To the north of London-house is an old building, formerly the Half-moon tavern, noted as the place of resort of the most celebrated wits of the century. It has been let for the last years in separate tenements; but the old front, ornamented with small grotesque figures, has suffered very little alteration.

The front in is narrow, and contains windows on each floor, projecting from the front in the style so common in the century. The top is divided into gabels, and the whole is painted of a stone colour.

On the east side of the street, nearly opposite to London-house, is Shaftesbury, or, as it is sometimes called, Thanet-house. This edifice, which is by the masterly hand of Inigo Jones, is built with brick, and ornamented with stone, in a very elegant taste. The front is adorned with Ionic pilasters, from the volutes of which hang garlands of foliage. These pilasters are doubled on each side of the centre window, over which is an arched pediment, opened for the reception of a shield. The door was arched, and from each side of it branched an elegant scroll, for the support of a balcony. This portion has been modernized. This structure had been let out

was formerly called , or Bretagne-street, from the mansion of the duke of Bretagne, which stood near St. Botolph's church, but has been many years destroyed. This street was also the residence of several of our own nobility; the earl of Peterborough's house stood at the corner, where the south pert of Bartholomew's hospital now stands; and the whole east side of the street was occupied by a stately mansion, belonging to lord Montague; the name of which is still preserved in Little Montague court. This place was formerly celebrated for the number of dealers in old books who resided here.

The parish of St. John Zachary, is a rectory, the church of which stood at the north-west corner of . The patronage of this church appears to have continued in the dean and chapter of , from its foundation; for it was rated to pay an annual sum to the canons of , as early as the year , at which time it was denominated St. John Baptist's. The site of it is now a cemetery for the use of the parishioners. A portion of the eastern wall of this church remains in the burying ground at the north-west corner of , with the monument of sir James Drax, consisting of busts upon a sarcophagus; it is protected from the weather by a penthouse, and is curious as of the remains of ancient London. This monument is to the memory of sir James Drax, and his lady, named Meliora, daughter to J. Horton, of Wolverston, in the county of Somerset, esq., who brought him sons and daughters; viz. sir James, Henry, John, Samuel, ........, and Joseph; Meliora, Mary, Elizabeth, Pelathia. His wife was Margaret, daughter of Edward Campfield, of Hardington, in the same county, esq.; by whom he had sons. He died .

Here likewise was buried Henry Drax, esq., his son, who had wives. The , the lady Frances Tufton, daughter of

At the north-east corner of stands

[] Maitland, vol. ii, p. 764