Previous to the incorporation of the companies of salt-fishmongers, and stock-fishmongers, the fishmongers had halls, but upon their joint incorporation they agreed to have but , namely,

the house given unto them by the lord Fanhope, [sir John Cornewell] in the parish of St. Michael, Crooked-lne.

This fabric, which was destroyed by the fire of London, appears to have been a plain narrow edifice, castellated and covered with lead, having principal stories, the lower of which had a kind of gallery or balcony. On its destruction the late hall was erected from the stately designs of sir Christopher Wren, and might be considered as a noble specimen of his intention to ornament the banks of the river Thames, had his entire plan for rebuilding the city been carried into effect. This hall occupied an extensive plot of ground between and the river, at a

This dagger is evidently belonging to the period, viz. the latter end of the century, it is of neat workmanship, without inscription of any kind, the blade is formed of sides concaved, and is in length from the hilt inches, the hilt is inches, and across the guard, inches. The above is a correct delineation of the weapon, from the original, which is carefully preserved by the company. Below the niche is inscribed the following lines:--

Brave WALWORTH, knight, lord mayor, yt slew Rebellious Tyler in his alarmes, The king therefore did give in lieu The dagger to the cytyes armes.

In the

4th

yeare of Richard II. Anno Dommi,

1381

.

If there be not much poetry in this artless verse, observes Mr. Brayley, there is at least some fiction; for the dagger, as it is called, in the quarter of the city-arms, was certainly intended for the sword of St. Paul, the chosen patron of the corporation, and was borne centuries previous to the age of and his compatriots. Horace Walpole says that the above statue was made by Edward Pierce, the statuary and architect, who died in . There is an expression of strong muscular energy in the countenance of this figure, which was probably carved from some genuine likeness; the eyes are large, and the beard dark and bushy, with whiskers. In the windows at the same end of the hall

In the court room were full lengths of the sovereigns William the , and Mary, his consort, Frederick prince of Wales, and his consort, &c. and curious pictures, apparently from the Dutch school, of various kinds of fish, which are grouped with much skill, and excellently coloured. An apartment above, contains other pictures, full lengths, of the late margrave and margravine of Anspach, executed in , by Romney: these are in a loose, sketchy style, but are regarded as good likenesses the connection of the margravine with the company, arose from an invitation given by her to the company, in an excursion up the river Thames, to land at Brandenburg-house, then her residence. Here also was a portrait of W. Sturch, esq. prime warden, -, it is a half length by T. Phillips, esq. R. A.

The chief part of the edifice was of brick, but the front next the Thames was ornamented with stone window cases, quoins, &c. the latter being wrought in rustic: and the summit of the building terminated by a cornice, having a large central pediment, in the tympanum of which were the royal arms of Charles II.: from the wharf was an ascent to the portal of the hall by a high flight of stone steps. The north buttress of the new London-bridge abutting on the eastern part of the hall, the city were obliged to purchase a considerable portion, for which they paid to the company.