The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 3
Allen, Thomas
1827
Sir R. Whittington's House.
In a small court leading out of Grub-street, called Sweedon's passage, was the above building, traditionally said to have been the residence of sir Richard Whittington in the reign of Henry IV., and of sir Thomas Gresham in that of Elizabeth. Mr. Smith, who inspected it in , says,
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This curious building, with the singular projecting staircase, was pulled down in , and small houses occupy the site; upon is the following inscription:--
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In , on the east side of this street, was the house traditionally said to have been formerly occupied by general Monk, who was created duke of Albemarle, for his services in restoring king Charles II. This house, which was principally built of oak and chestnut, was pulled down in -, and brick houses erected on its site. Farther to the north is Sun-alley, which forms the boundary of the city on this side. | |
Proceeding westward, the next street is , which is of considerable length; but this ward only takes in a small part of it. In this street was an hospital of St. Giles, founded in the reign of Edward I.; but, being a cell to a French priory, it was suppressed, among other foreign foundations, by Henry V., in the year of his reign, who soon afterwards re-founded it for a domestic fraternity of St. Giles, and reserved the appointment of a custos to himself and his successors. | |
This and Redcross-street, derived their names from a white and red cross, which stood in . | |
On the west side of this street is the | |
Footnotes: [] Ancient Topography, p. 41. [] The curious portal of this house is engraved in Smith's Topography of London. |