The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 3
Allen, Thomas
1827
The Gentleman and Porter.
This sculpture represents William Evans, porter of Charles I. and his diminutive fellow-servant, Jeffrey Hudson, dwarf to the same monarch. It was probably by his own consent, that the latter was put into the pocket of the giant, and drawn out by him at a masque at court, to amuse and divert the spectators. says Mr Pennant,
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In Bagnio-court is the warm bath (after the Turkish fashion) established in this country. It is situated on the west side of the court, the interior is apparently as old as the foundation, viz. temp. Charles II. and consists of an octagonal apartment, from which rises a spherical dome, enriched with stucco. The bath is lined | |
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and floored with marble, in black and white squares, and measures feet by . The architecture of the interior very much resembles many works of Inigo Jones. before the fire in , was inhabited by mercers, silkmen, and lacemen, and Maitland says, that
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On the wall of a house in Pannier-alley, is a figure in stone, of a naked boy sitting on a pannier, or coil of rope; and beneath is this inscription:--
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Mr. Pennant considers this to have been an ancient monument, placed here to denote the height of the ground. | |
The church of St. Michael le Querne, formerly stood at the west end of , fronting the street; but, not being rebuilt, its site was laid into the street, in pursuance of the act for rebuilding the city. | |
The earliest account we find of this church, is in the year , when the state thereof was returned to the dean and chapter of ; at which time it appears to have been only a chapel, and as such it continued many years after. It was not made a rectory, till possessed by Thomas Newton, who was buried in the choir, in the year . In ancient records it is called St. Michael , i. e. at the Corn (which posterity has corruptly pronounced Querne ;) because, at the time this church was founded, thereon was a corn-market, that reached up from it, westward, to the shambles, or flesh market; from which situation it was sometimes called St. Michael At the east end of this church stood the Old Cross, in Westcheap, which was taken down in the year , to make way for the enlarging of the church, and for the erection of a little conduit, at the north-east gate of church-yard; which appears to have been the standard where Walter Stapleton, bishop of Exeter, and treasurer to Edward II. was decollated by the populace, in . | |
The annexed curious engraving is from an original survey by R. Tresswell, . It exhibits the church, Little Conduit, and part of , in an interesting and evidently correct manner. | |
On the north side of , near , is | |
Footnotes: [] Fuller's Worthies, Wales, p. 54. [] Pennant, 4to p. 235. |
