The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 3

Allen, Thomas

1827

St. Mary, Somerset.

 

This church is situated on the north side of , at the south-east corner of hill, and is so called from its dedication to the Virgin Mary, and its situation; the word Somerset being supposed to be only a corruption of Somers'-hithe, from some small port, or hithe, so called from the owner of it being of the name of Somers. It is in the gift of a lay-patron, and being united to St. Mary, Mounthaw, which is in the gift of the bishop of Hereford, they present alternately to the living. The plan is a parallelogram, with a square tower attached to the western extremity of the south side. The west front is in stories; in the lower is a segment arched entrance, and in the upper a circular between arched windows, the keystones of all being carved with cherubim. The tower is in stories, and the fronts which are clear of the church are alike; in the basement is an arched doorway surmounted by a cornice resting on consoles; the has , and the story circular windows; the , which is clear of the roof of the church, has an arched window in each face; the elevation is finished with a cornice and ballustrade, surmounted by acroteria, of which are at the angles of the design, and the others in the middle of each front; the former are surmounted by urns, and the latter by pinnacles, notched at the angles, and ending in finials resembling the pointed style of architecture, and forming an outre finish to an Italian tower; the south front of the church has arched windows, and the elevation is finished with a ballustrade; the tower, and the west and south fronts of the church are faced with stone. The east end is built with brick, and has a single window with a segmental arch in the centre. The north side is built against to the extent of the westernmost divisions; the unengaged portion has arched windows. The interior is spacious and plain, without pillars. The ceiling is horizontal, and coved at the sides; the latter portion is pierced with arches over all the windows, and ends in a cornice of the Doric order; the arches rest on impost cornices, attached to the piers between the windows, sustained by cherubs. The eastern wall is in stories, the lower occupied by the altar-screen, which is of oak, in a plain style of decoration, divided by Corinthian pilasters, and pannelled; the upper story is painted and gilt, representing Corinthian pilasters sustaining an entablature; in the centre is the eastern window, which is fronted with a painted canvas blind, intended to represent

the Ascension ;

at the side are poorly executed full lengths of Moses and Aaron. At the west end is a gallery, sustained

717

on Tuscan columns, the front pannelled; in the centre of the front, the arms of queen Anne, on canvas, framed. In the gallery a small organ has recently been erected. The pewing occupies the centre of the church, with an aisle on each side. At the west end is a handsome font of white marble, of a circular form, adorned with a shield of arms (a chevron engrailed, thereon shells, in chief a lion passant guardant) and cherubs heads, and inscribed

Ex dono Johannis Toolye, hujus tribus vicarii dignissimi

1699

, necron vigilantissimi.

The pulpit and desks are grouped against the south wall; the former is hexagonal, and has a sounding board of a similar form. In the central western widow are the royal arms of William and Mary, in stained glass, in a bad state of preservation. There are but few monuments, and none of interest.

This church was rebuilt after the fire, from the designs of sir Christopher Wren, and finished in . The expense of the building was The dimensions are, length feet, breadth , height of church , and of tower and pinnacles feet.

 
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 Title Page
 Dedication
 CHAPTER I: The site, extent, buildings, population, commerce, and a view of the progressive increase of London
 CHAPTER II: List of the parishes and churches in London, with their incumbents, &c
CHAPTER III: History and Topography of Aldersgate Ward
CHAPTER IV: History and Topography of Aldgate Ward
CHAPTER V: History and Topography of Bassishaw Ward
CHAPTER VI: History and Topography of Billingsgate Ward
CHAPTER VII: History and Topography of Bishopsgate Ward, Without and Within
CHAPTER VIII: History and Topography of Bread-street Ward
CHAPTER IX: History and Topography of Bridge Ward Within
CHAPTER X: History and Topography of Broad-street Ward
CHAPTER XI: History and Topography of Candlewick Ward
CHAPTER XII: History and Topography of Castle Baynard Ward
CHAPTER XIII: History and Topography of Cheap Ward
CHAPTER XIV: History and Topography of Coleman-street Ward
CHAPTER XV: History and Topography of Cordwainer's-street Ward
CHAPTER XVI: History and Topography of Cornhill Ward
CHAPTER XVII: History and Topography of Cripplegate Ward Within
CHAPTER XVIII: History and Topography of Cripplegate Yard Without
CHAPTER XIX: History and Topography of Dowgate Yard
CHAPTER XX: History and Topography of Farringdom Ward Within
CHAPTER XXI: History and Topography of Farringdon Ward Without
CHAPTER XXII: History and Topography of Langbourn Ward
CHAPTER XXIII: History and Topography of Lime-street Ward
CHAPTER XXIV: History and Topogrpahy of Portsoken Ward
CHAPTER XXV: History and Topography of Queenhithe Ward
CHAPTER XXVI: History and Topography of Tower Ward
CHAPTER XXVII: History and Topography of Vintry Ward
CHAPTER XXVIII: History and Topography of Wallbrook Ward