Westminster having resolved to settle an hospital like that of Christ
Church in the city of London, where poor orphans might not only be
furnished with all the necessaries of life, but instructed in manual
arts, in the year 1633 obtained a charter from King Charles I. by
which they were constituted a body politic and corporate, by the
appellation of _The Governors of the hospital of St. Margaret’s
Westminster, of the foundation of King Charles_; to consist of twenty
Governors, inhabitants of Westminster, with the right of purchasing
lands, tenements, &c. in mortmain, to the value of 500_l._ _per
annum_. But the civil war soon after breaking out, in a manner quashed
this noble design. However, by the charitable benefactions of King
Charles II. and others, the estate amounts to above 300_l._ a year,
and there are at present twenty boys maintained upon this foundation.
_Maitland._
GREEN _court_, 1. Green Bank, Wapping. 2. Knaves Acre. 3. Little
Minories. 4. Marshal street, Shoreditch.
[Illustration:
_M^r. Spencer’s._
_S. Wale del._ _B. Green sculp._
]
GREEN DRAGON _alley_, 1. Narrow street, Limehouse.* 2. Surry street, in
the Strand.* 3. By Wapping Wall.*
GREEN DRAGON _court_, 1. Broadway, Westminster.* 2. Cow lane.* 3. Foul
lane.* 4. New Crane, Wapping.* 5. Old Change.*
GREEN DRAGON _yard_, 1. Long lane, West Smithfield.* 2. Whitechapel.*
GREEN ELM _court_, in the Savoy.
GREENFORD, in the vale, a village two miles south of Harrow on the Hill.
GREENHILL’S _rents_, Smithfield bars.†
GREENLAND _stairs_. Deptford.
GREEN _lane_, 1. Lambeth. 2. Tottenham Court fields.
GREEN LETTICE _court_, Fore street, Cripplegate.*
GREEN LETTICE _lane_, Canon street.*
GREEN _market_, Leadenhall street.
GREEN _Park_, between St. James’s Park and Hyde Park. This Park adds
greatly to the pleasantness of the houses which are situated so as to
overlook it, among which the most conspicuous by far is that lately
built by Mr. Spencer. Altogether it appears very noble, but
considering it as a front, we are disappointed in not seeing any
entrance, which surely should have been made conspicuous. The pediment
being extended over so many columns is too large and heavy, and the
bow window has no relation at all to the building, and offends every
eye; but the figures and vases on the top have indeed a fine effect.
The irregularity of the other side or principal front (which is in St.
James’s Place) is excusable, as the adjoining houses can’t yet be
purchased, but the flatness of it, having no columns or great
projections, will always make it subordinate to the side that fronts
the Park, which is that we have given a view of in the print.
GREEN’S _court_, Lothbury.†
GREEN’S _rents_, Bride lane, Fleet street.†
GREEN SCHOOL _court_, London Wall.
GREEN _street_, 1. Near Grosvenor square. 2. Leicester fields. 3.
Theobald’s row.
GREEN _walk_, 1. Broad Wall. 2. Gravel lane.
GREENWICH, a very pleasant town in Kent, situated six miles from London,
has been the birth place of several of our Monarchs, particularly
Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth: and here King Edward VI. died. Their
palace was first erected by Humphry Duke of Gloucester, who named it
Placentia. This palace was enlarged by Henry VII. and completed by
Henry VIII. but being afterwards suffered to run to ruin, was pulled
down by King Charles II. who began another, a most magnificent
edifice, and lived to see the first wing finished. See GREENWICH
HOSPITAL.
King Charles II. also enlarged the park, walled it round, planted it,
and caused a royal observatory to be erected on the top of the steep
of the hill. This edifice his Majesty erected for the use of the
celebrated Mr. Flamstead, and it still retains the name of that great
astronomer: his Majesty likewise furnished it with mathematical
instruments for astronomical observations, and a deep dry well for
observing the stars in the day time.
That which is properly the palace here, is an edifice of no great
extent, and it is now converted into apartments for the Governor of
the Royal Hospital, and the Ranger of the park. This park is well
stocked with deer, and affords a noble and delightful view of the fine
hospital, the river Thames, and the city of London.
Greenwich is said to contain 1350 houses. Its parish church, which has
been lately rebuilt by the Commissioners for erecting the fifty new
churches, is a very handsome structure, dedicated to St. Alphage,
Archbishop of Canterbury, who is said to have been slain by the Danes
in the year 1012, on the spot where the church now stands. There is a
college at the end of the town, fronting the Thames, for the
maintenance of 20 decayed old housekeepers, twelve out of Greenwich,
and eight who are to be alternately chosen from Snottisham and
Castle-Rising in Norfolk. This is called the Duke of Norfolk’s
College, though it was founded and endowed, in 1613, by Henry Earl of
Northampton, the Duke of Norfolk’s brother, and by him committed to
the care of the Mercers company. To this college belongs a chapel, in
which the Earl’s body is laid, which, as well as his monument, was
removed hither a few years ago, from the chapel of Dover Castle. The
pensioners, besides meat, drink, and lodging, are allowed 1_s._ 6_d._
a week, with a gown every year, linen once in two years, and hats once
in four years.
In the year 1560 Mr. Lambard, author of the Perambulation of Kent,
also built and founded an hospital called Queen Elizabeth’s College,
said to be the first erected by an English protestant. There are
likewise two charity schools in this parish, one founded by Sir
William Boreman, Knt. for twenty boys, who are cloathed, boarded, and
taught; they wear green coats and caps: and the other by Mr. John
Roan, who left his estate for teaching also twenty boys reading,
writing, and arithmetic, and allowing 2_l._ _per annum_ for each boy’s
cloaths. These wear grey coats.
The river Thames is here very broad, and the channel deep; and at some
very high tides the water is salt, though it is usually sweet and
fresh.
[Illustration:
_S. Wale del._ _B. Green sculp._
_Greenwich Hospital._
]
GREENWICH HOSPITAL, stands on the spot, where stood the palace of
several of our Kings. The first wing of this noble and superb edifice,
erected by K. Charles II. was designed to be applied to the same use.
Indeed from the magnificence of the structure, it can scarcely be
taken for any thing less than the palace of a great monarch. However
King William III. being very desirous of promoting the trade,
navigation, and naval strength of this kingdom, by inviting great
numbers of his subjects to betake themselves to the sea, gave this
noble palace, and several other edifices, with a considerable spot of
ground, for the use of those English seamen and their children, who by
age, wounds, or other accidents, should be disabled from farther
service at sea, and for the widows and children of such as were slain
in fighting at sea, against the enemies of their country. King William
also by his letters patent, in 1694, appointed commissioners for the
better carrying on his pious intentions, and therein desired the
assistance of his good subjects, as the necessity of his affairs did
not permit him to advance so considerable a sum towards this work, as
he desired. In conformity to this request, many benefactions were made
both in that and the succeeding reigns, to this noble charity, which,
according to the tables hung up at the entrance of the hall, amount to
58,209_l._ and afterwards the estate of the Earl of Derwentwater, who
bore a principal part in the rebellion in 1715, amounting to 6000_l._
_per annum_, was given by parliament to this hospital. The first range
had cost King Charles II. 36,000_l._ and another was ordered to be
built on the same model: this has been completed with equal
magnificence, and the whole structure entirely finished.
The front to the Thames consists of these two ranges of stone
buildings, with the Governor’s house at the back part in the center,
behind which the park, well planted with trees, rises with a noble
ascent. These buildings, between which is a large area, perfectly
correspond with each other, and each range is terminated by a very
noble dome.
In each front to the Thames, two ranges of coupled Corinthian columns
finely wrought, support their pediments, and the same order is
continued in pilasters along the building. The projection of the
entablatures gives an agreeable diversity of light and shade. In the
center of each part, between these ranges of Corinthian columns, is
the door, which is of the Doric order, and adorned above with a tablet
and pediment. Within the height of these lofty columns are two series
of windows, enlightening two floors. The undermost, which are the
smallest, have rustic cases crowned with pediments; while the upper
series, which are larger, and more lofty, are adorned with the orders,
and with upright pointed pediments. Over these is an Attic story; the
entablature of the Corinthian columns and pilasters supports a regular
Attic course: the pilasters of this order rising over every column,
and pilaster of the Corinthian below, between which the windows are
regularly disposed, and the top is crowned with a handsome balustrade.
The buildings, which are continued from these, and face the area,
correspond with them, though in a finer, and more elegant manner. In
the center of both is a range of columns supporting a pediment, and at
each corner a range of Corinthian pilasters. The front is rusticated,
and there are two series of windows. The domes at the end, which are
120 feet high, are supported on coupled columns, as are the porticos
below; and under one of these is the chapel, which is adorned on the
inside with the greatest elegance and beauty.
On the sides of the gate which opens to these buildings from the park,
are placed a large celestial and terrestrial globe, in which the stars
are gilt; and in the center of the area, is fixed on a pedestal, a
statue of his Majesty King George II.
The hall of this hospital is finely painted by Sir James Thornhill,
particularly the ceiling and upper end; on the latter are represented
in an alcove, the late Princess Sophia, King George I. King George II.
Queen Caroline, the Queen Dowager of Prussia, Frederic Prince of
Wales, the Duke of Cumberland, and the five Princesses, the daughters
of his present Majesty. On the ceiling over the alcove are her late
Majesty Queen Anne and Prince George of Denmark: and on the ceiling of
the hall are King William and Queen Mary, with several fine
emblematical figures. All strangers who see this hall pay two pence
each, and this income is applied to the support of the mathematical
school, for the sons of sailors.
For the better support of this hospital every seaman in the royal navy
and in the service of the merchants pays 6_d._ a month. This is
stopped out of the pay of all sailors, and delivered in at the Six
penny Receiver’s office on Tower hill. And therefore a seaman who can
produce an authentic certificate of his being disabled, and rendered
unfit for the sea service, by defending any ship belonging to his
Majesty’s British subjects, or in taking any ship from the enemy, may
be admitted into this hospital, and receive the same benefit from it,
as if he had been in his Majesty’s immediate service.
There are at present near 2000 old or disabled seamen, and an hundred
boys, the sons of seamen, instructed in navigation, and bred up for
the service of the royal navy: but there are no out-pensioners, as at
Chelsea. Each of the mariners has a weekly allowance of seven loaves,
weighing sixteen ounces each; three pounds of beef; two of mutton; a
pint of pease; a pound and a quarter of cheese; two ounces of butter;
fourteen quarts of beer, and 1_s._ a week tobacco money: the tobacco
money of the boatswains is 2_s._ 6_d._ a week each; that of their
mates 1_s._ 6_d._ and that of the other officers in proportion to
their rank. Besides which, each common pensioner receives once in two
years, a suit of blue cloaths, a hat, three pair of stockings, two
pair of shoes, five neck cloths, three shirts, and two night caps.
This hospital has about 100 Governors, composed of the nobility, great
officers of state, and persons in high posts under the King. The
principal officers of the house, with their annual salaries, are:
The Governor £1000
Lieutenant Governor 300
Treasurer 200
Three Captains, each 200
Six Lieutenants, each 100
Two Chaplains, each 100
A Physician and Surgeon, 200
each
A Clerk of the cheque 100
Auditor 100
GREENWICH _alley_, Brickhill lane.
GREENWICH _street_, Dowgate wharf.
GREENWOOD’S _court_, Nightingale lane.†
GREEN _yard_, 1. Basinghall Postern. 2. East Smithfield. 3. Fore street,
Cripplegate. 4. Goswell street. 5. Green Bank, Wapping. 6.
Horselydown. 7. Milk yard, New Gravel lane. 8. Pepper alley. 9. Tooley
street. 10. Upper Ground street. 11. White’s yard, Rosemary lane.
GREGORY’S _court_, High Holborn.
_St._ GREGORY’S, so called from its being dedicated to Pope Gregory the
Great, who sent Austin the Monk to convert the English, stood at the
south west corner of St. Paul’s cathedral; but being burnt by the fire
of London in 1666, and not rebuilt, the parish was by act of
parliament annexed to the church of St. Mary Magdalen in Old Fish
street.
GREG’S _court_, Goodman’s yard.†
GRENADIER’S _mews_, Portland street.†
GRESHAM’S _Almshouse_ in Broad street, on the west side of Gresham
College, was founded by Sir Thomas Gresham in the year 1575, for eight
poor men; the trust of which he committed to the Lord Mayor and
Commonalty of London, who annually pay these Almsmen 6_l._ 13_s._
4_d._ each, and a gown every other year.
[Illustration:
_S. Wale delin._ _J. Taylor sc._
_Gresham College._
]
GRESHAM COLLEGE, situated within the walls between Bishopsgate street
and Broad street, and was formerly the dwelling of the founder Sir
Thomas Gresham, Knt. a merchant of London, and one of the company of
Mercers, who after he had built the Royal Exchange, bequeathed half
the revenue thereof to the Mayor and Commonalty of London, and their
successors, and the other moiety to the company of Mercers, in trust
that the Mayor and Commonalty should find in all times to come four
able persons to read in his dwelling house in Bishopsgate street,
lectures on divinity, astronomy, geometry, and Music, and allow each
of them besides handsome lodgings in that house, the sum of 50_l._ a
year: and that the company of Mercers should find three other able men
to read lectures in the civil law, rhetoric, and physic, pay them the
same salary, and allow them the same accommodations. These salaries
and other bequests of Sir Thomas Gresham, amounting in the whole to
603_l._ are payable out of the rents of the Royal Exchange, and there
is a grand committee for the management of the affairs of this college
and the Exchange, which consists of four Aldermen, whereof the Lord
Mayor is always one; twelve of the company of Mercers, and eight of
the Common Council, for the city. These lectures were first read in
Trinity term, 1597, and with some interruptions have been continued to
the present time.
The order of reading every term time is, Monday, divinity; Tuesday,
civil law; Wednesday, astronomy; Thursday, geometry; Friday, rhetoric;
Saturday, anatomy in the morning, and music in the afternoon. _Stow_,
_last edit._ But since the institution of the Royal Society, these
lectures are in a manner deserted, the professors having seldom above
three or four auditors, and those of the most ordinary people. The
print represents the inside of the quadrangle in its present state.
GRESHAM COLLEGE _court_, Bishopsgate street.†
GREVIL _street_, Leather lane.†
GREY-COAT HOSPITAL, Tothill fields, Westminster. In the year 1698 this
charity school was erected in St. Margaret’s parish, for the education
of poor children, and named _The Grey-coat School_, from the colour of
the children’s cloaths; but the trustees being at length greatly
encouraged by charitable contributions, in the year 1701, not only
increased the number of children, but supplied them with all the
necessaries of life, in a large and commodious building near Tothill
fields: and for the encouragement of so laudable an undertaking Queen
Anne, in 1706, by her letters patent, constituted the trustees of this
school a body politic and corporate, by the name of _The Governors of
the Grey-coat hospital in Tothill fields, of the royal foundation of
Queen Anne_, with the power of purchasing lands, tenements, &c. in
mortmain, to the yearly amount of 2000_l._ These children, besides
being taught the usual learning, are employed in spinning, knitting,
sewing, &c. to inure them early to industry; and having attained the
necessary qualifications at school, they are put out apprentices.
This hospital, in the year 1727, was in so flourishing a condition
that it contained eighty boys, and fifty girls, in which year the
charge of all its disbursements amounted to 1457_l._ 7_s._ 6_d._ At
Michaelmas 1739, a mathematical school was erected, and a proper
master employed to instruct the boys in the art of navigation, to fit
them for the service of their country, several of whom since the
erection of this school have been put apprentice to captains in the
King’s service.
The expence of each child is about 8_l._ a year, besides the salaries
of the masters and mistresses, the wages of servants, and other
charges attending the hospital.
GREY EAGLE _street_, Brick lane, Spitalfields.*
GREY FRIARS, a court in Newgate street, near the gate, adjoining on one
side to Christ’s hospital. Here, in the reign of King Henry III. was
erected a convent of Franciscans or Grey Friars, and some time after a
spacious church, which was not compleatly finished till the year 1380,
tho’ it was consecrated in 1325. This church, which was 300 feet in
length, eighty-nine in breadth, and sixty-four feet two inches in
height from the ground to the roof, was built at different times, at
the expence of different persons, and among its benefactors were
several Queens of England. In the year 1429, Richard Whittington here
founded a library, 129 feet in length and thirty-one in breadth, which
was finished the following year, and within three years after
furnished with books. However, at the general suppression of
monasteries, the friery, with all the edifices belonging to it, was
surrendered to Henry VIII. and the ornaments and utensils taken away,
and applied to the King’s use: after which the church was shut up for
some time, and used as a storehouse for goods taken as prizes from the
French; but in January 1546, this church, with the friery, library,
chapter house, cloisters and gardens, were given by King Henry to the
Mayor and Commonalty of London, with the hospital of St. Bartholomew
in West Smithfield, the parishes of St. Nicholas and St. Ewin, and so
much of St. Sepulchre’s parish as is within Newgate, to be made one
parish belonging to the church in the Grey Friars, which was from
thenceforward to be called Christ Church. In short, in the year 1552,
the house of the Grey Friars began to be repaired for the reception of
poor fatherless children, and in November following near four hundred
were taken in. _Stow._ See CHRIST’S HOSPITAL.
GREYHOUND _alley_, 1. St. Mary Ax.* 2. Newgate street.*
GREYHOUND _court_, 1. Aldersgate street.* 2. St. Catharine’s lane.* 3.
Chick lane.* 4. Lamb street.* 5. Milford lane.* 6. Moor’s street,
Soho.*
GREYHOUND _Inn yard_, St. Margaret’s hill.*
GREYHOUND _lane_, Three Colts street.*
GREYHOUND _street_, Whitechapel.*
GREYHOUND _yard_, 1. Portpool lane.* 2. Upper Ground street.*
GREY PEA _alley_, Red Maid lane.
GREY’S _yard_, Duke street, Piccadilly.†
GRIDIRON _alley_, Whitechapel.*
GRIDIRON _court_, High Holborn.*
GRIFFIN _alley_, Blackman street.*
GRIFFIN _street_, Shadwell Dock.*
GRIFFIN _yard_, Long lane, West Smithfield.*
GRIFFIS’S _rents_, Barnaby street.†
GRIGG’S _court_, Goodman’s yard.†
GRIPEY _alley_, Artichoke lane.
GROCERS, the second of the twelve principal companies, was anciently
denominated Pepperers; but having changed their name to that of
Grocers, were under that denomination incorporated by letters patent
granted by King Edward III. in the year 1345, which were confirmed by
Henry VI. in 1429. These grants were afterwards confirmed by a new
charter of Charles I. in the year 1640, with an additional power of
searching and inspecting the goods and weights of all Grocers within
the city and suburbs of London, and three miles round. They had
anciently the management of the King’s beam in this city, with the
right of appointing a master-weigher, and four porters to attend it.
This corporation consists of a Prime and three other Wardens,
fifty-two Assistants, and one hundred and twenty-seven Liverymen,
whose fine upon admission is 20_l._ They have a great estate, out of
which they annually pay to the poor about 700_l._ _Maitland._
GROCERS _alley_, 1. In the Poultry.☐ 2. Shoreditch.
GROCERS HALL, on the north side of the Poultry, and at the farther end
of Grocers alley, is situated on a spot of ground purchased by the
Grocers company in the year 1411, of Robert Lord Fitzwalter, for three
hundred and twenty marks. The building is well designed for the
purpose of a common hall; and is not only a stately edifice, but is so
capacious, that for many years it served for the uses of the Bank of
England, which was kept in this hall, till the edifice in
Thread-needle street was erected for that purpose. The ancient stone
and brick building at the north west corner of the garden, inhabited
by the beadle of the company, is probably part of the ancient city
mansion of the noble family of Fitzwalter, and consequently the oldest
building within the city walls. _Maitland._
GROCERS HALL _yard_, Grocers alley.
GROCERS _rents_, East Smithfield.
GROOM PORTER, an officer of the King’s palace under the Lord
Chamberlain. It is his duty to see that his Majesty’s lodgings are
furnished with tables, chairs, stools and firing; to provide cards,
dice, &c. _Chamberlain’s Present State._
GROOM OF THE STOLE, the first Lord of the Bedchamber, who is groom of
the long robe or vestment worn by the King on solemn occasions, and
called the stole. It is his office to present or put on his Majesty’s
shirt every morning, and to order the things of the bedchamber. His
salary is 2000_l._ a year.
GROSVENOR’S _gate_, Grosvenor street.†
GROSVENOR’S _mews_, a street of stables near Grosvenor square.†
GROSVENOR’S _passage_, Grosvenor street.†
GROSVENOR _square_, is bounded on the north by Oxford road; on the east
by Hanover buildings; on the south by Mayfair; and on the west by Hyde
Park, It is however entirely surrounded with buildings, which are very
magnificent, though the fronts are far from being uniform, some of
them being entirely of stone, others of brick and stone, and others of
rubbed brick, with only their quoins, facios, windows and door cases
of stone. Some of them are adorned with stone columns of the several
orders, while others have only plain fronts. Indeed here is the
greatest variety of fine buildings that are any where to be met with
in so small a compass, and they are so far uniform, as to be all
sashed and to be pretty near of an equal height. The area of this
square contains about five acres, and in the middle is a large garden
surrounded with palisado pales placed upon a circular dwarf wall. This
garden is laid out into walks, and adorned with an equestrian statue
of King George I. gilt, which stands upon a pedestal in the center.
This square and the adjacent places are thus named from Sir Thomas
Grosvenor.
GROSVENOR _street_, 1. Horse ferry, Westminster.† 2. New Bond street.†
A list of Pictures that are at present hung up in the two first floors
of the house of Paul Methuen, Esq; in Grosvenor street.
N. B. In this list, after the description of the pictures, the names
of those by whom they are thought to be painted are added, for the
information of such as may be great admirers of the art of painting,
and lovers of pictures, and yet may not have knowledge or experience
enough in that art to distinguish the several hands by which they are
done.