Part 7

CHRIST’S CHURCH, Church street, Spitalfields. The district in which this edifice stands was till lately considered as a hamlet in the parish of Stepney: but the kind reception given to the persecuted French protestants, greatly increased the number of the inhabitants of this spot, and these refugees bringing the silk manufacture along with them, soon brought affluence to the place, and with it a multitude of new inhabitants. Hence this was constituted a distinct parish from Stepney in the year 1728, and one of the fifty new churches was ordered to be built here. The foundation was laid in 1723, and it was finished in four years.

The body of this church is solid and well proportioned; it is ornamented with a Doric portico, to which there is a handsome ascent by a flight of steps; and upon these the Doric order arises supported on pedestals. The tower over these rises with arched windows and niches, and on its diminishing for the steeple, is supported by the heads of the under corners, which form a kind of buttresses: from this part rises the base of the spire, with an arcade; its corners are in the same manner supported with a kind of pyramidal buttresses ending in a point, and the spire is terminated by a vase and fane. This is the character given of this edifice in the _English Architect_: who asserts that solidity without weight is its character, and that though this structure is not without faults, yet it is worthy of great praise; it being singular, and built for ages. It has however been severely censured by the author of _The Critical Review of Buildings_, who says that it is one of the most absurd piles in Europe.

This church is made a rectory, but is not to be held in commendam. For the maintenance of the Rector and his successors the Parliament granted the sum of 3000_l._ to be laid out in the purchase of lands and tenements in fee simple: besides which provision the Churchwardens are by that act appointed to pay him annually the sum of 125_l._ to be raised by burial fees. _Maitland._

CHRIST’S CHURCH, in Bennet street, Southwark, is a regular and well-constructed building, erected with little expence, since the year 1737, when the foundation of the old church gave way. It consists of a plain body enlightened by two ranges of windows, and a square tower with a turret.

This church is a rectory, the patronage is in the heirs and assigns of John Marshal of the Borough of Southwark, Gent. who caused the old church to be built, by leaving, in the year 1627, the sum of 700_l._ for that purpose, with an estate of 60_l._ a year towards the maintenance of a Minister, and the inhabitants applying to parliament in 1670, it was made a distinct parish independent of that of St. Saviour’s.

CHRIST’S CHURCH, behind the northern row of houses in Newgate street. This is a vicarage, or impropriation, and the right of advowson is in the Governors of St. Bartholomew’s hospital. The old spacious church being consumed by the fire of London, this edifice was erected in its room, and by an act of parliament constituted the place of public worship, both for this parish and that of St. Leonard’s Foster lane.

This church is a plain edifice, neatly ornamented on the inside; it has a square tower of a considerable height, crowned with a light and handsome turret, which is so concealed by the houses, that it can scarce any where be seen to advantage. The Incumbent receives 200_l._ per annum in lieu of tithes.

CHRIST’S HOSPITAL, for the education and support of the fatherless children of freemen, is an establishment of considerable antiquity; for Henry VIII. in the last year of his reign gave the city both the priory of St. Bartholomew’s, and the convent of Gray Friars, which anciently belonged to that priory, for the relief of the poor. He also in the same year founded two churches out of these religious houses, the one to be called Christ Church, out of the Gray Friars, and the other Little St. Bartholomew’s, out of the hospital of that name. By the above grant the city was obliged to establish here a settled and regular provision for the poor, which was not done till some years after, when King Edward VI. being extremely moved at a sermon preached by Bishop Ridley, wherein that good Prelate expatiated on the obligations of the rich to assist the poor and miserable, his Majesty expressed his hearty desire to concur in promoting so laudable a work, and by the Bishop’s advice, immediately caused a letter to be wrote to the Lord Mayor, to obtain his assistance; and this letter his Majesty signed with his own hand, and sealed with his signet. The good Bishop, who, by the young King’s desire, stayed till the letter was finished, was the messenger dispatched on this important business. The chief Magistrate was pleased with the honour done the city, and after several consultations with the Aldermen and Common Council, several charitable plans were formed for the carrying on of this and other charities; and while the diseased were provided for at St. Thomas’s, and the idle at Bridewell, it was resolved that the young and helpless should be educated at Christ Church.

This being reported to the King, his Majesty voluntarily incorporated the Governors of these houses by the title of _The Mayor, Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, Governors of the possessions, revenues and goods of the hospitals of Edward VI., King of England_, &c. as his Majesty desired to be esteemed their chief founder and patron. To promote and continue this work, he granted the city certain lands that had been given to the house of the Savoy, founded by King Henry VII. for the lodging of pilgrims and strangers, but which was now only used by vagabonds and strumpets. These lands amount to the yearly value of 600_l._ He also commanded, that after reserving a sufficient quantity of the linen, which had been used in the times of popish superstition, to each church within the city and suburbs of London, the remaining superfluous great quantities should be delivered to the Governors of this hospital, for the use of the poor children under their care. And one of the last actions of that good Prince’s life, was signing a licence for this corporation to purchase lands in mortmain.

In 1552 the house of the Gray Friars was prepared for the poor fatherless children, and the same year 340 were admitted. Soon after, several considerable private benefactions were left to this hospital, and at length Charles II. by a well judged liberality, founded and endowed a mathematical school for the instruction of forty boys in that study, in order to fit them for the sea, and for this purpose he ordered 1000_l._ a year to be paid out of the Exchequer for seven years. This institution is executed in a manner suitable to the intention of the founder. Every year ten of these boys are put out apprentices to masters of ships, and ten more are received in their room. The master is not only expected to be a good mathematician, but to understand the learned languages. Afterwards the Governors appointed forty other boys to be taught mathematics in the same manner. The other schools are a grammar school, a writing school, and a school for the girls who learn reading and needle work, and there have been lately added a master to teach the boys drawing, an art of the greatest use in many mechanical arts.

This charity is so very extensive, that there are sometimes above a thousand children supported here at a time. The youngest, for whom there is not room in the house, and who are not of an age to understand the lessons taught there, are, at the expence of the charity, sent to Hertford and Ware, where there are schools erected and masters employed at handsome salaries for that purpose. As the eldest are put out apprentices, and these grow more fit for the place, they are brought in.

The boys are cloathed in blue coats, with petticoats of the same colour, yellow stockings, and bonnets instead of hats. And on their being put out apprentice, they have 10_l._ given with each.

The edifice is concealed by the contiguous houses, and cannot be seen entire. It is spacious, and though built in the old manner, is not ill contrived. The principal buildings form the four sides of a large area, which have porticoes continued round them. These have Gothic arches, and the walls are supported by abutments. The front of the building is, however, more modern than the rest, and has Doric pilasters supported on pedestals.

Among the ancient buildings that still remain, is an old cloister, which was a part of the priory. This was repaired by the direction of Sir Christopher Wren, and serves both for a thoroughfare, and place of recreation for the boys, especially in rainy weather.

The writing school is, however, a neat modern edifice, built with brick and stone in the year 1694, at the end of the great hall. It was founded by Sir John Moore, one of the Aldermen of the city, and President of the house, whom it is said to have cost 5000_l._ It contains long writing boards sufficient for 300 boys to sit and write upon, and at the upper end of the room is Sir John’s statue in white marble.

The inner distribution of the rooms and wards is very good. There is a spacious hall built at the expence of Sir John Fenwick after the fire of London, in which the boys dine and sup. At the upper end of this room is a large picture representing King James II. sitting with his Nobles, the Governors, &c. with the half figures of King Edward VI. and Charles II. hanging as pictures in the same piece. There is also a piece representing the mathematical school done by Vario, and reckoned worth 1000_l._ At the other end is a large piece representing King Edward VI. delivering the charter to the Lord Mayor, who kneels, with the Aldermen behind him; the young King is accompanied by Bishop Ridley and several others, who stand about him. Here also is a fine piece of the pool of Bethesda, which is very large, and painted in a masterly stile by Mr. Hogarth. In this hall there is likewise a good organ, which plays on Sundays, when the boys sing psalms and anthems.

A great room where the Governors meet, is also adorned with the pictures of the royal founder, and of all the chief benefactors.

There are eight wards for the children’s beds; that of the girls is separated from the rest; and there is also a ward for the sick. Each of the masters have 100_l._ a year, and the grammar master an additional salary of 20_l._ for catechising the boys, and his usher has 50_l._ a year; in short, 12 or 1300_l._ a year is expended in salaries to the officers, clerks, and servants; and the sum expended for the support of the hospital, amounts to between 11 and 12,000_l._ a year. To defray this expence, the hospital has a great annual revenue in houses and lands; the benefit of licensing and looking after the 420 carts allowed in the city, each of which pays a certain sum for sealing. The hospital has likewise a duty of about three farthings upon every piece of cloth brought to Blackwell hall, where clerks are kept to receive it. The Governors, amount to about three hundred, and these chuse their officers and servants, both men and women, and also the President and Treasurer.

The building of this hospital is partly Gothic and partly modern, being built at various times, and has very little regularity. That part represented in the print belongs to the mathematical school, and is in Gray Friars. The niche contains a statue of Charles II. in the royal robes, which, considering the difficulty the statuary had to encounter, is a very good one. At a distance is the steeple and part of the front of the church, which was rebuilt, after being burnt down by the fire of London, by Sir Christopher Wren.

CHURCHES. These are very numerous; and the reader may see an account of each under the names of the patrons to whom they are dedicated, as _St._ ALBAN’S, ALLHALLOWS, _St._ ALPHAGE, _St._ ANDREW’S, &c.

CHURCH _alley_, 1. Basinghall street.☐ 2. Black Friars.☐ 3. Denmark street, St. Giles’s.☐ 4. Giltspur street.☐ 5. Harp alley, Shoe lane.☐ 6. St. Mary hill.☐ 7. New Rents, Compter street.☐ 8. Noble street, Foster lane.☐ 9. Old Jewry.☐ 10. Puddle dock hill.☐ 11. In the Strand.☐ 12. Thames street.☐ 13. Tooley street.☐ 14. Wapping.☐ 15. Watling street.☐ 16. Whitechapel.☐

CHURCH _court_, 1. Church passage, Piccadilly.☐ 2. Clement’s lane, Canon street.☐ 3. Duke’s place.☐ 4. Little Chapel street.☐ 5. St. Margaret’s church yard.☐ 6. In the Strand.☐ 7. Church Entry, Austin Friars.☐ 8. Black Friars.☐

CHURCH _hill_, Black Friars.☐

CHURCH _lane_, 1. Dyot street.☐ 2. Elephant lane, Rotherhith.☐ 3. Houndsditch.☐ 4. Islington.☐ 5. Ropewalk, Limehouse.☐ 6. St. Mary Overies.☐ 7. Newington Butts.☐ 8. In the Strand.☐ 9. Near Three Cranes lane, Thames street.☐ 10. Whitechapel.☐ 11. White street, Southwark.☐ 12. Wood street, Cheapside.☐

CHURCH _passage_, 1. Cloth Fair.☐ 2. Dorset street.☐ 3. Piccadilly.☐

CHURCH _row_, near Aldgate.☐

CHURCH _stairs_, Rotherhith.☐

CHURCH _street_, 1. Bernbridge street.☐ 2. Coverlead fields.☐ 3. St. Giles’s street.☐ 4. Hackney.☐ 5. Hoxton.☐ 6. Lambeth.☐ 7. Long Acre.☐ 8. Millbank.☐ 9. Prescot street.☐ 10. Rotherhith.☐ 11. Sclater street.☐ 12. Shoreditch fields.☐ 13. Soho.☐ 14. Spitalfields.☐ 15. Stepney Causeway.☐ 16. Swan fields.☐

CHURCH YARD _alley_, 1. Cartwright street.☐ 2. Chick lane.☐ 3. Fetter lane.☐ 4. Harp alley.☐ 5. Hole stairs.☐ 6. Rosemary lane.☐ 7. Rotherhith wall.☐ 8. Shoe lane.☐ 9. Thames street.☐ 10. St. Thomas’s street, Southwark.☐ 11. Tooley street.☐

CHURCH YARD _court_, 1. Botolph lane.☐ 2. Inner Temple.☐

CHURCH YARD _lane_, St. Thomas’s street, Southwark.☐

CHYMISTERS _alley_, Bedfordbury.

CINNAMON _alley_, Turnmill street.

CINNAMON _street_, 1. Near Old Gravel lane. 2. Near Wapping dock.

CISE _yard_, Whitechapel.

CIVET CAT _alley_, Bunhill row.*

CLANDON. There are two towns of this name, in Surry, lying near each other, and distinguished by their situation with respect to each other. West Clandon is twenty-six miles from London, and is the manor of the Lord Onslow, whose title is Lord of Onslow and Clandon, and whose seat is near the church. It is a noble edifice, erected after an Italian model. The gardens are beautiful, and laid out in the modern taste. It has plenty of good water, and commands a delightful and extensive prospect as far as Windsor. The house is seen from the road up a grand avenue, and appears to be, what it really is, one of the finest seats in that part of the kingdom.

East Clandon lies about two miles to the east of the last mentioned village, and was anciently the estate of Gerard Lord Aungier, of the kingdom of Ireland, who had a house and park here. In the neighbourhood of East Clandon is the seat of Admiral Boscawen.

CLAPHAM, a village three miles from London, in the road to Richmond.

CLAPTON, a village adjoining to Hackney.

_Abbey of St._ CLARE. See MINORIES.

CLARE _court_, Drury lane.†

CLARE _market_, Lincoln’s Inn fields, has a considerable trade for flesh, greens, &c.

CLARE _street_, Clare market.†

CLARE’S _yard_, Barnaby street.†

CLAREMONT, is the seat of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle at Esher. The house was designed and built by the late Sir John Vanbrugh, in a whimsical style of architecture, which is better shewn in the print than described. It was afterwards purchased of Sir John by his Grace, who has been at great expence in improving the place. The structure, though singular, does not appear to be irregular. It is built of brick with a good deal of variety in it, and of considerable extent, but not much elevated. The Duke has since built a grand room for the reception of company when numerous, which makes the ends of the house not appear similar. The house has a lawn in the front shaded on each side with trees, and the ground behind it rising gradually shews the trees there also, so that the house appears to be embowered by them except just in the front; and the white summer house with four little pinacles, one at each corner, built on the mount which gives name to the place, when viewed from before the front of the house, rises up finely from behind the trees, and all together forms a very pleasing appearance. The park in which it is situated is distinguished by its noble woods, lawns, walks, mounts, prospects, &c. The summer house call’d the Belvedere, at about a mile distance from the house, on that side of the park next Esher, affords a very beautiful and extensive view of the country quite round; yet that from the summer house at Esher place, which is just by, is perhaps no way inferior to it.

CLARGES _street_, Hyde Park road. Thus named from Sir Thomas Clarges.

CLARKE’S _alley_, 1. Bishopsgate street.† 2. Vine street, Hatton wall.† 3. Whitechapel.†

CLARKE’S _orchard_, Rotherhith wall.†

CLARKE’S _rents_, 1. Grub street. 2. St. Catharine’s lane.†

CLARKE’S _yard_, 1. Cock alley, London wall.† 2. Upper ground.†

CLAYTON’S _rents_, King street.†

CLEAVELAND _court_, Cleaveland row, St. James’s street; formerly a large house called Berkshire house; which being purchased by the Duchess of Cleaveland, took her name; on the same ground are now built several handsome houses.

CLEAVELAND _row_, St. James’s.

CLEAVELAND _street_, by St. James’s palace.

CLEAVELAND _yard_, near St. James’s square.

_St._ CLEMENT’S _Church_ in the Strand, also called _St._ CLEMENT DANES, is supposed to be dedicated to Pope Clement I. who suffered martyrdom in the reign of Trajan, and obtained the name of _Danes_ from its being dedicated to their use. A church has been situated in the same place at least ever since the year 700; but the present edifice began to be erected in 1680, and was compleated in two years, but the steeple was not added till several years after.

The body of the church, which is of stone, has two series of windows, the lower plain and the upper well ornamented, and the termination is by an attic, whose pilasters are crowned with vases. On the south side it is entered by a portico to which there is an ascent of a few steps, this portico is covered with a dome supported by Ionic columns. Opposite to this there is another, and on each side the base of the steeple in the west front is a small square tower with its dome. The steeple is carried to a great height in several stages: where it begins to diminish the Ionic order takes place, and upon its entablature supports vases. The next stage is Corinthian, and above that stands the Composite supporting a dome which is crowned with a smaller one, from whence rises the ball and its fane.

The author of the _New Critical Review of the publick Buildings_ justly censures the situation of this church in the midst of the street, and their having “in compliance with the superstitious custom of placing it in a due east and west situation, crowded the backside of the church into the face of the people, though they had room enough to build it otherwise, and prevent so capital a nuisance.” This church is a rectory, in the patronage of the Earl of Exeter.

_St._ CLEMENT’S _Eastcheap_, on the east side of St. Clement’s lane, Lombard street. The old church was destroyed by the dreadful conflagration in 1666, and upon its ruin the present edifice arose. It is a very plain neat structure, with a tower crowned only by a battlement.

This church is a rectory, with the parish of St. Mary Ongars added to it; the advowson is in the Bishop of London. The Rector receives 140_l._ _per annum_ in lieu of tithes. _Newc. Repert. Eccles._

_St._ CLEMENT’S _Church yard_, in the Strand.

CLEMENT’S _court_, Milk street.

CLEMENT’S, or _St._ CLEMENT’S INN, on the north side of Wych street, is thus called from its being near St. Clement’s church. It is one of the inns of chancery, and has three courts one within another, which consists of old buildings, except a row in the garden, which is well built.

CLEMENT’S INN _court_, Clement’s Inn.

CLEMENT’S _lane_, 1. Clare market.☐ 2. Clement’s Inn.☐

_St._ CLEMENT’S _lane_, Lombard street.

_St._ CLEMENT’S WELL, a celebrated fountain, which was many years ago one of the three principal springs at which the city youths, on festival days, used to entertain themselves with a variety of diversions. But it is now covered up, and a pump placed over it, at the east side of St. Clements Inn, and lower end of St. Clement’s lane. _Maitland._

CLERGYMEN’S _Widows_, and _Children_. See an account of the corporation formed for their relief under the article CORPORATION.

CLERK _of the Essoins_, _Juries_, _King’s Silver_, _Supersedeas_, _&c._ See an account of their several employments and offices, under the articles ESSOINS, JURIES, KING’S SILVER, &c.

CLERKS. The Parish Clerks were incorporated by Henry III. in the year 1233, by the name of _The fraternity of St. Nicholas_, by which they were known till they were incorporated by charter in 1611. By a decree of the court of Star chamber, they obtained the privilege of keeping a printing press in their hall, for printing the bill of mortality, they being strictly enjoined by their charter to make a report of all the christenings and burials in their respective parishes by six o’clock, on Thursday in the afternoon; but this is by a by-law changed to two o’clock on the same day, that the King and the Lord Mayor may have the account the day before its publication. This list is however extremely defective; for as there are above an hundred meeting houses in the bills of mortality, the members of which never have their children christened in the parish churches, though the far greater number of their dead are interred in the parochial burying grounds, the burials in these lists are made greatly to exceed the christenings; and hence very grave remarks have been made on the unhealthfulness of the city, and the vices of its inhabitants.

This company consists of a Master, two Wardens, seventeen Assistants, and the whole body of parish clerks within the bills of mortality; who have a commodious hall in Wood street.

CLERKS, or CLERKEN WELL, a spring at the lower end of Clerkenwell green, in Rag street, opposite Mutton lane, was so called from the parish clerks of the city annually meeting there to exhibit dramatic representations of certain parts of scripture; for which they were so famous, that not only the Lord Mayor and citizens, but even the nobility were their spectators. From this well a neighbouring priory with the church and parish were denominated Clerkenwell. _Maitland._

CLERKENWELL _Church_. See St. JAMES’S Clerkenwell.

CLERKENWELL _close_, a street on the north side of Clerkenwell green.