pleasant, it being levelled and enclosed in a handsome manner; it is
also surrounded with lofty elms, and adorned on each side with the
houses of persons of distinction. A sun dial is here affixed in a pretty
taste, encompassed with seats: this, and the railing in of the Green,
were at the sole charge of her late Majesty.
Among the pretty seats on this spacious Green, is a handsome edifice
that formerly belonged to Sir Charles Hedges, and since to Sir Matthew
Decker, in the gardens of which is said to be the longest and highest
hedge of holly that was ever seen, with several other hedges of
evergreens; there are here also vistas cut through woods, grottos,
fountains, a fine canal, a decoy, summer house and stove houses, in
which the anana, or pine-apple, was first brought to maturity in this
kingdom.
On the north east side of the Green is a fine house, which belonged to
the late Mr. Heydigger, and a little beyond it that of the Duke of
Cumberland; passing by which, you come to a small park belonging to his
Majesty, well stocked with deer, and opposite to it is the entrance into
the gardens.
The town runs up the hill above a mile from the village of East Shene,
to the New Park, with the royal gardens sloping all the way towards the
Thames; whose tide reaches to this village, though it is sixty miles
from the sea; which is a greater distance than the tide is carried by
any other river in Europe.
On the ascent of the hill are wells of a purging mineral water,
frequented during the summer by a great deal of good company. On the top
there is a most extensive and beautiful prospect of the country,
interspersed with villages and inclosures; the Thames is seen running
beneath, and the landscape is improved by the many fine seats that are
scattered along its banks.
There is here an almshouse built by Dr. Duppa, Bishop of Winchester in
the reign of King Charles II. for the support of ten poor widows,
pursuant to a vow made by that Prelate during that Prince’s exile. There
is another almshouse endowed with above 100_l._ a year, which, since its
foundation, has been considerably increased by John Mitchell, Esq; Here
are also two charity schools, one for fifty boys, and the other for
fifty girls.
New Park, in Surry, is situated between Kingston and Richmond. This is
one of the best parks in England; it was made in the reign of King
Charles I. and inclosed with a brick wall, said to be eleven miles in
compass. In this park there is a little hill cast up, called King
Henry’s Mount, from which is a prospect of six counties, with a distant
view of the city of London, and of Windsor Castle.
The new lodge in this park, built by the late Sir Robert Walpole Earl of
Orford, is a very elegant edifice. It is built of stone in a square
form, with wings on each side of brick. It stands on a rising ground,
and commands a very good prospect of the park, especially of that fine
piece of water which is in it, and which might be enlarged and brought
across the vista which is in the front of the house, through a wood.
This park is the largest of any within the environs of London, except
that of Windsor, and the finest too; for though it has little more than
a wild variety of natural beauties to shew, yet these are such as cannot
fail to please those who are as much delighted with views in their
rudest appearance, as in all the elegance of art and design. The
Princess Amelia resides in the old lodge; the new lodge is not
inhabited.
RICHMOND _buildings_, Dean street, Soho.†
RICHMOND’S _Almshouse_, in Goose alley, Sea coal lane, was erected by the
company of Armourers, in the year 1559, pursuant to the will of Mr. John
Richmond, for eight poor old men and women, who, according to the
discretion of the company, receive from five to fifteen shillings _per
annum_ each. _Maitland._
RICHMOND _street_, 1. Old Soho.† 2. Prince’s street, Soho.†
RICKINGTON’S _court_, Coleman street.†
RICKMAN’S _rents_, Narrow street, Limehouse.†
RICKMANSWORTH, a town in Hertfordshire, 22 miles from London, is situated
in a low moorish soil on the borders of Buckinghamshire, near the river
Coln. It has a market on Saturday, and is governed by a Constable and
two Headboroughs. The several mills on the streams near this town cause
a great quantity of wheat to be brought to it. Here is a charity school
for twenty boys and ten girls, with an almshouse for five widows, and
another for four. In the neighbourhood is a warren hill, where the sound
of the trumpet is repeated twelve times by the echo.
RIDER’S _court_, 1. Little Newport street.† 2. Rider’s street.†
RIDER’S _street_, St. James’s street, Westminster.†
RIDER’S _yard_, Kent street, Southwark.†
RISEBY’S _walk_, Limehouse.†
RISING SUN _alley_, St. John’s street, Smithfield.*
RISING SUN _court_, St. John’s street, Smithfield.*
RISING SUN _passage_, Clement’s lane.*
RIVERS _street_, Savage Gardens; so called from the Lord Savage, Earl
Rivers.
ROBERT’S _dock_, Rotherhith Wall.†
ROBERT’S _rents_, Brick lane.†
ROBIN HOOD _alley_, Blackman street, Southwark.*
ROBIN HOOD _court_, 1. Bell alley.* 2. Bow lane, Cheapside.* 3. Grub
street, Fore street* 4. Near Morgan’s lane.* 5. Shoe lane.* 6. In the
Strand.* 7. Thames street.* 8. Tooley street, Southwark.*
ROBIN HOOD _lane_, Poplar.*
ROBIN HOOD _yard_, 1. Charles street.* 2. Leather lane.*
ROBINSON’S _yard_, Friday street, Cheapside.†
ROCHESTER _row_, Tothill fields.
ROCHESTER _yard_, 1. Dirty lane. 2. Stony street.
ROEBUCK _alley_, Turnmill street.*
ROEHAMPTON, in Surry, is situated between Putney Heath and East Shene, and
is one of the pleasantest villages near London, having many fine houses
of merchants scattered about, so as not to resemble a street or regular
town.
ROGERS’S _Almshouse_, in Hart street, near Cripplegate, was erected by the
Lord Mayor and citizens of London, in the year 1612, pursuant to the
will of Mr. Robert Rogers, citizen and leatherseller, for six poor men
and their wives, who have an annual allowance of 4_l._ each couple.
_Maitland._
ROGUES WELL, Stepney fields.
ROLLS OFFICE AND CHAPEL, in Chancery lane, a house founded by King Henry
III. in the place where stood a Jew’s house forfeited to that Prince in
the year 1233. In this chapel all such Jews and infidels as were
converted to the Christian faith, were ordained, and in the buildings
belonging to it, were appointed a sufficient maintenance: by which means
a great number of converts were baptized, instructed in the doctrines of
Christianity, and lived under a learned Christian appointed to govern
them: but in the year 1290, all the Jews being banished, the number of
converts decreased, and in the year 1377, the house with its chapel was
annexed by patent to the Keeper of the Rolls of Chancery.
The chapel, which is of brick, pebbles and some freestone, is sixty feet
long, and thirty-three in breadth; the doors and windows are Gothic, and
the roof covered with slate. In this chapel the rolls are kept in
presses fixed to the sides, and ornamented with columns and pilasters of
the Ionic and Composite orders.
These rolls contain all the records, as charters, patents, &c. since the
beginning of the reign of Richard III. those before that time being
deposited in the Record Office in the Tower: and these being made up in
rolls of parchment gave occasion to the name.
At the north west angle of this chapel is a bench, where the Master of
the Rolls hears causes in Chancery. And attendance is daily given in
this chapel from ten o’clock till twelve, for taking in and paying out
money, according to order of court, and for giving an opportunity to
those who come for that purpose to search the rolls.
The Minister of the chapel is appointed by the Master of the Rolls, and
divine service is performed there on Sundays and holidays at about
eleven and three.
On the walls are several old monuments, particularly at the East end is
that of Dr. Young Master of the Rolls, who died in the year 1516. In a
well wrought stone coffin lies the effigies of Dr. Young, in a scarlet
gown; his hands lie across upon his breast, and a cap with corners
covers his ears. On the wall just above him, our Saviour is looking down
upon him, his head and shoulders appearing out of the clouds,
accompanied by two angels.
The office of the Rolls is under the government of the Master of the
Rolls, whose house is by the chapel, and has been lately rebuilt in a
handsome manner at the public expence.
The place of Master of the Rolls is an office of great dignity, and is
in the gift of the King, either for life, or during pleasure. He is
always the principal Master in Chancery, and has in his gift the offices
of the Six Clerks in Chancery; of the Two Examiners of the same court,
and of the Clerk of the Chapel of the Rolls, who acts immediately under
him in that office. He has several revenues belonging to the office of
the Rolls, and by act of Parliament receives a salary of 1200_l._ _per
annum_ out of the hanaper. _Stowe._ _Maitland._ _Chamberlain’s Present
State._
ROLLS _buildings_, Fetter lane; so called from their belonging to the
Rolls office.
ROLLS LIBERTY, a small district out of the government of the city. It
begins at the corner of Cursitor’s alley, next to Chancery lane, taking
in the south side to the Rose tavern, where it crosses into White’s
alley, which it takes all in except two or three houses on each side,
next to Fetter lane; and there it crosses into the Rolls garden, which
it likewise takes in; and from thence running into Chancery lane, by
Serjeant’s Inn, extends into Jack-a-napes lane, about the middle of
which it crosses into Pope’s Head court, which it takes all in, as it
does the east side of Bell yard, almost to the end next Temple Bar,
except a few houses on the back side of Crown court, which is in the
city liberty; and then crossing Bell yard, near Temple Bar, runs cross
the houses into Sheer lane, taking in all the east side; and again
crossing over to Lincoln’s Inn New Court, runs up to the pump by the
iron rails, where it crosses over into Chancery lane, and thence to the
corner of Cursitor’s alley. _Stowe._
ROOD _lane_, Fenchurch street; thus named from a holy rood or cross there.
ROOMLAND _lane_, Thames street.
ROPEMAKERS _alley_, Little Moorfields.
ROPEMAKERS _field_, Limehouse.
ROPER _lane_, Crucifix lane, Barnaby street, Southwark.
ROPE _walk_, 1. Near Cut throat lane, Upper Shadwell. 2. Near Elm row, Sun
tavern fields. 3. Goswell street. 4. St. John street, Smithfield. 5.
King David’s lane. 6. Knockfergus, near Rosemary lane. 7. Near
Nightingale lane. 8. Petticoat lane. 9. Rotherhith. 10. Near Shad
Thames. 11. Sun tavern fields. 12. Near Whitechapel.
ROSE _alley_, 1. Bank side, Southwark.* 2. Bishopsgate street without.* 3.
East Smithfield.* 4. Fleet lane, Fleet market.* 5. Golden lane,
Barbican.* 6. High Holborn.* 7. St. Martin’s lane, Charing Cross.* 8.
Rose street, Long Acre.* 9. Saffron hill.* 10. Shoreditch.* 11.
Sugarbaker’s lane, Duke’s Place.* 12. Tooley street, Southwark.* 13.
Turnmill street.* 14. Widegate alley, Bishopsgate street without.*
ROSE AND BALL _court_, Addle hill, by Great Carter lane.*
ROSE AND CROWN _alley_, near Whitechapel.*
ROSE AND CROWN _court_, 1. Church lane.* 2. St. Catharine’s lane.* 3. Cock
lane, Shoreditch.* 4. Fashion street, Artillery lane, Spitalfields.* 5.
Foster lane, Cheapside.* 6. Gray’s Inn lane.* 7. Holiwell street.* 8.
Houndsditch.* 9. Moorfields.* 10. Rosemary lane.* 11. Shoe lane, Fleet
street.* 12. Sutton street.* 13. Whitechapel.*
ROSE AND CROWN _yard_, 1. St. Giles’s street.* 2. King street, St. James’s
square.* 3. Long alley, Moorfields.* 4. Rotherhith.*
ROSE AND RAINBOW _court_, Aldersgate street.*
ROSE _court_, 1. Aldermanbury.* 2. Beer lane, Tower street.* 3.
Bishopsgate street.* 4. Goddard’s rents.* 5. Rochester street.* 6.
Thieving lane.* 7. Tower street.* 8. Bow lane.* 9. Wheeler street.*
ROSE _lane_, 1. Spitalfields.* 2. Whitehorse street.*
ROSE _street_, 1. Brick lane.* 2. Gravel lane.* 3. Hog lane, Shoreditch.*
4. Long Acre.* 5. St. Martin’s lane.* 6. Newgate street.* 7. Newport
market.* 8. Spitalfields.*
ROSE _yard_, 1. Catharine wheel alley.* 2. Newington Butts.* 3. Whitehorse
street.*
ROSEMARY BRANCH _alley_, Rosemary lane.*
ROSEMARY _lane_, extends from the bottom of the Minories to Wellclose
square, and is chiefly taken up with old cloaths shops.
ROSEWELL’S _court_, Great White Lion street, Seven Dials.†
ROSEWELL’S _yard_, Barnaby street, Southwark.†
ROTHERHITH, vulgarly called Rederiff, was anciently a village on the south
east of London, though it is now joined to Southwark, and as it is
situated along the south bank of the Thames, is chiefly inhabited by
masters of ships, and other seafaring people.
ROTHERHITH _School_ was founded in the year 1612, by Mr. Peter Hills and
Mr. Robert Bell, who endowed it with 3_l._ a year, for the education of
eight poor seamens children. _Maitland._
ROTHERHITH _wall_, Jacob street, Rotherhith.
ROTHERHITH WATER WORKS, situated at the upper end of Rotherhith Wall, and
the lower end of Mill street, where the engine is wrought by water from
the river Thames, which being brought in by the tide is contained in the
canals in the neighbouring streets. By this engine a sufficient quantity
of water is raised to supply two main pipes of a six inch bore, whereby
the neighbourhood is plentifully supplied with Thames water.
ROTTEN _row_, Goswell street.
ROUND _court_, 1. Black Friars. 2. Black Lion yard. 3. Blue Boar’s Head
court, Barbican. 4. Butler’s alley. 5. Jewin street. 6. St. Martin’s le
Grand. 7. Moses and Aaron alley, Whitechapel. 8. Old Bethlem. 9. Onslow
street, Vine street, Hatton Wall. 10. Sharp’s alley, Cow Cross. 11. In
the Strand.
ROUND ABOUT _alley_, Wapping dock.
ROUND HOOP _court_, Whitecross street, Cripplegate.*
ROYAL EXCHANGE, Cornhill. This edifice, which is dedicated to the service
of commerce, was founded by Sir Thomas Gresham, a merchant distinguished
by his abilities and great success in trade, who proposed, that if the
city would prepare a proper spot, he would erect the building at his own
expence. This proposal was accepted by the Lord Mayor and citizens, who
purchased some houses between Cornhill and Threadneedle street, and
having caused them to be pulled down and cleared away, the foundation of
the new building was laid on the 7th of June 1566, and carried on with
such expedition, that it was finished in November 1567.
This edifice was called the Bourse, but it soon after changed its name;
for on the 23d of January 1570, Queen Elizabeth, attended by a great
number of the nobility, came from Somerset house, her palace in the
Strand, and passing through Threadneedle street, dined with Sir Thomas
Gresham at his house in Bishopsgate street, and after dinner returning
through Cornhill, entered the Bourse on the south side, where having
viewed every part except the vaults, especially the gallery above
stairs, which extended round the whole building, and was furnished with
shops, in which were sold all sorts of the finest wares in the city, her
Majesty caused this edifice to be proclaimed in her presence, by a
herald and trumpet, _The Royal Exchange_.
Sir Thomas Gresham, at his death, left the building to his Lady, and
after her decease to the Lord Mayor and citizens, and to the Mercers
company, directing the rents to support, under their inspection,
lectures on the sciences, at his dwelling house, now Gresham College,
and some charities to the prisons.
The original building stood till the fire of London in 1666, when it
perished amidst the general havoc: but it soon arose with greater
splendor than before. The model of the present structure was first shewn
to King Charles II. who was well pleased with it, it was however debated
whether they should build after that model or not; for fear of launching
out into too great an expence: but the majority desiring to have it a
magnificent structure, and imagining, that the shops above and below
stairs would in time reimburse them, had the present edifice erected at
the expence of 80,000_l._
The ground plat of this building is 203 feet in length; 171 feet in
breadth, and the area in the middle is 61 square perches. This area is
surrounded with a substantial and regular stone building, wrought in
rustic. In each of the principal fronts is a piazza, and in the center
are the grand entrances into the area, under an arch which is extremely
lofty and noble; on each side that of the principal front which is in
Cornhill, are Corinthian demi-columns supporting a compass pediment; and
in the intercolumniation on each side, in the front next the street, is
a niche with the figures of King Charles I. and his son Charles II. in
Roman habits, and well executed. Over the aperture on the cornice
between the two pediments are the King’s arms in relievo. On each side
of this entrance is a range of windows placed between demi-columns and
pilasters of the Composite order, above which runs a balustrade. The
height of the building is fifty-six feet, and from the center of this
side rises a lantern and turret, 178 feet high, on the top of which is a
fane in the form of a grasshopper of polished brass, esteemed a very
fine piece of workmanship: a grasshopper being the crest of Sir Thomas
Gresham’s arms.
The north front of the Royal Exchange is adorned with pilasters of the
Composite order, but has neither columns nor statues on the outside, and
instead of the two compass pediments has a triangular one.
Within the piazzas of these two fronts are two spacious stair cases with
iron rails, and black marble steps; these lead into a kind of gallery
that extends round the four sides of the building, and in which were
about two hundred shops, that have been let from 20_l._ to 60_l._ a year
each; and a very considerable trade was carried on here; but it has long
declined, and all the shops are deserted.
One side of this gallery is employed as auction rooms for furniture, and
in other apartments above stairs are the Royal Exchange Assurance
office, &c. and in the vaults are the pepper warehouse of the East India
company.
The inside of the area is surrounded with piazzas like those of the
south and north fronts; forming ambulatories for the merchants to
shelter themselves from the weather. Above the arches of these piazzas
is an entablature with curious enrichments; and on the cornice a range
of pilasters with an entablature extending round, and a compass pediment
in the middle of the cornice of each of the four sides. Under that on
the north are the King’s arms; on the south those of the city; on the
east those of Sir Thomas Gresham; and under the pediment on the west
side the arms of the company of Mercers, with their respective
enrichments.
In these intercolumns are twenty-four niches, nineteen of which are
filled with the statues of the Kings and Queens of England, standing
erect, drafted in their robes and with their regalia, except the statues
of Charles II. and George II. which are dressed like the Cæsars.
These statues are, on the south side; Edward I. Edward III. Henry V.
Henry VI. On the west side, Edward IV. Edward V. with the crown hanging
over his head; Henry VII. and Henry VIII. On the north side, Edward VI.
Mary, Elizabeth, James I. Charles I. Charles II. and James II. And on
the east side are William and Mary in one niche, Queen Anne, George I.
and George II. All these statues were painted and gilt, by a voluntary
subscription, in the year 1754.
The four niches that are vacant, are those where Edward II. Richard II.
Henry IV. and Richard III. should have been: upon which Maitland says,
that hence it seems that the city had no mind to shew any respect to the
said Kings, two of whom took away their charters, and the other two were
usurpers. But why Henry IV. should be excluded as an usurper, and his
brave son Henry V. and Henry VI. be placed there, who only enjoyed the
crown in consequence of his usurpation, is not easily accounted for.
Richard III. was indeed a monster of cruelty: but Mary was no less
cruel, and yet a statue is here erected to her honour. Though Edward II.
and Richard II. took away the charter of the city, King Charles II. did
so too, and yet has three statues at the Royal Exchange; and his brother
James II. who has also a statue, followed his brother’s steps, and not
only humbled the city, but caused an Alderman to be hanged at his own
door, without being allowed on his trial the time necessary to send for
his witnesses.
Under the piazzas within the Exchange are twenty-eight niches, all
vacant except two; one in the north west angle, where is the statue of
Sir Thomas Gresham, and another at the south west, of Sir John Barnard,
who is perhaps the only citizen of London, that has had the honour of
having his statue erected in his life-time merely on account of his
merit.
In short, in the center of the area is erected, on a marble pedestal
about eight feet high, another statue of King Charles II. in a Roman
habit, executed by Mr. Gibbon, and encompassed with iron rails. On the
south side of the pedestal, under an imperial crown, a scepter, sword,
palm branches, and other decorations, is the following inscription:
Carolo II. Cæsari Britannico,
Patriæ Patri,
Regum Optimo, Clementissimo, Augustissimo,
Generis Humani Deliciis,
Utriusque Fortunæ Victori,
Pacis Europæ Arbitro,
Marium Domino ac Vindici,
Societas Mercatorum Adventur. Angliæ,
Quæ per CCCC jam prope Annos
Regia benignitate floret,
Fidei intemeratæ & Gratitudinis æternæ,
Hoc Testimonium
Venerabunda posuit,
Anno Salutis Humanæ M. DC. LXXXIV.
On the west side of this pedestal, is cut in relievo, a Cupid resting
his right hand on a shield, containing the arms of France and England
quartered, and holding in his left a rose.
On the north side are the arms of Ireland on a shield, supported by a
Cupid.
On the south side is the following inscription on the base of the
pedestal:
‘This statue was repaired and beautified by the company of Merchant
Adventurers of England, _anno_ 1730; John Hanbury, Esq; Governor.’
On the east side are the arms of Scotland, with a Cupid holding a
thistle. All done in relievo.
In the area on the inside of the Royal Exchange, merchants meet every
day at twelve at noon, and a prodigious concourse of those of all
nations continue there till two, in order to transact business; but soon
after that hour the gates are shut up, and not opened again till four.
For the readier dispatch of business, and that every particular merchant
may be easily found, they are disposed in separated classes, each of
which have their particular station, called their walk, as may be seen
at one view by the following plan, by attending to which any merchant
may easily be found.
[Illustration:
NORTH.
Threadneedle Street.
_East Country Walk_
_Hamburgh Walk_
_Irish Walk_
_Scotch Walk_
_Dutch & Jewellers_
_Silkmans Walk_
_Norway Walk_
_Clothiers Walk_
_Salters Walk_
_Walk_
_Grocers & Druggists Walk_
_Turkey Walk_
_Brokers of Stock & Walk_
WEST. Castle Alley.
_Italian Walk_
EAST.
Sweetings Alley.
_Canary Walk_
_East Indies Walk_
_Barbadoes Walk_
_French Walk_
_Portugal_
_Jamaica Walk_
_Armenian_
_Virginia Walk_
_Spanish Walk_
_Jews Walk_
Cornhill.
SOUTH.
]
[Illustration:
_Front of the Royal Exchange._
_S. Wale delin._ _J. Green sc. Oxon._
]
The Royal Exchange, without critical examination, has something grand in
it, and the entrance would certainly appear to more advantage if it were
not incumbered with a parcel of little shops. The arcade or walks within
the quadrangle have something noble, but the upper part is in a very bad
taste. The statue of King Charles II. in the middle of the area is a
good one. The other statues in the several niches have been lately new
painted and gilt in parts. The painting is no doubt very necessary for
their preservation, but it were to be wished the gilding of them had
been omitted, as it must give foreigners of judgment (and such sometimes
frequent this place) a contemptible opinion of our taste. The two
statues, one on each side the gate, of King Charles I. and II. are
particularly good. The clock tower or steeple with Gothic windows is
unpardonable, and the cornices at their angles are so broke, as to
appear very disgustful to an architect.