but the place, if it has nothing to excite our praise does not appear
to have any thing to provoke censure. My Lord Bateman’s house on the
south side is the most remarkable. It has the appearance of grandeur
and magnificence, and though it may have some defects, it has elegance
sufficient to make us excuse them.
SOMERSET HOUSE, on the south side of the Strand, near the new church,
is esteemed one of the royal palaces. It was built about the year 1549
by the Duke of Somerset, uncle to Edward VI. and protector of England,
who demolished the palaces of the bishops of Chester and Worcester,
an Inn of Chancery called Strand Inn, with the church of St. Mary le
Strand, that stood there, and building this palace with the materials,
it from him obtained the name of Somerset House. But the Duke soon
after being attainted, it fell to the crown, and has usually been
assigned for the residence of the Queen Dowager. In this palace Anne
of Denmark, King James the First’s Queen, kept her court, upon which
account, it was called Denmark house during that reign; but it soon
after recovered the name of its first founder.
The front towards the Strand is adorned with columns and other
decorations, which are much defaced by time and the smoke of the city,
the principal ornaments having mouldered away. This front together
with the quadrangle, seem to have been the first attempts to restore
the ancient architecture in England. In the middle of the Strand front
is a handsome gate which opens into the quadrangle, adorned with a
piazza, perhaps more in taste than any other in the kingdom of the same
antiquity, and the whole building on this side, has an air of grandeur.
But the most beautiful front is that towards the garden, situated upon
an elevation, part of which has been new built, with a fine piazza
and lofty apartments over it. This part of the building is however
irregular, and left unfinished; some of the old building being still
standing on that side. The garden is extremely pleasant, it leading
down to the Thames, from which it is separated by a parapet wall, and
there is here a handsome landing-place, with stairs, which lead up to
the principal walk to the palace.
This garden used to be public, and any person might have the liberty
of walking in it; but since the Foot-guards have been quartered in the
palace we are informed this privilege is discontinued, the passage to
the garden through the palace is extremely disagreeable, the broken
staircase, the appearance of the walls, the darkness, and the filth,
render it like the descent into a prison; however the pleasantness of
the garden, and the fine view it affords of the Thames, give a full
recompence for whatever is disagreeable in our way to it. The view
we have here given of Somerset house, is the garden front taken from
the Thames, and shews the whole extent of the front that way, and
consequently the old part of the building as well as the modern. The
appearance altogether is picturesque. The new part, which is of stone,
contains the royal apartments built by Inigo Jones, and was no doubt
only a part of his design, the stairs and gate to the water shewing
where he intended the center.
[Illustration:
_S. Wale delin._ _E. Rooker sculp._
_Somerset House._]
SOMERSET _stable yard_, a large yard to the west of Somerset house, in
which are coach-houses, stables and a guard-room, where a detachment of
foot guards do duty daily, as well as at Somerset house, to which it
belongs.
SOMERSET _stairs_, Strand.†
SOMERSET WATER-GATE _stairs_, Strand.†
SOMERSET _street_, Whitechapel.
SOMMER’S _key_, near Thames street.†
SOMMER’S _rents_, Old Gravel Lane, Ratcliff Highway.†
SOMMER’S _street_, Hockley in the Hole.†
SOPE _yard_, Harrow Corner Deadman’s Place.
SOPEMAKERS, a fraternity incorporated by letters patent granted by King
Charles I. in the year 1638. This company is governed by a master, two
wardens, and eighteen assistants; they have however neither livery nor
hall, and therefore, manage their affairs in Guildhall.
SOPER’S _alley_, Whitecross street, Cripplegate.†
SOPER’S _yard_, Harrow Corner, Deadman’s Place.†
SOUTHAMPTON _buildings_, 1. Chancery Lane: 2. in High Holbourn, where
the Bishop of Lincoln had his city mansion; but that edifice afterwards
coming to the Earls of Southampton, it was taken down, and on the site
thereof was erected the above buildings. _Stow’s Survey._
SOUTHAMPTON _court_, 1. Southampton Buildings: 2. Southampton row.
SOUTHAMPTON _row_, Queen’s square, Bloomsbury.
SOUTHAMPTON _street_, 1. High Holbourn: 2. in the Strand.
SOUTHAMPTON’S ALMSHOUSE, near Monmouth street. The ground upon which
this house stands, together with a piece of ground adjoining, were
granted by lease to the parish of St. Giles’s in the Fields, by the
Earl of Southampton, in the year 1656, for the use of the poor, for
the term of five hundred years. And towards the support of twenty poor
inhabitants, Henry Carter, in the year 1674, gave the sum of 50_l._ the
profits whereof to be destributed among them, out of which, and the
produce of the ground which is now built upon, each of the poor women
have an allowance of 2_l._ 8_s._ and twelve bushels of coals annually.
They also receive out of the Lady Dudly’s gift at Christmas and
Whitsuntide 20_s._ _Maitland._
SOUTHMOULTON _row_, David street.
SOUTHMOULTON _street_, Hanover square.
SOUTH SEA _alley_, in the Mint, Southwark.
SOUTH SEA COMPANY. This company had the following origin: in the
glorious and successful war against France, in the reign of Queen
Anne, due care was not taken of the regular payment of seamen employed
in the royal navy; for those necessitous and useful men, had tickets
granted them instead of pay; which they were frequently obliged to get
discounted at 40_l._ and sometimes 50_l._ _per cent._ to avaricious men,
who taking advantage of the necessities of those brave fellows, raised
great estates upon their ruin.
The debt due from the government upon this and other accounts
unprovided for by parliament, amounted to 9,177,967_l._ 15_s._ 4_d._ and
these people taking it into their hands, were incorporated by act
of parliament in the year 1710; the following year the company,
after the discharge of the debt due to them from the government, was
made perpetual; and in 1714, lending the government an additional
sum of 822,032_l._ 4_s._ 8_d._ the capital of the company was, by act of
parliament, enlarged to ten millions; for which the members received
six _per cent._ interest, or 600,000_l._ _per annum_.
But in 1720 an act of parliament was passed, by which the company
were granted the sole privilege of trading to the South Seas within
certain limits, and enabled to increase their capital, by redeeming
several of the public debts, but by the arts used on this occasion the
capital stock of the company was soon raised to thirty-three millions,
five hundred and forty-three thousand, two hundred and sixty-three
pounds. It would take up too much room were we to enter here into an
account of the measures by which this iniquitous scheme was carried on;
many wealthy persons lost their estates, and others acquired immense
fortunes; and, in short, a considerable number of the directors, were
obliged by parliament to refund their ill-gotten treasures.
By an act passed in the sixth year of the reign of his present Majesty,
it was enacted, that after the 24th of June 1733, the capital stock
of the company, which then amounted to 14,651,103_l._ 8_s._ 1_d._ and the
shares of the respective proprietors, should be divided into four
equal parts, three fourths of which should be converted into a joint
stock, attended with annuities, after the rate of 4 _per cent._ till
redemption by parliament, and should be called the new South Sea
annuities, and the other fourth part should remain in the company as
a trading capital stock, attended with the residue of the annuities
or funds payable at the Exchequer to the company till redemption, and
that the company’s accomptant should twice every year, at Christmas and
Midsummer, or within one month after, state an account of the company’s
affairs, which should be laid before the next general court, in order
to their declaring a dividend, but that such dividend should not exceed
4_l._ _per cent. per annum_, till their debts were discharged. That
the South Sea company, and their trading stock should, exclusively
from the new joint stock of annuities, be liable to all the debts and
incumbrances of the company; and that the company should cause to be
kept within the city of London, an office, and books, in which all
transfers of the new annuities, should be entered and signed by the
party making such transfer, or his attorney; and the person to whom
such transfer should be made, or his attorney, should underwrite his
acceptance, and no other method of transferring annuities should be
good in law. The annuities of this company are some of them reduced to
3_l._ 10_s._ _per cent._ and others to 3_l._
It is necessary to observe with respect to this company, that they
have never carried on any considerable trade; however by the assiento
contract they had for some years the privilege of furnishing the
Spaniards with negroe slaves for their mines and plantations in
America, and of sending a large ship annually with European goods,
consisting chiefly of our woollen manufactures, to the Spanish West
Indies; and for nine years they annually sent a small number of ships
to fish for Whales on the coast of Greenland. As they have now no
trade, they only receive interest for their capital, which is in the
hands of the government, and also 8000_l._ a year out of the treasury,
towards the expence attending the management of their affairs.
The hours of payment of dividends are from nine o’clock till eleven,
and the hours of transfer from twelve o’clock till one.
The days of transferring South Sea stock are Monday and Friday.
Old annuities Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
New annuities Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Three _per cent._ 1751, Tuesday and Thursday. Except on holidays, which
are in general the same as at the Bank.
The business of this company is managed by a governor, subgovernor,
deputy governor, and twenty-one directors, annually chosen before the
6th of February, by a majority of votes: such members of the company as
have 1000_l._ in the capital stock in their own names, having one vote;
such as have 3000_l._ two votes; such as have 5000_l._ three votes, and
such as have 10,000_l._ stock or more, four votes, and none above: but
no person can be governor, subgovernor, deputy governor, or director,
while governor, deputy governor, or director of the bank of England.
[Illustration:
_S. Wale delin._ _J. Fougeron sculp._
_South Sea House._]
SOUTH SEA HOUSE, a very neat brick building at the north-west corner of
Threadneedle street, opposite the church of St. Martin’s Outwich. In
this building the South Sea company transact their affairs.
The front is very large and plain, and is a modern edifice with stone
copings, rustic quoins, and window cases. The entrance has no relation
to it, and is much too fine and principal, a fault not often committed,
but is only so by being in the extreme; over the entrance is raised
a handsome well proportioned window, ornamented with rustic work, in
conformity to the angles of the building, and crowned with a pediment:
and on the inside of the gate is a handsome square court, surrounded
with a piazza formed by columns of the Doric order.
SOUTH SEA _court_, Lumbard street.
SOUTH SEA _passage_, Broad street, leading through the South Sea house
into Threadneedle street.
SOUTH SEA _yard_, Threadneedle street.☐
SOUTH _street_, 1. Audley street 2. Spitalfields market.§
SOUTH-WEST _yard_, Spitalfields market.§
SOUTHWARK, a considerable part of this great metropolis on the south
side of the Thames, consists of the parishes of St. Olave, St. Saviour,
St. George and St. Thomas, and for its extent and number of inhabitants
is inferior to few cities in England.
It is mentioned in history in the year 1052, when Earl Godwin arrived
there with a powerful fleet, and having cast anchor till the return of
the tide, passed London Bridge without opposition, in order to engage
the royal navy, which consisted of fifty ships of war, and then lay
opposite to Westminster; but matters being accommodated between the
King and Earl Godwin, the latter returned, and repassed the bridge,
which was then of wood.
Southwark was governed by its own bailiffs till the year 1327. The
city however found great inconveniences from its neighbourhood,
malifactors escaping thither out of the reach and cognizance of the
city magistrates. This made the city long desirous of getting Southwark
under her subjection, and a grant was made of that town to the city in
the last mentioned period, when the mayor of London was constituted
bailiff of Southwark, and impowered to govern it by his deputy.
The inhabitants some time after recovered their former privileges; but
in the fourth year of the reign of Edward VI. the crown granted it to
the city of London for the sum of 647_l._ 2_s._ 1_d._ and within about a
month after the passing of that patent, in consideration of the farther
sum of 500 marks, paid to the crown by the city, Southwark was made one
of the city wards, named Bridge Ward without, when the number of the
aldermen being increased from twenty-five to twenty-six, a new one was
chosen to govern that borough: In virtue of the above grant, Southwark
has ever since been subject to the Lord Mayor, who has under him a
steward and bailiff, the former of whom holds a court of record every
Monday at St. Margaret’s hill, for all debts, damages, and trespasses,
within his limits, and the Lord Mayor proclaims Southwark fair on the
19th of September.
There are five prisons in Southwark, the King’s Bench, just finished
in St. George’s fields; the Marshalsea; the New prison, which is the
county jail for felons; the Clinke, and the Compter: and also two
hospitals, that of St. Thomas, and Guy’s. All which see under their
respective names. And for the most remarkable passages in the history
of this borough, see the article LONDON.
SOUTHWICK’S _rents_, Bett’s street.†
SPARK’S _court_, Duke’s place, Aldgate.
SPARROW’S NEST _yard_, Oxford street.
SPAW _field_, a field near the New-river-head, Islington road: so
called from a famous mineral spring.
SPECTACLEMAKERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by
King Charles I. in the year 1630.
They are governed by a master, two wardens and fifteen assistants; but
have neither livery nor hall.
SPECTACLES _alley_, Shoe lane, Fleet street.*
MR. SPENCER’S. See GREEN-PARK.
SPICER _street_, Brick lane Spitalfields.†
SPINGEL’S _alley_, Cable street, Ragfair.†
SPINNERS _yard_, Windmill hill.†
SPIT _alley_, St. Giles’s pound.
SPITALFIELDS, a place of very considerable extent on the east side
of Bishopsgate street, formerly fields belonging to St. Mary Spital;
but now formed into a great number of streets, lanes, and alleys,
wherein the weaving business is carried to the greatest perfection by
the descendents of French refugees, especially silks, and the richest
brocades.
SPITALFIELDS _market_, by Spitalfields church, is a very great market
chiefly for roots and greens.
SPITAL _square_, Bishopsgate street without.
SPITAL SQUARE _passage_, Lamb street, Spitalfields.
SPITAL _street_, Pelham street, Spitalfields.
SPRAT’S ALMSHOUSE, in College church-yard, Deadman’s place, Southwark,
was founded by Mr. Henry Sprat, in the year 1709, for two poor old men,
who have an allowance of 4_l._ _per annum_, each.
SPREAD EAGLE _alley_, 1. Kingsland road.* 2. Whitechapel.*
SPREAD EAGLE _court_, 1. Bread street, Cheapside.* 2. Church lane,
Rotherhith.* 3. Gray’s Inn lane, Holbourn.* 4. Hand alley, Petticoat
lane.* 5. Kingsland road.* 6. Threadneedle street.*
SPREAD EAGLE _yard_, Kingsland road.*
SPRING GARDEN, Charing cross.
SPRING GARDEN _mews_, Spring Garden.
SPRING _street_, Fox lane, Upper Shadwell: 2. Middle Shadwell.
SPUR _inn yard_, St. Margaret’s Hill.*
SPUR _street_, Leicester Fields.*
SPURSTOWE’S ALMSHOUSE, in Back lane, Hackney, was founded by Mr.
William Spurstowe, in the year 1666; but dying before it was endowed,
his brother Henry, settled lands upon it, for the payment of 4_l._ _per
annum_, to each of the six poor widows therein. _Maitland._
SQUIRREL _alley_, in the Minories.*
SQUIRRIES, a fine seat near Westerham. See the article WESTERHAM.
STABLE _yard_, 1. Jockey Fields, near Grays Inn: 2. St. James’s street
Pallmall: 3. Northumberland alley, Fenchurch street: 4. near Smith’s
street, Marsham street: 5. Warner street, Cold Bath Fields.
STACEY’S _street_, Monmouth street.†
STAFFORD’S ALMSHOUSE, at the lower end of Gray’s Inn lane, was founded
by Alexander Stafford, Esq; in the year 1633, for four poor men and
six women, who have an annual allowance of 6_l._ and half a chaldron of
coals each, besides a coat and gown every other year.
STAFFORD _street_, Bond street.
STAG’S _alley_, Bedfordbury.*
STAINING _lane_, 1. Maiden lane: 2. near Wood street, Cheapside.
STAINS, or STANES, a populous town in Middlesex, situated on the
Thames, nineteen miles from London, it obtained its name from the Saxon
word _Stana_ or stone, because there anciently stood a boundary stone
in this place to denote the extent of the city of London’s jurisdiction
upon the river. It has a bridge over the Thames, and is governed by two
constables, and four headboroughs appointed by his Majesty’s steward,
on account of its being a lordship belonging to the crown. The church
stands alone, at almost half a mile distance from the town.
STAMFORD HILL, a hill with a small village on its side between
Newington, and Tottenham Highcross.
STAMFORD’S _buildings_, Old street.†
STAMP _corner_, Old street.
STAMP OFFICE, on the west side of Lincoln’s Inn Square, extends from
the passage leading to Lincoln’s Inn Fields to near the south-west
corner.
This office is under the government of five commissioners who have 400
_l._ a year each. There are besides a receiver general who has 500_l._
_per annum_, under whom are four clerks, one who has 100_l._ a year, and
three who have 60_l._ A secretary, who has 300_l._ a year, who has four
clerks, one of whom has 130_l._ _per annum_, another 70_l._ another 60_l._
and another 50_l._ a year. A comptroller, who has 400_l._ _per annum_,
and has three clerks, one who has 100_l._ and two others who have 60_l._
a year each.
The other officers are an accomptant clerk, a sollicitor, a teller of
stamps, three inspectors of courts and corporations in the country, and
one inspector of courts in town, and also a supervisor of the stamps,
each of whom has a salary of 100_l._ a year. There are likewise a
register and comptroller of the apprentice duty, who has 150_l._ a year;
a register of warrants, who has 140_l._ and a warehouse keeper of stampt
goods who has 160_l._ a year: and besides these there are many inferior
officers, who have smaller sallaries.
STANBURY’S _court_, Picadilly.
STANES, a town in Middlesex. See STAINS.
STANGATE _stairs_, Lambeth.
STANGATE _street_, Lambeth.
STANHOPE’S _court_, Charing Cross.†
STANHOPE’S _street_, Clare Market.†
STANLEY’S _yard_, Stony lane.†
STANBURY’S _court_, Picadilly.†
STANTON’S _rents_, Rotherhith Wall.†
STANTON’S _Wharf_, near Stony lane, Southwark.†
STAPLES _court_, Beck street.†
STAPLES INN, one of the inns of chancery, is seated on the south side
of Holbourn, near the bars, and consists of two large courts surrounded
with good buildings.
STAPLES _rents_, Love lane.†
STAR _alley_, 1. Barnaby street, Southwark.* 2. East Smithfield,
Tower Hill.* 3. Fenchurch street.* 4. in the Minories.*
STAR _court_, 1. Bread street, Cheapside.* 2. Bread street hill, Thames
street.* 3. Butcher Row, Temple Bar.* 4. Castle street.* 5. Chancery
lane.* 6. Cheapside.* 7. Compton street.* 8. Cross lane, Parker’s
lane.* 9. Great Eastcheap.* 10. Grub street, Fore street.* 11. Little
Britain.* 12. London Wall.* 13. in the Minories.* 14. Old Fish street.*
STAR _street_, Wapping Wall.*
STAR _yard_, 1. Barnaby street.* 2. Huggen lane, Thames street.* 3.
Kingsland road.* 4. Moor lane.*
STARCH _alley_, 1. Greenback, Southwark: 2. Rotten Row, Goswell street.
STARCH _yard_, 1. Back lane, Lambeth: 2. Old Gravel lane.
STARCHMAKERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King
James I. in the year 1622. They are governed by a master, two wardens,
and twenty-four assistants, but have neither livery nor hall.
STARLING SCHOOL, on Little Tower Hill, was founded in the year 1673,
by Sir Samuel Starling, knt. and alderman, for forty boys, and thirty
girls, of the parish of St. Botolph without Aldgate, who are taught
reading, writing and arithmetic, and also instructed in the principles
of the Christian religion. _Maitland._
STATIONERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted in the
third and fourth of Philip and Mary, in the year 1557. They are
governed by a master, two wardens, and thirty-six assistants, with a
livery of 280 members, who upon their admission, pay a fine of 20_l._
This company has stock of about 15000_l._ denominated the English stock,
which is employed in printing almanacks, hornbooks, primmers, psaltars,
and some school books, the sole printing whereof is confirmed to them
by letters patent granted by several kings.
This stock consists of twenty whole shares of 320_l._ each, which are
generally possessed by those who are of the court of assistants: the
second are forty half shares, of 160_l._ each, the third are eighty
quarter shares, of 80_l._ each, and the fourth are one hundred and sixty
half quarter shares, of 40_l._ each; all which are divided among those
who have fined for or served the office of renter-warden.
Upon the death of any of the married possessors of this stock, the
profits arising from his share devolve to his widow, which she enjoys
during her widowhood or life: but at the expiration of either, another
person is chosen to enjoy the profits of her share; and he is no sooner
elected, than he pays the deposit-money to the late widow, her husband,
or executors.
The dividends upon the stock are made at Christmas, and increased or
decreased according to the expence of the preceding year; however, it
is seldom less than 40_l._ upon a whole share, or 320_l._
The master and wardens of the company are always in the direction of
the stock, to whom are joined six other members annually elected; who
adjust all accounts relating to it, and at Christmas report the state
thereof to the board, who regulate the dividends accordingly.
The stationers company have also a share in the Irish estate, and other
considerable estates, out of which they pay about 300_l._ _per annum_ in
pensions, and other charities. _Maitland._
STATIONERS HALL, a spacious brick building near Amen Corner. There is
an ascent to it by a flight of steps, and the light is thrown in by two
series of windows, the lower large and upright, and the upper of an
elliptical form. Underneath it, and at the north end are the warehouses
for the company’s stock. This hall has but few ornaments; but it is
however extremely convenient.
STATIONERS _court_, in which stationers hall is placed, has three
passages into it one from Ludgate street; one from Ave Mary lane,
and one from Amen Corner. This court, and the passages into it, are
inhabited by eminent booksellers.
STAYMAKERS _alley_, Booth street, Spitalfields.
STEBBING’S _rents_, Portpool lane, Leather lane, Holbourn.†
STEEDWELL _street_, Hog lane, St. Giles’s.†
STEEL’S _court_, Bread street, Cheapside.†
STEEL _yard_, in Thames street above the Bridge. Here was originally
the hall of the Anseatic merchants, and the warehouses where they used
to stow their steel, flax, hemp, pitch, tar, masts, cables, linen
cloth, wheat, rye and other grain. And in this place are still large
warehouses for iron, in bars, &c.
STEEL _yard stairs_, by the Steel yard.
STEEL _yard wharf_, at the end of the Steel yard.
STEEP’S _garden_, Kent street, near St. George’s church, Southwark.
_St._ STEPHEN’S _chapel_, at the south-east corner of Westminster hall,
was founded by King Stephen, who dedicated it to St. Stephen the Proto
martyr. See _House of_ COMMONS.