Canterbury, in whom it continued till the year 1408, since which time it
has been in the Archbishops of that see, and is one of the thirteen
peculiars in this city belonging to Canterbury. The Rector, in
conformity to an act of Parliament granted in the reign of King Charles
II. receives, besides his other profits, 100l. _per annum_ in lieu of
tithes.
Among the several monuments in this church, is that of Sir William
Walworth who slew Wat Tyler. See the article LONDON. The inscription, as
given by Mr. Weaver, in his Funeral Monuments, is as follows:
Here under lyth a man of fame,
William Walworth callyd by name;
Fishmonger he was in life time here,
And twise Lord Mayor, as in bookes appere;
Who with courage stout and manly might,
Slew Wat Tyler in King Richard’s sight;
For which act done, and trew intent,
The King made him Knight incontinent:
And gave him armes, as here may see,
To declare his fact and chivalrie.
He left this life the yere of our God
Thirteene hundryd fourscore and three od.
Here is also a monument erected to the honour of Queen Elizabeth; and
the following very concise inscription on the tomb of William Wray.
Here lyeth, wrapt in clay,
The body of William Wray,
I have no more to say.
_St._ MICHAEL’S _lane_, in Great Eastcheap, by the above church.
_St._ MICHAEL’S QUEENHITHE, situated on the north side of Thames street,
in the ward of Queenhithe, opposite to the great wharf and buildings of
that name, was about the year 1181, denominated St. Michael de
Cornhithe, which may lead us to the origin of the name by which we at
present call that wharf, and this church from its situation near it; as
the quantities of corn brought thither down the Thames might occasion
the original name, and Queenhithe be only a corrupt way of speaking it.
The old church being consumed by the dreadful fire in 1666, the present
structure was erected in its room. It consists of a well-proportioned
body, enlightened by two series of windows, the first a range of tall
arched ones, and over these a range of large porthole windows, above
which are cherubims heads, and underneath festoons, that adorn the lower
part, and fall between the tops of the under series. The tower is plain
but well-proportioned, and is terminated by a spire crowned with a fane
in the form of a little ship.
This church has all along been in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of
St. Paul’s, and is subject to the Archdeacon. On its being rebuilt the
parish of the Trinity was united to it, by which the Rector’s fees were
considerably augmented, who, besides his other advantages, receives
160l. _per annum_, in lieu of tithes.
_St._ MICHAEL QUERNE, a church which stood at the west end of Cheapside,
between Blowbladder street and Pater noster row, and had a narrow
passage at the west end. We have an account of this edifice so early as
the year 1181, when it appears to have been only a chapel, since the
first Rector was buried in it in 1461. in old records it is called _St.
Michael ad Bladum_; that is, _At the Corn_, which was corrupted to
Querne. It was also sometimes denominated _St. Michael de Macello_, from
its vicinity to the flesh market.
This ancient edifice being burnt by the fire of London, the place on
which it stood was, by act of Parliament, laid into the street, in order
to enlarge it, and the parish united to the church of St. Vedast, in
Foster lane. _Stowe’s Survey._ _Newc. Rep. Eccles._
_St._ MICHAEL ROYAL, on the east side of College hill, in Vintry ward,
is thus denominated from its being anciently near the Tower Royal. This
was a parish church before the year 1285, when it was under the
patronage of the Prior and Canons of Canterbury, in whom it continued
till it was converted into a college by Sir Richard Whittington, mercer,
four times Lord Mayor, who rebuilt the church; but even then the monks
of Canterbury so far continued its patrons, as to present a person
nominated by the Master and Wardens of the Mercers company. This church
being consumed with the other public buildings by the fire of London,
the present structure was erected in its room, and the parish of St.
Martin Vintry united to it. _Newc. Rep. Eccles._ _Stowe’s Survey._
This structure is a plain, decent, and substantial stone building,
enlightened by a single series of large arched windows, placed so high
that the doors open under the level of their bottoms. The tower consists
of three stages, and at the top is surrounded with carved open work
instead of a balustrade: from hence rises a light and elegant turret
adorned with Ionic columns, and ending in a fine diminution, which
supports the fane.
This church is one of the thirteen peculiars belonging to the Archbishop
of Canterbury, and the Rector, besides his other profits, receives 140l.
a year in lieu of tithes. Among the several monumental inscriptions, was
one in memory of the above Sir Richard Whittington.
_St._ MICHAEL’S WOOD STREET, is seated on the west side of Wood street,
in Cripplegate ward. An old church, dedicated to the same patron, stood
there in the year 1392, and probably another succeeded it towards the
close of the fifteenth century; however, in 1666 the church then
standing was destroyed by the fire of London, and the present structure,
which rose in its place, was finished a few years after, and the Parish
of St. Mary Staining united to it.
As the east end of this edifice is the most conspicuous part, it is
ornamented with four Ionic columns raised upon a continued pedestal,
with arches between, and supporting a handsome pediment, in the middle
of which is a circular window. Between the columns are three upright
arched windows, that fill the whole space. The rest of the body is
plain, and the windows are raised so high that the doors open under
them.
The tower consists of three plain stages with large windows, from the
uppermost of which rises a small square course, the foundation of the
base of the turret. This base is cut away from the breadth of the tower
gradually to the diameter of the turret, which is plain, but handsome;
and from its top rises a ball that supports the fane.
The patronage of this church was in the Abbot and Convent of St. Alban’s
till the suppression of that monastery, when Henry VIII. sold it to
William Barwell, who in the year 1588, conveyed it to several persons in
trust for the parish, in which it still continues. The Rector, besides
his other profits, receives 100l. a year in lieu of tithes.
MIDDLE _court_, 1. Bernard’s Inn, Holborn. 2. Clement’s Inn.
MIDDLE _row_, 1. St. Giles’s. 2. Goswell street. 3. Holborn. 4. Gray’s
Inn lane.
MIDDLE SCOTLAND _yard_, Whitehall.
MIDDLE SHADWELL, near Shadwell market.
MIDDLE SHADWELL _lane_, Middle Shadwell.
MIDDLE _Street_, 1. Cloth Fair. 2. Horselydown.
MIDDLE TEMPLE, Fleet street. See the article TEMPLE.
MIDDLE TEMPLE _lane_, a lane that leads from Fleet street to the Middle
Temple.
MIDDLE TURNING _lane_, Shadwell.
MIDDLESEX _court_, 1. Drury lane. 2. Little Bartholomew close.
MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL, for the reception of the sick and the lame, and for
lying-in married women, in Marybon Fields near Oxford road. This is a
neat, plain, and not inelegant brick building: it has the decent
appearance and all the accommodations one would wish in a house devoted
to charity, without that ostentatious magnificence which too often in a
great measure defeats the humane and noble end of such pious and
charitable institutions, where those sums are squandered away in useless
decorations, that ought to be employed in administering health to the
sick, and giving feet to the lame.
Nature and religion patronize every instance of distress, but most
powerfully befriend that deepest of all distresses, sickness in poverty.
Sickness itself will excite compassion, though alleviated by every
comfort and advantage of wealth. How much stronger a sympathy must then
arise at the sight or idea of sickness imbittered by poverty! or
considered in another view, of poverty disabled by sickness! Most men
are inclined, but very few, in comparison, have the power to relieve it.
Public contributions, therefore, seemed the most likely to effect what
the private bounty of individuals could not. This gave rise, in the
present charitable age, to infirmaries, and in particular to this, which
has the merit and the honour of being the first hospital in this kingdom
for lying-in women; and of setting an example which has been so happily
followed.
The charitable designs of this hospital were carried on for several
years in two convenient houses adjoining to each other, in Windmill
street, Tottenham court road, where the first institution in August
1745, was intended only for the relief of the indigent sick and lame:
but in July 1747, the Governors willing to render it more worthy of the
notice of the public, extended their plan to the relief of the pregnant
wives of the industrious poor: when the great increase of patients,
occasioned by the reputation of this twofold charity, soon obliged the
Governors to think of enlarging their edifice, as well as their plan;
and the kind benevolence of the public by donations, legacies, &c.
enabled them in 1755, to erect a much larger and more convenient
building in Marybon Fields, wherein the apartments for the reception of
the lying-in women are in a separate part of the building, remote from
the sick and lame; and that ladies may visit the lying-in patients,
without being incommoded by the sick and lame, different stair-cases
lead to each, the lying-in wards having no communication with the sick
and lame.
The qualification of a Governor of this charity is an annual
subscription of three guineas; which also intitles the subscriber to
recommend, and have in the house at one time, either one sick or lame
patient, or one lying-in woman, and to recommend out-patients, A
subscription of five guineas _per annum_ intitles the subscriber to
recommend one sick or lame in-patient, out-patients, and one lying-in
woman. A subscription of thirty guineas at one payment, constitutes the
subscriber a Governor for life, with the last mentioned privileges.
Contributions of lesser sums than three guineas _per annum_ are
thankfully received, and intitle the contributors to recommend one sick
or lame in-patient, and one out-patient at the same time.
A committee of the Governors (appointed quarterly) meet at the hospital
every Tuesday, at ten of the clock, to receive and discharge patients,
and to transact the other necessary business of the house; where every
Governor, though not of the committee, has a right to be present, and
his attendance is received as a favour. A report of their proceedings is
made to the general court held every quarter, when the resolutions of
this committee are approved or rejected.
The patients are attended without fee or reward by three eminent
Physicians, a Man-midwife, three Surgeons, and a reverend Divine.
The Physicians visit the patients every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday,
and on intermediate days, when particular cases require it. The Surgeons
attend every day.
Patients are admitted on a letter of recommendation from a Governor or
Contributor, who may recommend in-patients, and have out-patients on the
books, according to the regulation abovementioned: and when in-patients
are recommended, and there is not room in the house to receive them,
they are put on the list to be admitted on the first vacancy, and in the
mean time are prescribed for as out-patients.
No security is required for burials.
All accidents are admitted without recommendation.
Tuesday being the day appointed for the admission of patients, they are
expected to be at the hospital, with their recommendations, at ten of
the clock.
The Physicians and Surgeons meet every Saturday at twelve of the clock,
at the hospital, where they give advice _gratis_ to all such diseased
poor who shall come, though unrecommended, and require it.
Married women only are admitted (in the last month of their pregnancy)
after they have been examined by the weekly board, and on their
producing an affidavit made before a Justice of the peace, of the time
and place of their marriage, and of the settlement of the husband, with
the manner the said settlement was obtained, whether by birth,
servitude, or otherwise. And that this useful branch of the charity, the
midwifery ward, may be made every way beneficial, and not liable to any
objection, no pupils will be admitted; the whole being under the
direction of Dr. Brudenell Exton, Physician and Man-midwife: and no
woman whatsoever, who has been able to prove her marriage, and her
husband’s settlement, so as to avoid burthening the parish wherein the
hospital stands, has been refused admittance.
The number of beds at present are sixty-four.
The patients admitted from the first institution of this hospital, in
August 1745, to the 1st of June 1758, are as follow:
In-patients, sick and lame 1829
Out-patients 11785
Lying-in women 1425
—————
15039
The servants of the house are forbid to take any gratuity of the
patients or their friends, on any pretence whatsoever, on pain of
expulsion.
Such persons who are inclined to favour this charitable design, are
desired to send their subscriptions, with their names and places of
abode, to the Treasurers, at the weekly committee, held every Tuesday in
the forenoon at the hospital; and in order to supply the current expence
of this charity, the subscribers are requested to continue to pay their
yearly subscriptions in advance.
Subscriptions and benefactions are likewise taken in at Messrs.
Honywood, Fuller, and Co. bankers in Birchin lane; and at Mr. Gislingham
Cooper’s, banker in the Strand. _From the account published by the
Society in June 1758._
The reader may find the other hospitals for lying-in women, founded
after the example set by this excellent charity, under the articles
LONDON LYING-IN HOSPITAL, LYING-IN HOSPITAL in Brownlow street, and
LYING-IN HOSPITAL in Duke street.
MIDDLESEX _row_, St. Giles’s Broadway.
MIDLEY’S _wharf_, Ratcliff.†
MILBORNE’S _Almshouse_, on the west side of Woodrof lane, Crutched
Friars, was erected by Sir John Milborne in the year 1535, for the
reception of thirteen poor members of the Drapers company, whom he
allowed 7d. _per_ week, which was at that time a sufficient support. In
the front of the building is the following inscription:
_Ad laudem_ Dei, _& gloriosæ_ Virginis Mariæ, _hoc opus erexit
Dominus_ Johannes Milborne, _Miles & Alderman. bujus civitatis, A.
D. 1535_.
That is,
‘To the praise of God, and the glory of the Virgin, this edifice was
erected by John Milborne, Mayor of this city in the year 1535.’
The Drapers company, to whom the management of this almshouse was
intrusted, have not only increased the number of the pensioners to
fifteen; but have doubled their pensions, with a load of coals, and
twenty or more shillings annually, out of the money left to be
distributed by that company at discretion.
_St._ MILDRED’S BREAD STREET, a church situated on the east side of
Bread street, and in the ward of that name, is thus denominated from its
being dedicated to St. Mildred, a Saxon lady, the daughter of Merwaldus,
brother to Penda King of the Mercians. This Princess despising the
gaieties of a court, retired to a convent at Hale in France, whence
returning to England, accompanied by seventy virgins, she was
consecrated Abbess of a new monastery in the isle of Thanet, where she
died in the year 676.
A church under the same tutelary name stood in that spot in the year
1333: but the last structure being destroyed by the fire of London, the
present edifice was created in its room in 1670.
It consists of a spacious body, and a light tower divided into four
stages, whence rises a tall spire.
The advowson of this church was anciently in the Prior and Canons of St.
Mary Overie’s, but it afterwards came to Sir Nicholas Crispe, in whose
family it may perhaps still remain. On the present edifice being built,
the parish of St. Margaret Moses was annexed to it. The Rector, besides
his other profits, receives 130l. _per annum_ in lieu of tithes.
_St._ MILDRED’S POULTRY, at the corner of Scalding alley, in Cheap ward.
A church of the same name stood in this place before the year 1325; but
the last edifice sharing the fate of most of the other public buildings
at the fire of London, this was built in its room.
It is a plain, substantial stone building, enlightened by a series of
large windows, and strengthened with rustic at the corners. The tower is
crowned with a plain course, without either pinacles, turret, or any
other ornament.
The patronage of this church was in the Prior and Canons of St. Mary
Overie’s in Southwark, till their suppression; and it has ever since
been in the King’s gift. After its being rebuilt, the parish of St. Mary
Cole was annexed to it, by which the profits of the Rector were
considerably increased. Besides his other profits, he receives 170l. a
year in lieu of tithes.
MILE END, so called from its being a mile from Aldgate, is situated near
Stepney, in the road to Bow. Here anciently stood a Lazaretto, or
hospital of lepers, denominated the house of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
and Mary Magdalene, to whom Edward VI. granted letters patent, allowing
them to beg for their support.
MILE END GREEN, Stepney.
MILE END OLD TOWN, near Stepney.
MILE’S _lane_, 1. By Crooked lane. † 2. New Fish street.†
MILE’S _rents_, 1. Dog lane, Barnaby street. † 2. Powell’s alley, Beech
lane, Whitecross street.†
MILFORD _lane_, extends from the Strand to the Thames.†
MILFORD _stairs_, at the bottom of Milford lane. †
MILITARY _mews_, Prince’s street, Soho.
MILK _alley_, 1. Dean street, Soho. 2. Long Ditch, Westminster. 3. Milk
yard, near Gravel lane. 4. Peter street, Clare market. 5. Wapping. 6.
Winchester yard, Winchester street.
MILK _street_, Cheapside; so called from a market for milk formerly kept
there.
MILK _yard_, 1. New Gravel lane, Shadwell. 2. Popping’s alley, Fleet
street. 3. Rag Fair, Rosemary lane.
MILLBANK, Westminster horse ferry.
MILLER’S _court_, Aldermanbury.†
MILL _lane_, Tooley street.
MILLMAN’S _street_, near Red Lion street, Holborn.†
MILLPOND BRIDGE, Rotherhith.
MILLPOND BRIDGE _lane_, Rotherhith.
MILLPOND _row_, Rotherhith.
MILL _street_, 1. Conduit street. 2. Rotherhith wall. 3. St. Saviour’s
dock.
MILL _yard_, runs from Rosemary lane into Goodman’s fields.
MILLS’S _yard_, Rotherhith wall.†
MILXAN’S _wharf_, Durham yard.†
MIMS, there are two villages of this name; North Mims, situated in
Hertfordshire, on the east side of Colney, and two miles from Hatfield.
In its neighbourhood is the seat of the late Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master
of the Rolls, in right of his Lady, who was heir to her late brother the
great Lord Somers. It has a most delightful prospect. The body of that
Nobleman lies interred in the chancel of the church, without any
inscription. This seat now belongs to the Duke of Leeds, who is Lord of
the manor.
South Mims is situated two miles from the former, in the most northern
corner of Middlesex. Here is an almshouse built and endowed for six poor
people, by James Hickson, Esq; who died in 1689, when he gave by his
will to fifteen poor people of this parish two shifts, one pair of hose,
and a pair of shoes annually; for the payment of these, and other
benefactions, he left several estates in this parish to the Brewers
company in London.
MINCING _lane_, on the south side of Fenchurch street, extends to Tower
street, is well built, and chiefly inhabited by merchants.
MINE AND BATTERY WORKS COMPANY, for the discovery of mines and minerals.
In order to give a just idea of the origin of this and the following
company, it is necessary to observe, that the English, in the reign of
Queen Elizabeth, being but little acquainted with the manner of working
and discovering mines, she, by the advice of her Council, sent for
several Germans, well skilled both in these works, and in smelting and
refining of minerals; who on their arrival were no sooner naturalized,
than they obtained a licence to search for mines.
Among these, that Princess in the year 1565, impowered William Humfreys
and Christopher Schutz a German, to search for all mines, minerals, and
subterraneous treasure, except allum and copperas, in the several
royalties throughout England, exclusive of the following eight counties,
York, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Cornwall, Lancashire, Devon, Gloucester,
and the principality of Wales, for their sole use and profit; her
Majesty only reserving to herself a tenth part of all gold, silver, and
quicksilver ores, and the pre-emption of refined gold and silver, the
former at 8d. and the latter at 1d. _per_ ounce lower than the current
price of those metals; and 6d. for every hundred weight of copper.
Afterwards her Majesty, in the year 1568, incorporated this society by
the name of, _The Governors, Assistants, and Society of the Mineral and
Battery Works_. The number of shares belonging to this company at first
amounted to thirty-six; which being divided into half and quarter parts,
they are at present increased to an hundred and forty four.
MINES ROYAL COMPANY. This society owed its origin to the same cause as
the former, and was founded a year before it: for in 1564 Queen
Elizabeth, by her letters patent granted to Thomas Thurland and Daniel
Houghsetter, and their heirs for ever, impowered them to search for
mines of gold, silver, copper, and quicksilver, in the several royalties
in the counties of York, Lancashire, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Cornwall,
Devon, Gloucester, Worcester, and the principality of Wales, to be held
of the crown upon the same terms as those abovementioned, with respect
to the Mine and Battery Works company.
At length Thurland and Houghsetter having in virtue of the powers
granted them, sold several parts or shares of their said privileges,
they, with the purchasers, were, by letters patent, dated the 22d of May
1568, incorporated by the stile of, _The Governors, Assistants, and
Commonalty of the Mines Royal_. The shares of this company at first
consisted of twenty-four; but they have since been increased to
ninety-six. _Sir John Pettus’s Fodinæ Regale._
MINORIES. This street extends from Aldgate street to Tower hill. The
middle part of the east side is called the Little Minories; this part is
railed in, and is out of the liberties of the city. Here anciently stood
an abbey of nuns of the order of St. Clare, called the Minoresses;
whence the street obtained the name of the Minories. See the article
TRINITY _in the Minories_.
MINT, an office kept in the Tower for coining money. Before the Norman
conquest the Kings of England set apart certain monasteries for mints;
presuming that the coinage would in those places be best secured from
frauds and corruption. Edward I. however ordered a mint of thirty
furnaces to be erected in the Tower of London, and others in Canterbury,
Kingston upon Hull, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bristol and Exeter. From that
time the mint was kept sometimes in one place, and sometimes in another,
according to the will and pleasure of the Prince, who, for a sum of
money, was frequently prevailed upon to grant the privilege of coining
to some Nobleman, Bishop, or Corporation; which being attended with many
inconveniencies to the public, Queen Elizabeth, in the beginning of her
reign, endeavoured to rectify those abuses, by confining the mint to the
Tower of London, which has ever since been appropriated to the coinage
of money, except when King Charles I. by the confusion of the times, was
obliged to erect new mints at Oxford, York, and Newark upon Trent, where
being with his army, he was reduced to the necessity of coining money to
supply his present wants: and when King William III. having called in
all the base and clipped money, for the sake of expedition, and for the
service of distant parts of the nation, was obliged to erect mints at
Bristol, Exeter, York and Winchester.
The mint office is on the left hand on entering into the Tower, and at a
small distance from the gate. There is no possibility of describing the
particular processes that the different metals undergo before they
receive the impression.