Elizabeth in the year 1579, when that Princess granted them many great
privileges, which have been confirmed by several succeeding Princes.
The trade of this company originally extended no farther than to
Venice; but discovering there oriental gems, and other valuable
commodities brought from the east, they extended their trade to Turky;
and tho’ the English East Company, which was afterwards incorporated,
deprived them of the trade of jewels and spices, they have almost ever
since carried on a trade to the Levant with success, though it is now
upon the decline. _Maitland._
In the Turky trade there was always a balance against us; and yet it
was esteemed of no disservice to the nation, as that company imported
raw silk, cotton, and several other articles that were purchased with
our cloth and other woollen goods; but the French have supplanted us by
making a slight sort of cloth, that appears as fine as ours, and being
made thinner and lighter, is not only fitter for warm climates; but can
be afforded cheaper.
In the year 1754, an act was passed, by which it was ordered that every
subject of Great Britain, who desired admission into the Turky company,
should be admitted within thirty days after such request, and enjoy
all the privileges of the company, on their paying 20_l._ for such
admission.
The affairs of this company are managed by a Governor, deputy governor
and a court of assistants, consisting of eighteen members, annually
chosen in the month of February; who hold a court monthly, or as
occasion requires, for the management of the company’s affairs; as
appointing Consuls, Vice-consuls, factors, _&c._ to the places where
their factories are kept; as at Smyrna, Aleppo, Constantinople, Cyprus,
_&c._ who are answerable to the company for what they do or act under
them.
TURN-ABOUT _alley_, Windmill Hill row.
TURN-AGAIN _lane_, 1. Snow Hill: 2. Thomas street.
TURNBULL _street_, Cowcross, this street was anciently denominated
TURNMILL STREET, from the mills erected in it, turned by a stream of
water from Hampstead and Highgate; which being at present seemingly
dried up, some writers have represented it as lost; but that stream is
brought to the suburbs of London in two large wooden pipes, each of a
seven inch bore. _Maitland._
TURNBULL _yard_, White’s alley, Longditch.
TURNERS, a society incorporated by letters patent granted by King James
I. in the year 1604; by the name of _The master, wardens and commonalty
of the art or mystery de lez Turners of London_.
This company is governed by a master, two wardens, and twenty-four
assistants; with a livery of 144 members, who, upon their admission,
pay a fine of 8_l._ They have a convenient hall on College hill, Thames
street.
TURNER’S _alley_, Little Eastcheap.†
TURNER’S _court_, St. Martin’s lane.†
TURNER’S _street_, Derby street.†
TURNMILL _street_, the ancient name of the street now corruptly called
Turnbull street. See TURNBULL _street_.
TURNPIKE _passage_, King street.
TURN-STILE, 1. Drury lane: 2. Holbourn.
TURNWHEEL _lane_, Cannon street, by Wallbrook.
TURRET _yard_, Little sanctuary, Westminster.
TURNVILLE _street_, Shoreditch Fields.
TUTTLE _court_, Barnaby street, Southwark.
TWEED _street_, Berwick street, Old Soho.
TWEEZER’S _alley_, Milford lane, in the Strand.
TWELVE BELL _court_, Bow church-yard, Cheapside.*
TWICKENHAM, a pleasant village in Middlesex situated on the Thames
between Teddington and Isleworth, and between two brooks that here fall
into that river. The church, which is a modern edifice, rebuilt by
the contribution of the inhabitants, is a fine Doric structure. Here
is a charity school for fifty boys, who are cloathed and taught: And
this delightful village is adorned with the seats of several persons
of distinction, particularly on the bank of the river. To begin at the
upper end; there is an elegant Gothic seat called Strawberry Hill,
belonging to the Honorable Mr. Walpole; then a beautiful house, late
the Earl of Radnor’s, now in the possession of Mr. Hindley. The next
of considerable note is Sir William Stanhope’s, formerly the residence
of our most celebrated poet Mr. Alexander Pope; then Mrs. Backwell’s;
and the last on this beautiful bank is doctor Battie’s, at present in
the possession of Mr. Paulet. All these houses, besides several others
on this delightful bank, enjoy a most pleasing prospect both up and
down the river, perpetually enlivened with the west country navigation,
and other moving pictures on the surface of this enchanting river.
Then below the church, you have the fine seat of Mr. Whitchurch, that
of the Earl of Strafford, Mrs. Pitt, and at the entrance into the
meadows, the elegant structure called Marble Hall, belonging to the
Countess of Suffolk. Still further down the stream you have the small
but very pretty house of Mr. Barlow; the larger and more grand one
of Mr. Cambridge; and the sweet retirement called Twickenham Park,
the residence of the Countess of Montrath. This brings you down to
Isleworth, which from the entrance into the meadows at Lady Suffolk’s,
is about a mile and a half on the bank of the river, opposite to
Ham-walks and Richmond-hill, and is one of the most beautiful walks in
England.
TWIG’S _rents_, Blue Anchor alley.†
TWISTERS _alley_, Whitecross street.
TWO BREWER’S _yard_, in the Curtain, Hog lane.*
TWO LEG _alley_, Old Bethlem.*
TWO SWAN _yard_, Bishopsgate street.*
TWYFORD’S _alley_, Petty France, Westminster.†
TYBURN, anciently a village situated on the eastern bank of the rivulet
Tyburn, from whence it took its name, and at the east end of the Lord
Mayor’s banquetting house bridge, in the neighbourhood of which the
city has nine conduits, that were first erected about the year 1238,
for supplying the city with water; but it having for many years been
better supplied from the New River, the citizens in the year 1703, let
the water of those conduits on a lease of forty-three years, for the
sum of 700_l._ _per annum_.
At the north-east corner of Tyburn Bridge stood the Lord Mayor’s
banqueting house, to which it was usual for his Lordship to repair
with the Aldermen, accompanied by their ladies in waggons, to view the
city conduits, after which they had an entertainment at the banqueting
house. This edifice under which were two cisterns, for the reception of
the water from the neighbouring conduits, having been for many years,
neglected, was taken down in the year 1737, and Tyburn is now only
known by the gallows, erected where that village stood, and at present
alone bears the name of Tyburn. _Maitland._
TYBURN _lane_, Hyde Park road.
TYBURN _road_, Oxford street.
TYGER _court_, Whitecross street, Cripplegate.*
TYER’S _gate_, Barnaby street, Southwark.†
TYLER’S _street_, King’s street, Golden Square.†
TYSON’S _street_, Shoreditch Fields.†
V.
VALIANT SOLDIER _alley_, Barnaby street.*
VAUXHALL, a hamlet in the parish of Lambeth, particularly famous for
the pleasantness of the gardens, that have been many years converted
into a place of genteel entertainment, during the spring and summer
seasons. They were the first of the kind perhaps in the world: in the
midst of the garden is a superb orchestre containing a fine organ
and a band of music with some of the best voices, and the seats or
boxes are disposed to the best advantage with respect to hearing the
music. In most of the boxes are pictures painted from the designs of
Mr. Hayman, on subjects admirably adapted to the place. But there
are in the grand pavilion four pictures of his own hand from the
historical plays of Shakespear that are universally admired for the
design, colouring and expression. The trees are scattered here with
a pleasing confusion. At some distance are several noble vistas of
very tall trees, where the spaces between each are filled up with
neat hedges, and on the inside are planted flowers and sweet smelling
shrubs. Some of these vistas terminate in a view of ruins, and others
in a prospect of the adjacent country, and some are adorned with the
painted representation of triumphal arches. There are here also several
statues, and in particular a good one in marble by Mr. Roubiliac of
the late Mr. Handell playing on a lyre in the character of Orpheus.
As Ranelagh has its rotunda, so here also is a rotund and ball room,
finely illuminated, in which is an orchestre with an organ, where
if the evening proves rainy the company may be safely sheltered and
entertained. When it grows dark the garden near the orchestre is
illuminated, almost in an instant, with about 1500 glass lamps, which
glitter among the trees, and render it exceeding light and brilliant:
and soon after a very extraordinary piece of machinery has of late
been exhibited, on the inside of one of the hedges near the entrance
into the vistas: by removing a curtain is shewn a very fine landscape
illuminated by concealed light; in which the principal objects that
strike the eyes are the cascade or waterfall, and a miller’s house. The
exact appearance of water is seen flowing down a declivity, and turning
the wheel of the mill: it rises up in foam at the bottom, and then
glides away. This moving picture, attended with the noise of the water,
has a very pleasing and surprizing effect both on the eye and ear; but
we cannot help observing, with respect to this piece, that however well
it is executed, yet peoples being obliged to wait till the curtain
is drawn; and after beholding it for a few minutes, having it again
suddenly concealed from the view, when the exhibition is ended for that
night, has too much the air of a raree show. If it could have been
contrived to make its appearance gradually, with the rising of the moon
in the same picture, which might seem to enlighten the prospect, and at
length by degrees to become obscured by the passing of that luminary
behind a cloud, the effect would perhaps have been much more agreeable.
Every thing is provided in these gardens in the most elegant manner for
the company who chuse to sup.
[Illustration:
_S. Wale delin._ _E. Rooker sc._
_View at the Entrance into Vaux Hall._]
VAUXHALL _court_, Little Chapel street.
VAUXHALL _stairs_, Vauxhall.
VAUXHALL STAIRS _lane_, leading from the above stairs toward the garden.
VAUXHALL _walk_, Bull street, Lambeth.
_St._ VEDAST’S, situated on the east side of Foster lane, in the Ward
of Farringdon within. A church has stood for many centuries in the
place where this is situated; but not under the same tutelage: the
first building was dedicated to St. Foster, and from that the lane in
which it stands was called Foster lane: but afterwards the church being
rebuilt, was put under the patronage of St. Vedast, Bishop of Arras, in
France, who died in the year 550.
This church was so far destroyed by the fire of London in 1666, that
nothing was left standing but the steeple and the walls; but these
being repaired, continued till the year 1694, when they were taken
down, and the present edifice was finished in 1697. It is built
entirely of stone, and the body is sixty-nine feet in length, fifty-one
broad, and thirty-six feet high. It is well enlightened by a range of
windows placed so high that the doors open under them. The tower is
plain, and the spire which is short rises from a double base. _English
architecture._
The author of _The Critical Review of the public buildings_, mentioning
this steeple says, “It is not a glaring pile that strikes the eye at
the first view with an idea of grandeur and magnificence; but then
the beautiful pyramid it forms, and the just and well proportioned
simplicity of all its parts, satisfy the mind so effectually, that
nothing seems to be wanting, and nothing can be spared.”
The patronage of this church was anciently in the prior and convent of
Canterbury, till coming to the archbishop of that see in the year 1352
it has been in him and his successors ever since, and is one of the
thirteen peculiars in the city belonging to the archiepiscopal see. To
this church the parish of St. Michael Quern is united, and the rector
receives 160_l._ a year in lieu of tithes. _Maitland._
VERE _street_, 1. Beer street: 2. Brook’s street, Ratcliff: 3.
Clare Market: 4. Oxford street. Thus named from the Lady of the late
Earl of Oxford.
VICTUALLING OFFICE, on the upper part of Little Tower Hill near the
end of King street; is separated from Tower Hill by a wall and gates,
and contains some houses for the officers, with store rooms, slaughter
houses, a brewhouse, for salting, barrelling, &c. of provisions.
This office is under the direction of seven commissioners, each of
whom has his separate department, as in the Navy Office, and a salary
of 400_l._ _per annum_, as the first commissioner and comptroller, the
commissioner of the bakehouse, another of the cutting house, another of
the brewhouse; another of the accounts; another of the cooperage; and
another who is hoytaker.
Under these commissioners is a secretary who has 200_l._ _per annum_,
and five clerks; a cash accomptant who has 120_l._ _per annum_, and four
clerks, besides an extra-clerk; an accomptant for stores, who has 100
_l._ _per annum_, and five clerks, besides an extra-clerk; the clerk of
the bakehouse and master baker, who has 130_l._ a year, and two clerks,
besides an extra-clerk, a clerk of the cutting house who has 110_l._ a
year, a clerk and extra-clerk. Besides these there are a storekeeper of
the brewhouse, who has 60_l._ a year; a master cooper; a muster master
of the workmen; a master butcher; a surveyor of oxen and hogs; clerks
to keep charge on pursers, a clerk for stating a purser’s accounts, a
short allowance clerk, and a clerk to bring up accounts of stores in
arrears, most of these have clerks under them: and there are also a few
other officers and servants.
VIGO _lane_, 1. Burlington Gardens: 2. Swallow street.
VILLAR’S _court_, 1. Huggen lane: 2. St. James’s street.
VILLAR’S _street_, in the Strand, so called from its being built on the
ground where the house of Villars Duke of Buckingham formerly stood.
See YORK BUILDINGS.
VINCENT’S _court_, Silver street.†
VINE _court_, 1. Bishopsgate street without.* 2. Brook’s street.*
3. Chequer alley.* 4. Golden lane.* 5. Gravel lane.* 6. Harp alley,
Shoe lane.* 7. Lamb street, Spitalfields.* 8. Moor lane.* 9. Narrow
street, Limehouse.* 10. Onslow street, Vine street.* 11. Shoemaker row,
Aldgate.* 12. Three Crane lane, Thames street.* 13. Vine street, in the
Minories.* 14. Vine yard, Horsely down lane.* 15. Vineyard, St. Olave’s
street.* 16. Whitechapel.*
VINE _street_, 1. Fore street, Limehouse.* 2. St. Giles’s.* 3. Hatton
Wall.* 4. Lamb street.* 5. Maiden lane, Deadman’s place.* 6. Millbank.*
7. in the Minories.* 8. Narrow Wall, Lambeth.* 9. Chandois street.* 10.
Warwick street.
VINE _yard_, 1. Old Horselydown lane.* 2. Pickax street, Aldersgate
street.* 3. Ratcliff.* 4. Redcross street.* 5. Tooley street,
Southwark.*
VINEGAR _yard_, 1. Barnaby street, Southwark: 2. Blue Anchor, alley:
3. Bowl alley, St. Giles’s: 4. Dirty lane, Blackman street, Southwark:
5. Drury lane: 6. George street, in the Mint: 7. St. John’s lane,
Smithfield: 8. Sun yard, Nightingale lane.
VINTNER _alley_, Thames street.
VINTNERS, one of the twelve principal companies, were anciently
denominated _Merchant wine tunners of Gascoyne_, and were of two sorts,
the _Veneatrii_, who imported the wine, and the _Tabernarii_ who sold
it by retail, either kept taverns or wine cellars. They were however
incorporated by letters patent granted by King Henry VI. in the year
1437, by the name of the master, wardens, freemen and commonalty of the
mystery of Vintners of the city of London; but without the power of
making by-laws.
They are governed by a master, three wardens, twenty-eight assistants,
with a livery of 194 members, who, upon their admission, pay a fine
of 31_l._ 13_s._ 4_d._ They are possessed of a very considerable estate,
out of which is paid to charitable uses about 600_l._ a year, and have
a handsome hall in Thames street, where was formelry the house of Sir
John Stody, who gave it the company: it was called in antient records
the place of Stody, or the manor of the Vintry.
The buildings enclose a square court, and in the north front next the
street is a large and handsome gate, with columns wreathed with grapes
and supporting a Bacchus on three tons. Behind the hall is a garden
through which is a passage to the Thames.
VINTNERS ALMSHOUSE, at Mile-end, was founded by the company of
Vintners, for the use of twelve widows of deceased members, each of
whom receives 3_s._ a week, and every year a chaldron of coals, and
about 40_s._ given at certain times. _Maitland._
VINTRY WARD, takes its name from the Vintry, situated where the
Vintners hall now stands, and where the antient vintners or wine
merchants, who lived on the banks of the Thames, landed their wines,
which they were obliged to sell in forty days, till Edward I. granted
them longer time, and certain privileges. This ward is bounded on the
north by Cordwainers wards; on the east, by Walbrook and Dowgate wards;
on the south by the Thames, and on the west by Queenhithe ward. The
principal streets are a part of Thames street, from Little Elbow lane
in the east, to Townsend lane, in the west; a part of Queen street,
Great St. Thomas Apostles, Garlick hill, Great and Little Elbow lane,
_&c._ and the most remarkable buildings are the parish churches of
St. Michael’s Royal, St. Martin’s Vintry, and St. James Garlickhithe;
Vintners hall, Cutlers hall, Plumbers hall, and Fruiterers hall.
The government of this ward is by an alderman, and nine common
councilmen, under whom are four scavengers, fourteen wardmote inquest
men, and a beadle. The jurymen returned by the wardmote inquest for
this ward are to serve in the several courts held in Guildhall in the
month of April. _Stow._ _Maitland._
VIRGINIA _court_, 1. Artichoke lane: 2. Butcher Row, East Smithfield.
VIRGINIA PLANTERS _hill_, Upper Shadwell.
VIRGINIA _row_, 1. Greyhound lane, Limehouse: 2. Shoreditch.
VIRGINIA _street_, Ratcliff Highway.
UNDERWOOD’S ALMSHOUSE, was at first erected at the west end of the
rectory house of St. Botolph’s Bishopsgate, by one Mr. Underwood, for
the accommodation of sixteen poor old women; but on the rebuilding of
Petty France, when it changed its name to that of Broad street, _&c._
this almshouse, with that of Alleyn’s adjoining, were in the year 1730,
forced to make way for the new passage leading into Bishopsgate street;
and a new building was erected in Lamb Alley, in the same parish, for
these poor women, each of whom is allowed 2_s._ 6_d._ per month.
UNICORN _alley_, 1. Blackman street, Southwark.* 2. Fore street,
Cripplegate.* 3. Holiwell street.* 4. Kent street, Southwark.* 5. in
the Minories.* 6. Wheeler street.*
UNICORN _court_, 1. in the Haymarket.* 2. Kent street.* 3. Redcross
street.*
UNICORN _yard_, 1. Blackman street Southwark.* 2. Butcher Row, East
Smithfield.* 3. St. Olave’s street, Southwark.* 4. Old street,
Horselydown.* 5. Tooly street, Southwark.*
UNION _bridge_, Old Horselydown, Southwark.
UNION _court_, 1. a well built court in Broad street, London Wall,
extending into Wormwood street: 2. Scroop’s court, Holbourn: 3.
Throgmorton street, Lothbury.
UNION FIRE OFFICE, is a very handsome building, erected for that
purpose in Maiden lane, near Cheapside, where goods and merchandize,
but not houses, are insured from loss by fire, by a mutual contribution.
This office, like that of the Hand-in-Hand Fire Office, was erected
by a considerable number of persons, who mutually agreeing to insure
one another’s goods and merchandize from loss by fire by an amicable
contribution, entered into a deed of settlement for that purpose, on
the 16th of February, 1714–15, and had it inrolled in chancery on
the 3d of July following, and this deed being signed by all persons
desirous of becoming members, they are thereby admitted to an equal
share in the profit and loss, in proportion to their respective
policies.
This office insures for all merchants, traders, housekeepers, and
others in the cities of London and Westminster and within ten miles
round, merchandize, goods, wares, utensils in trade, houshold
furniture, and wearing apparel; except plate, pictures, glass and china
ware not in trade; except also ready money, jewels, books of account,
tallies, writings, barns, ricks and stacks of corn, hay, straw and
horses. The term of insurance to be seven years, or less if desired.
_The terms and methods of insurance are as follows_
I. For the policy and mark are paid 8_s._ 6_d._ over and above all other
expences.
II. Every person designing to insure, shall before surveying the
goods, pay 10_s._ earnest money, to go towards the charge of insuring,
if agreed to, and the policy be taken up within three months after,
otherwise the said 10_s._ is sunk to the society: but if the directors
do not agree to such insurance, the earnest money to be returned.
Also old policies directed to be renewed, and not taken away within
three months are also to be cancelled, and the charge of the policies
and stamps of such renewals deducted out of the deposit-money of such
insurers.
III. For every 100_l._ insured on goods inclosed within brick or stone,
2_s._ premium, and 10_s._ deposit; and on goods not so inclosed, 3_s._
premium, and 15_s._ deposit. And so in proportion within part brick part
timber.
IV. For insurances deemed hazardous, as to situation, or kind of goods,
each 100_l._ inclosed in brick or stone, 4_s._ premium, and 1_l._
deposit; in timber, 6_s._ premium, and 1_l._ 10_s._ deposit. Hazardous
Insurances both by situation and kind of goods, if inclosed in brick
or stone, 6_s._ premium, and 1_l._ 10_s._ deposit; in timber 9_s._
premium, and 2_l._ 5_s._ deposit. And so in proportion within part
brick part timber.
V. Those who insure above 1000_l._ not exceeding 2000_l._ in one
policy, to pay double the premium that others do, but the same deposit;
and from 2000_l._ to 3000_l._ on the following terms, _viz._ For every
100 _l._ insured on goods inclosed in brick or stone, 6_s._ premium and
10_s._ deposit, and on goods not so inclosed, 9_s._ premium, and 15_s._
deposit. Insurances deemed hazardous, as to situation or kind of goods,
each 100_l._ inclosed in brick or stone, 12_s._ premium, and 1_l._
deposit; in timber 18_s._ premium, and 1_l._ 10_s._ deposit. Hazardous
insurances, both by situation and kind of goods, if inclosed in brick
or stone, 18_s._ premium, and 1_l._ 10_s._ deposit; in timber 1_l._
7_s._ premium, and 2_l._ 5_s._ deposit; and so in proportion within
part brick part timber. Since the 15th of November 1738, the society
have enlarged their insurances to 4000_l._ on the following terms,
_viz._ For every 100_l._ insured on goods inclosed in brick or stone,
6_s._ premium, and 10_s._ deposit; and on goods not so inclosed, 9_s._
premium, and 15_s._ deposit; and the hazardous insurances in the same
proportion as the 3000_l._ insurances; and so in proportion within part
brick part timber, and since to 5000_l._
VI. If more than twenty pounds weight of gunpowder is kept on the
premises insur’d, the policy is to be void.
VII. All insurances beyond the bills of mortality pay 3_s._ to the
surveyor for his charges, _&c._
VIII. Every member to have a policy under the hands and seals of three
of the trustees, and the society’s mark (being a double Hand-in-Hand)
affix’d upon his house, _&c._ The insurance to be good from the time
the charge is paid, and the deed of settlement subscribed by the
person insuring. The policy, on expiration (after accounting for the
deposit-money and mean profits) to be returned to the Office, as also
the mark.
IX. So much of the deposit-money is to be returned at the expiration
of the policy, as has not been applied to the making good of losses,
and the payment of necessary charges, together with a proportionable
dividend of profits. And beyond the deposit, no one to be answerable
for above 10_s._ _per cent._ on brick, and proportionably for part brick
and timber, to any one loss.