Part 13

January│ 1│Circumcision 6│Epiphany 25│St. Paul. 30│K. Charles I. Mart. ──────────┼──────────────────── Feb.│ 2│Purific. V. Mary 24│St. Matthias ──────────┼──────────────────── Mar.│ 25│Lady Day ──────────┼──────────────────── April│ 23│St. George 25│St. Mark 26│D. of Cumb. born ──────────┼──────────────────── May│ 1│St. Philip & Jac. 29│K. Ch. II. restor. ──────────┼──────────────────── June│ 4│Pr. Wales born 11│St. Barnabas 21│Midsummer Day 22│Inaug. K. Geo. II. 24│St. John Baptist 26│K. Geo. II. pro. 29│St. Peter & Paul ──────────┼──────────────────── July│ 25│St. James ──────────┼──────────────────── Aug.│ 1│Lammas Day 24│St. Bartholomew ──────────┼──────────────────── Sept.│ 2│London burnt 21│St. Matthew 29│St. Michael ──────────┼──────────────────── Oct.│ 18│St. Luke 22│K. Geo. II. crown. 28│St. Simon & Jude ──────────┼──────────────────── November│ 1│All Saints 2│All Souls 4│K. William born 5│Powder Plot 9│Ld. Mayor’s Day 10│K. Geo. II. born 28│Q. Elizabeth’s Ac. 30│Pr. Wales born ──────────┼──────────────────── December│ 21│St. Thomas 25│Christmas Day 26│St. Stephen 27│St. John 28│Innocents

Moveable Holidays.

Shrove Tuesday. Ash Wednesday. Good Friday. Easter Monday. Easter Tuesday. Easter Wednesday. Ascension Day. Whitsun Monday. Whitsun Tuesday. Whitsun Wednesday.

This Company is under the direction of a Governor, Deputy Governor and twenty-four Directors, who are annually elected at a general court, in the same manner as the Governor and the Directors of the East India company. Thirteen are sufficient to compose a court of Directors, for managing the affairs of the Company; but if both the Governor and Deputy Governor should be absent two hours after the usual time of proceeding to business, the Directors may chuse a chairman by majority, all their acts being equally valid, as if the Governor or Deputy Governor were present.

BANK END _stairs_, Bank side.

BANK SIDE _row_. 1. Millbank. 2. Vine street, Southwark.

BANK’S _court_. Knave’s acre.†

BANK’S _yard_, Bunhill row.†

BANNER’S _rents_, Portpool lane.†

BANNISTER’S _yard_, Water lane, Black Friars.†

BANNISTER’S _alley_. 1. Broad St. Giles’s.† 2. Nightingale lane, East Smithfield.†

BANQUETING HOUSE, Whitehall, so called from there being originally in this place an edifice in which our Kings had public entertainments. This was a small part of the ancient palace of Whitehall, which was destroyed by fire in 1697, and only the Banqueting House, and one court left standing. See the article WHITEHALL.

In the reign of King James I. the Banqueting House being in a ruinous condition, that Monarch formed the design of erecting a palace on the spot, worthy the residence of the Kings of England. The celebrated Inigo Jones was employed to draw the plan of a noble edifice; this was done, and the present structure erected, as a small part of the great intended work, for the reception of ambassadors, and other audiences of state. The engraved view of it, which is here given, will best illustrate what follows.

This is a regular and august building which has three stories. The lowest has a rustic wall, with small square windows, and by its strength happily serves for a basis for the orders. Upon this is raised the Ionic, with columns and pilasters, and between the columns are well-proportioned windows, with arched and pointed pediments. Over these is placed the proper entablature, and on this is raised a second series of the Corinthian order, consisting of columns and pilasters like the other; column being placed over column, and pilaster over pilaster. From the capitals are carried festoons, which meet with masks and other ornaments in the middle. This series is also crowned with its proper entablature, on which is raised the balustrade with Attic pedestals between, which crown the work. Every thing in this building is finely proportioned, and as happily executed. The projection of the columns from the wall has a fine effect in the entablatures, which being brought forward in the same proportion, gives that happy diversity of light and shade so essential to fine architecture. _English Architecture._

To render this edifice as perfect as possible, the ceiling is finely painted by the celebrated Sir Peter Paul Rubens, who was ambassador here in the time of Charles I. The subject is the entrance, inauguration, and coronation of King James I. represented by Pagan emblems. It is esteemed one of his most capital performances, and may be justly esteemed one of the finest ceilings in the world. This great apartment is at present converted into a chapel, for the service of which certain select preachers were appointed out of each university, by King George I. to preach here every Sunday; for this each are allowed a stipend of 30_l._ a year.

BANSTED, a village in Surrey, situated between Dorking and Croydon, famous for producing a great number of walnuts; but much more for its neighbouring Downs, one of the most delightful spots in England, on account of the agreeable seats in that neighbourhood; for the extensive prospect of several counties on both sides the Thames, and even of the royal palaces of Windsor and Hampton Court; and for the fineness of the turf, covered with a short grass intermixed with thyme, and other fragrant herbs, that render the mutton of this tract, though small, remarkable for its sweetness. In these Downs there is a four miles course for horse races, which is much frequented.

BAPTISTS, a sect of dissenters, thus denominated from their baptizing by immersing the body all over, and from their not considering infants as proper subjects of baptism. They are principally divided into two classes, termed general and particular. The general Baptists, who with Arminius maintain the doctrine of universal redemption, consist of only six congregations, who have their meeting-houses as follows:

1. Fair street, Horsely down. 2. Glasshouse yard, Pickax street, near Aldersgate bars. 3. Mill yard, Rosemary lane. 4. Pinner’s hall, Broad street, in the afternoon. 5. Paul’s alley, Redcross street, where are two different congregations, who maintain their own Minister. 6. Queen street, in the Park, Southwark.

The particular Baptists, who with Calvin believe that none will be saved but the elect, and that all the rest of mankind are doomed to eternal misery, are much more numerous, and have the following meetings.

1. Angel alley, Whitechapel. 2. Artillery street, Spitalfields. 3. Brewers hall, Addle street. 4. Cherry Garden lane, Rotherhith. 5. Church lane, Limehouse. 6. Collier’s rents, White street, Southwark. 7. Curriers court, near Cripplegate. 8. Devonshire square, Bishopsgate street without. 9. Dipping alley, Horselydown, Southwark. 10. Duke’s street, near Pepper street. 11. Eagle street, Red lion street, Holborn. 12. Flower de luce yard, Tooley street. 13. Glasshouse street, Swallow street. 14. Goat yard passage, Horselydown. 15. Johnson’s street, Old Gravel lane. 16. Little Wild street, Great Wild street. 17. Little Wood street, Cripplegate. 18. Maze Pond street, Southwark. 19. Maidenhead court, Great Eastcheap. 20. New Way, Maze, Southwark. 21. Pennington’s street, Virginia street. 22. Pepper street, Southwark. 23. Rose lane, Limehouse. 24. Rosemary branch alley, Rosemary lane. 25. Rotherhith. 26. St. John’s court, Little Hart street. 27. Sheer’s alley, White street, Southwark. 28. Snow fields. 29. Unicorn yard, St. Olave’s. 30. Union yard, Horselydown lane. 31. Vinegar row, Shoreditch.

BAPTIST _court_, by Boswell court, Carey street.*

BAPTIST’S HEAD _court_, Whitecross street.*

BARBERS. The art of surgery was anciently practised in this city by none but the Barbers, who were incorporated by letters patent granted by King Edward IV. in the Year 1461, and in 1512 an act was passed to prevent any persons besides the Barbers practising surgery within the city of London, and seven miles round. At length several persons, who were not Barbers, being examined and admitted as practitioners in the art of surgery, the parliament united them in the thirty-second year of the reign of King Henry VIII. by the appellation of _the Masters or Governors of the mystery or commonalty of Barbers and Surgeons of the city of London_; and by this act all persons practising the art of shaving, are strictly enjoined not to intermeddle with that of surgery, except what belongs to drawing of teeth. Thus this company obtained the name of Barber-Surgeons, which they continued to enjoy till the eighteenth year of the reign of his present Majesty King George II. when the Surgeons applying to Parliament to have this union dissolved, were formed into a separate company; though the Barbers were left in possession of the hall and theatre, and were constituted a body politic, under the name of _the Master, Governors and Commonalty of the mystery of Barbers of London_.

This company has a Master and three other Governors, a court of Assistants of twenty-four members, and a very numerous livery.

BARBERS HALL, a fine edifice on the west side of Monkwell street, consisting of a spacious hall room, a court room, theatre, library, and other commodious offices. The grand entrance from Monkwell street is enriched with the company’s arms, large fruit, and other decorations. The court room has a fretwork ceiling, and is also adorned with the pictures of King Henry VIII. and the court of Assistants, in one fine piece; a portrait of King Charles II. and other paintings. The theatre contains four degrees of cedar seats, one above another, in an elliptical form, and the roof is an elliptical cupola; this room is adorned with a bust of King Charles I. the figures of the seven liberal sciences, and the twelve signs of the Zodiac; the skins of a man and woman on wooden frames, in imitation of Adam and Eve; the figure of a man flayed, done after the life, all the muscles appearing in their due place, and proportion; the skeleton of an ostrich; an human skeleton, with copper joints, and five other skeletons of human bodies. But as this furniture was introduced by the Surgeons, it is now of no use, and the theatre is entirely deserted.

This Hall is one of the works of that great architect Inigo Jones, and is a masterpiece in its kind, that elegant simplicity which characterises all his works, giving the spectator the highest satisfaction.

BARBER’S _alley_, Brown’s lane, Spitalfields.*

BARBER’S POLE _alley_, St. Margaret’s hill, Southwark.*

BARBICAN, Aldersgate street, so called from a high watch tower which stood there, from which a view might be taken of the whole city. Barbican, according to Camden, being an Arabic word signifying a watch tower.

BARE _lane_, Gravel lane.

BAREMERE’S ALMSHOUSE, in Almshouse yard, Hoxton, which was built about the year 1701, by the Rev. Mr. Baremere, a Presbyterian Minister, for eight poor women, who have no other allowance but half a chaldron of coals each _per annum_. _Maitland_.

BARE _yard_, Bucklersbury.

BAREHOUSE _yard_, Silver street, Wood street.

BARKER’S _rents_, Paul’s alley, Red cross street.†

BARKING, a large market town in Essex, situated ten miles from London, on a creek that leads to the Thames, from whence fish is sent up in boats to London, the town being chiefly inhabited by fishermen. The parish has been so much enlarged by lands recovered from the Thames, and the river Rothing, which runs on the west side of the town, that it has two chapels of ease, one at Ilford, and another called New chapel, on the side of Epping forest, and the great and small tithes are computed at above 600_l._ _per annum_. At a small distance from the town, in the way to Dagenham, stood a large old house, where the gunpowder plot is said to have been formed.

BARKING _alley_, Tower street, by Tower hill, so called from the church of Allhallows, Barking.

BARLAM’S _mews_, New Bond street.†

BARLOW’S _court_, Coal yard, Broad St. Giles’s.

BARNABY _street_, Tooley street, Southwark.

BARNES, a village in Surrey, almost encompassed by the Thames. It lies between Mortlake and Barn Elms, and is seven miles from London, and five from Kingston.

BARNET, a market town in Hertfordshire, situated in the road to St. Alban’s, eleven miles from London, on the top of a hill, whence it is called High Barnet, and also Chipping, or Cheaping Barnet, from King Henry the Second’s granting the monks of St. Alban’s the privilege of holding a market here; the word Cheap, or Chepe, being an ancient word for a market. As this place is a great thoroughfare, it is well supplied with inns. The church is a chapel of ease to the village of East Barnet. Here is a free school founded by Q. Elizabeth, and endowed partly by that Princess, and partly by Alderman Owen, of London, whose additional endowment is paid by the Fishmongers company, who appoint 24 governors, by whom the master and usher are chosen to teach seven children gratis, and all the other children of the parish for 5_s_ a quarter. Here is also an almshouse founded and endowed by James Ravenscroft, Esq; for six widows.

This place is remarkable for the decisive battle fought there between the houses of York and Lancaster, on Easter day, 1468, in which the great Earl of Warwick, stiled _the Setter up, and Puller down of Kings_, was slain, with many others of the principal nobility. The place supposed to be the field of battle, is a green spot, a little before the meeting of the St. Alban’s and Hatfield roads: and here, in the year 1740, a stone column was erected, on which is inscribed a long account of that battle.

BARNET (EAST) a pleasant village in Hertfordshire, near Whetstone and Enfield Chace, formerly much frequented on account of its medicinal spring, which was discovered in a neighbouring common about an hundred years ago. The church is a mean edifice; but the rectory is very beneficial.

Here is the fine seat of the Lord Trevor, to which Queen Elizabeth gave the name of Mount Pleasant.

BARNET’S _yard_, Mill bank.†

BARON’S ALMSHOUSE, in Elbow lane, Shadwell, was founded in the year 1682, by George Baron, for fifteen poor women, who also endowed it with 5_l._ 4_s._ _per annum_ for bread.

BARRAT’S _rents_, Stepney Causeway.†

BARRET’S _court_, Horselydown, Fair street.†

BARROW’S _rents_, Windmill hill.†

BARTHOLOMEW _close_, near Smithfield, so called from its being situated near the church of St. Bartholomew the Great.

BARTHOLOMEW _court_. 1. Houndsditch. 2. Throgmorton street.

_St._ BARTHOLOMEW’S _Church_, situated at the south east corner of Bartholomew lane, behind the Royal Exchange, was one of the churches consumed in the general conflagration in 1666, and this structure arose in its place. It consists of a very irregular body, with a tower suited to it, the top of which, instead of pinnacles, a spire, or turrets, is crowned with arches, supported by columns of the Corinthian order. It is a rectory, in the gift of the Crown, and the Rector receives 100_l._ a year in lieu of tithes.

BARTHOLOMEW _lane_, extends from Threadneedle street to Lothbury, and is so named from St. Bartholomew’s church at the corner.

_St._ BARTHOLOMEW _the Great_, situated near the east end of Duck lane, on the north east side of Smithfield, escaped the flames in 1666, and is a large plain church, with a tower crowned with a turret. It is a rectory in the patronage of the Earl of Holland, The Rector’s profits, besides casualties, amount to about 60_l._ _per annum_.

_St._ BARTHOLOMEW _the Less_, is seated on the south east side of Smithfield, adjoining to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. It was founded in the year 1102, and belonged to the neighbouring convent of the same name; but as it was not destroyed by the fire in 1666, it remains in the same state it was in before that dreadful calamity. It is a low building, composed of brick and rough stone plaistered; and consists of a roofed body with Gothic windows, and a tower with a corner turret. This church is a vicarage, in the gift of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, who upon receiving the grant of the church and hospital, covenanted to pay the Vicar 13_l._ 6_s._ 8_d._ _per annum_, which, with an allowance from the hospital, and casualties, amounts to about 120_l._ _per annum_.

_St._ BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL, on the south east of Smithfield, for the cure of the poor, sick and lame, formerly belonged to the Priory of St. Bartholomew in Smithfield; but both the priory and hospital being dissolved by K. Henry VIII. that Monarch, in the last year of his reign, founded the hospital anew, and endowed it with the annual revenue of 500 marks, upon condition that the city should pay the same sum, which proposal was readily embraced, and the managers of this foundation were incorporated by the name of _The Hospital of the Mayor, Commonalty and Citizens of London, Governors for the poor, called Little St. Bartholomew’s, near West Smithfield_. Since that time the hospital has received prodigious benefactions from great numbers of charitable persons, by which means not only the poor of London and Southwark, but the distressed of any other parts of the King’s dominions, and from foreign countries, are taken in, whether sick or maimed, and have lodging, food, attendance, and medicines, with the advice and assistance of some of the best Physicians and Surgeons in the kingdom, who belong to the hospital, and attend the patients as occasion requires; they have also matrons and nurses, to look after and assist them; and at their discharge when cured, some, who live at a considerable distance, are relieved with money, cloaths, and other necessaries, to enable them to return to their several habitations. Pity it is that so noble and humane a foundation should want any thing to render it perfect, and that every sick person who is admitted, except such as have suffered by sudden accidents, as the fracture or dislocation of a bone, should be obliged to deposit or give security for the payment of a guinea, in case of death, in order to defray the expence of the funeral; for by this some of the poorest and most miserable, and consequently the most proper objects, are unhappily excluded from reaping the benefit they might otherwise receive from it: but this is also the case of several of the other hospitals of this city; however many thousands of persons labouring under the most dreadful diseases and wounds, are annually cured at this hospital, and in those of Kent street in Southwark, and the Lock at Kingsland, both of which are dependent on it. Besides all this, there are great numbers of out-patients, who receive advice and medicines gratis.

The ancient hospital which escaped the fire of London becoming ruinous, it was found absolutely necessary in the year 1729 to rebuild it; a plan for that purpose was formed, and a grand edifice erected, by subscription, which was designed to be only one out of four noble detached piles of building, to be afterwards raised, about a court or area 250 feet in length, and 60 in breadth.

The original design is now nearly compleated, and this hospital altogether forms a very elegant building, or rather buildings, for the sides which compose the quadrangle do not join at the angles, as is usual, but by four walls, each having a large gate which admits you into the area, as may be seen in the print. Here is a staircase painted and given by Mr. Hogarth, containing two pictures with figures large as the life, which for truth of colouring and expression may vie with any thing of its kind in Europe. The subject of the one is the Good Samaritan, the other the Pool of Bethesda.

BARTLET’S _buildings_, Holborn.†

BARTLET’S _court_. 1. Bartlet’s street.† 2. Holborn hill.†

BARTLET’S _passage_, Fetter lane.†

BARTLET’S _street_, Red Lion street, Clerkenwell.†

BARTON _street_, Cowley street, Westminster.†

BARTON’S _rents_, Shoreditch.†

BARTRAM’S _yard_, Nightingale lane.†

BASINGHALL, a very ancient building now called Blackwell hall, which see.

BASINGHALL _court_, Basinghall street.†

BASINGHALL _street_, Cateaton street, extends on the east and north sides of Blackwell hall, anciently called Basing hall. Tho’ this street is neither uniform nor regularly built, it has many handsome houses inhabited by merchants. It received its name from its belonging to the family of the Basings. _Stow._ See BLACKWELL HALL.

BASING _lane_, Bread street, Cheapside.†

BASKET _alley_, 1. Golden lane. 2. Goswell street.

BASKET-MAKERS, a fraternity by prescription, and not by charter; however, they have the honour of being reckoned one of the city companies. This community is governed by two Wardens and forty-eight Assistants; but has neither livery nor hall.

BASSHAW’S _rents_, Love lane, Bank side, Southwark,

BASSISHAW _ward_, so called from a corruption of Basinghall, once the principal house in it, is bounded on the north by Cripplegate ward, on the west by that and Cheap wards, and on the south and east by Coleman street ward. See the article BLACKWELL HALL.

This ward is very small, it only consisting of Basinghall street. Its principal buildings are St. Michael’s church, also called Bassishaw church; Blackwell hall; Coopers hall; Masons hall; and Weavers hall.

It is governed by an Alderman, his Deputy, four Common Council men, seventeen wardmote inquestmen, two scavengers, two constables, and a beadle: and the jurymen returned by the wardmote inquest in this ward, serve in the several courts of Guildhall in the month of March.

BATCH’S _walk_, Ratcliff highway.†

BATEMAN’S BRIDGE _yard_, Upper Ground street, Southwark.†

BATEMAN’S _street_, May fair.†

BATTERSBY _court_, near King street, Westminster.†