The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 3
Allen, Thomas
1827
Leatherseller's Hall.
This structure was of plain exterior; within an arched entrance was a court with a curious pump surmounted with a mermaid much mutilated by time; formerly, on state occasions, this figure spouted jets of wine from her breasts. On the right of the court, was a flight of steps, with a portico, consisting of pillars of the Ionic order, supporting an entablature and statues of Charity and Justice on either side of the company's alms; round the remaining sides of the court was a range of offices with a terrace above them. The hall had large windows to the court plain. Those on the south side were in number, and ornamented with keys, borders and small pilasters: above, a frieze and cornice with windows and alternate circular and triangular pediments. The north side had rows of windows, ornamented as the south side. The interior had of the most elegant carved screens in London, it consisted of attached pillars of the Ionic order, with wreaths, scrolls, basso relievos, &c., above it was a music gallery enriched with termini, &c. The whole was of oak polished. The cieling was enriched with stucco ornaments, and pendants, H. P. the company's arms, crown and thistle, &c. At the upper end of the hall was a statue of Edward VI. | |
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From the hall, a passage led to the council chamber a spacious apartment with a handsome ceiling of of stucco, with the date , E. R., red rose, fleurs de lis, arms, &c. The east end of this room was vast window, and the chimney ornamented with Doric pillars, and entablature with caryatidae. From this room, there was a Slight of steps to the garden, which was an oblong square with grass plats, and a few shrubs. At the end of the passage noticed above was a small room, The whole edifice was of brick except the porch, and a small portion of the western side of the great hall, which was built of the same materials as the adjacent church. The great hall was erected on the remains of the cloisters of the adjacent priory, the architecture of which was of the pointed order, probably of the century, the whole extent was divided by dwarf octagon columns into aisles, the roof being groined in a plain but strong style. The whole of this which would have existed for ages was wantonly destroyed. in the year , and the present built. | |
On the right of the entrance to the hall from Little St. Helen's was | |
Footnotes: [] An engraving of this pump is in Smith's Antiq. of London, 4to, 1791, a copy of which is in the annexed Plate. [] An excellent engraving of this screen is in Malcolm's Londinum Red. vol. iii. p. 561. [] Gent's Mag. vol. lxviii. p. 924. [] A ground plan of the crypt and ections, elevations, &c. occupy Plate LXIV of that interesting and valuable work, Carter's Ancient Architecture of England. Part I. folio. |
