moor lane, Cripplegate.
NEW PYE _street_, by Orchard street, Westminster.
NEW QUEEN _street_, Oxford street.
NEW RAG FAIR, Rosemary lane, Little Tower hill.
NEW RENTS, 1. Compter lane, St. Margaret’s hill. 2. St. Martin’s le Grand.
NEW RIVER. Various were the projects in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth, and
King James I. for supplying the city of London with a sufficient
quantity of water, for domestic uses: the former granted an act of
parliament, which gave the citizens liberty to cut and convey a river
from any part of Middlesex or Hertfordshire to the city of London,
within the limited time of ten years; and the latter granted another
act, in which they obtained the same power, but without being confined
to any limited time: nobody however began this great and important work,
till at last Sir Hugh Middleton undertook to bring a river from Amwell
in Hertfordshire to the north side of London near Islington.
The work began on the 20th of September 1608, and was attended with
innumerable difficulties. The distance from London is twenty miles, and
he was obliged, in order to avoid the eminences and vallies in the way,
to make it run a course of thirty-eight miles three quarters and sixteen
poles, and to carry it over two vallies in long wooden frames or troughs
lined with lead; that at Buthill, being six hundred and sixty feet in
length, and thirty in height; under which, for the passage of the land
waters is an arch capacious enough to admit under it the largest waggon
laden with hay, or straw: the other near Highbury is four hundred and
sixty-two feet long, and seventeen in height, where it is raised along
the top of high artificial banks, and at the bottom of the hollow
supported by poles, so that any person may walk under it. In short over
and under this river, which sometimes rises thus high, and at others is
conveyed under ground, runs several considerable currents of land
waters, and both above and below it a great number of brooks, rills, and
water courses have their passage.
This river, which is of inestimable benefit to London, was by this truly
great man brought to the city within the space of five years, and was
admitted into the reservoir near Islington on Michaelmas day 1613; on
which day Sir Thomas Middleton, brother to the great Sir Hugh, was
elected Lord Mayor for the ensuing year, who accompanying Sir John
Swinerton, then Lord Mayor, attended by many of the Aldermen, the
Recorder, and other gentlemen, repaired to the bason, now called New
River Head, when about sixty labourers, handsomely dressed, and wearing
green caps, carrying spades, shovels, and pickaxes, marched, preceded by
drums and trumpets, thrice round the bason, when stopping before the
Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and other gentlemen, who were seated upon an
eminence, one of the labourers addressed himself to them in a long copy
of verses, which being ended, the sluices were opened, and the stream
ran plentifully into the reservoir, under the sound of drums and
trumpets, the discharge of several pieces of ordnance, and the loud
acclamations of the people.
Sir Hugh Middleton, to enable himself to complete this grand work, had
at last, after spending his own fortune, been obliged to apply to King
James I. who advancing a sum of money became entitled to a moiety of the
profits; he was also obliged to sell many other shares, and in short,
was in a manner entirely ruined by a project, that has been attended
with unspeakable benefit to this city: since by the water of this river,
a speedy stop has been put to a great number of dreadful fires, and the
health of the city has been remarkably preserved by the cleanliness it
has introduced among us. Yet so little was the great advantages that
might then, and are now derived from this river, at that time
understood, that for above thirty years there were not divided above
5_l._ odd money, to each of the shares, which are seventy-two in number.
This river now draws most of its water from the Lee, which being the
property of the city of London, that corporation, contrary to the
interest of the city in general, opposed a bill brought into parliament
for giving farther powers to the New River company, to take the
advantage that might be obtained by the river Lee: but the opposition
was without effect, and in 1738–9 the bill passed into a law.
The Governors of the New River company then agreed with the proprietors
of the lands on the river Lee for a cut of two cubic feet of water from
that river, at a certain rate; and after the agreement, told them they
would double the price for a four foot cut, which the proprietors agreed
to, not considering the great disproportion between the two cuts; and
this cut of the river Lee now supplies the largest share of the New
River water.
In this river there are forty three sluices, and over it two hundred and
fifteen bridges. On its approaching the reservoir, called New River
Head, there are several small houses erected at a considerable distance
from each other on its banks, into which the water runs and is conveyed
by pipes to the nearer and more easterly parts of this metropolis. On
its entering the above reservoir, it is there ingulphed by fifty-eight
main pipes, each of seven inches bore; and here also an engine worked by
horses, throws a great quantity of water up to another reservoir,
situated on much higher ground, from which the water runs in pipes to
supply the highest ground in the city, and its liberties. Many years ago
30,000 houses were thus supplied by this water, and since that time
several main pipes have been laid to carry it into the liberties of
Westminster.
This corporation consists of a Governor, Deputy Governor, Treasurer, and
twenty-six Directors, these twenty-nine are the proprietors of the first
thirty-six shares: for though the Crown’s moiety is in private hands,
yet they have no share in the management. The above Governor and
Directors keep their office at a coffee-house in Ludgate street where
every Thursday they hold a board for appointing of officers, granting of
leases, and redressing of grievances.