Part 6
Round the hall are hung up, the standards and colours taken from the French, at the battle of Ramilies. At the east end are the King’s arms between the pictures of his present Majesty King George II. and Queen Caroline; close by the first is Queen Anne, and by the last his late Majesty King George I. and at the same end of the hall, but on the north and south sides, are the pictures of King William III. and Queen Mary fronting each other. The hall is likewise adorned with the portraits of eighteen Judges, put up by the city as a testimony of public gratitude for their signal services, in determining the differences which arose between landlords and tenants, without the expence of law suits, on rebuilding the city after the fire. These Judges are all painted at full length in their scarlet gowns; and in the Lord Mayor’s court there are the portraits of five other Judges painted in the same manner.
On the east end of the hall is held the court of Hustings weekly, and occasionally that of the Exchequer; and before the Hustings is held the court of Conscience. At the west end is held alternately the Sheriff’s court for the Poultry and Wood street counters. Opposite to the Chamberlain’s office, already mentioned, as situated up the steps underneath the giants, is the office of Auditors of the city accounts, within which is the Lord Mayor’s court office, where the Lord Chief Justice occasionally sits in trials by _nisi prius_. On the west side of the Mayor’s court office is the court of Orphans, where the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas occasionally sits. Adjoining to this court on the north, is the old council chamber, now used by the Commissioners of bankrupts. Contiguous to it is the new council chamber. Beneath the Mayor’s court is the Town Clerk’s office, where are deposited the city archives. To the east and north are the residences of the Chamberlain and Town Clerk; near which are two rooms wherein the business of bankrupts are dispatched. Contiguous to the north west is the kitchen; in the porch is the Comptroller’s office, and over it the Irish chamber. Over the piazzas on the west, are the common Serjeant’s, Remembrancer’s, and city Solicitor’s offices. See an account of each of these courts under the articles, _Court of_ COMMON COUNCIL. _Lord_ MAYOR’S _Court_. _Court of_ HUSTINGS, &c.
Guildhall is at the end of a tolerable vista, which shews the building to some advantage, though the Gothic front has nothing very extraordinary in it. The hall within is a fine one, but the entrance would have been better at the lower end than in the middle, for by this means all the beauty of the perspective is lost. The ascent of steps across the hall not being opposite the gate, as it ought to have been, is another material defect. A noble front in the situation of Guildhall, would have had an advantage hardly to be met with elsewhere, and give an architect a fine opportunity of displaying his genius. But the present front is full of little parts which have no effect at a distance.
GUILDHALL _alley_, Basinghall street, leading to Guildhall.
GUILDHALL CHAPEL, situated between Blackwell hall, and Guildhall, was founded in the year 1299, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen and All Saints, and called London College. A chantry was founded in this chapel for four chaplains, and lands and tenements left for their support. It was rebuilt in the reign of Henry VI. and received new endowments: but at the suppression of religious houses it reverted to the Crown, and was bought of King Edward VI. with other lands and tenements, for the sum of 456_l._ 13_s._ 4_d._ and the city holds it in soccage of the manor of Greenwich. It was defaced, but not burnt down by the fire of London in 1666, and has been since repaired.
This edifice is perfectly in the Gothic taste. In several niches are set the figures in stone of King Edward VI. of Queen Elizabeth, with a phœnix under her; and of King Charles I. treading on a globe. The windows are extremely large, and on the inside the walls are hung with tapestry. Over the Aldermen’s seats there is a wainscot covering, and a particular seat for the Lord Mayor, adorned with cartouches. There is a gallery at the west end, a handsome wainscot pulpit and desk, and a neat altar piece inclosed with rails and banisters.
On the south side of this chapel was formerly a library belonging to Guildhall and the College. But it is said that in the reign of King Edward VI. Edward Duke of Somerset, then Lord Protector, sent for the books with a promise of returning them shortly; upon which three carriages were loaded with them; but they being never returned, the room has been long made a storehouse for cloths.
GUILDHALL _yard_, 1. King street, Cheapside.☐ 2. King street, Westminster.
GUILFORD, or GUILDFORD, a considerable borough in Surry, situated on the river Wey, thirty miles from London, and governed by a Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen. Here the assizes are sometimes held, and always elections for members of parliament, the town itself returning two. Not far from the town are the ruinous wails of an old castle, this having been in the Saxon times a royal villa, where many of our Kings long after kept their festivals. Here were formerly two or three convents, one of which was not long ago the seat of Daniel Coswall, Esq; and had a delightful park adjoining to it. There were also three churches in the town; but one of them fell down in the year 1740. Here is a charity school founded by King Edward VI. and an almshouse founded by George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, who endowed it with lands worth 300_l._ a year, 100_l._ of which he ordered to be employed in setting the poor at work, and the other 200_l._ he allotted for the maintenance of a master, twelve brethren, and eight sisters, who are to have 2_s._ 6_d._ a week: the Archbishop’s birth day is annually commemorated in it; and the Archbishop of Canterbury is its visitor. There are here likewise two charity schools for thirty boys, and twenty girls; and a fine circular course for horse races, which begin when the Newmarket races are ended. Guilford had formerly a considerable manufacture of cloth, of which there are still some remains. The great road from Chichester and Portsmouth lies through the town, which has been always famous for good inns, the cleanest of linen, and other excellent accommodations; and as the river Wey is made navigable to this town, a great quantity of timber is carried down it to London, not only from this neighbourhood, but from the Sussex and Hampshire woods, above thirty miles off, from whence it is brought to Guilford in the summer by land carriage.
The road from hence to Farnham is very remarkable, for it runs along the ridge of a high chalky hill, no wider than the road itself, and the declivity begins on either hand, at the edge that bounds the highway, and is very steep and high. From this hill is a surprizing prospect; to the north and north west over Bagshot Heath; to the south east into Sussex, almost to the South Downs; and to the west it is so unbounded that the view is only terminated by the horizon. On this hill, which is called St. Catharine’s, stands the gallows in such a position, that the town’s people of Guilford may, from the High street, sit at their shop doors and see the criminals executed.
GUILLAM’S _wharf_, St. Catharine’s.†
GULLYHOLE _alley_, Wheeler street.
GULSTON’S _square_, Gulston’s street.†
GULSTON’S _street_, Whitechapel.†
GUM _alley_, Barnaby street.
GUMMERY’S _alley_, Dorset street.†
GUN _alley_, 1. Barnaby street.* 2. Little Moorfields.* 3. St. John’s street, West Smithfield.* 4. Wapping.* 5. Well street.*
GUN _dock_, Wapping.
GUN-HOUSE _stairs_, near Vauxhall.
GUN _lane_, Three Colts street.*
GUNPOWDER _alley_, 1. Poor Jury lane. 2. Shoe lane.
GUNNERSBURY HOUSE, near Ealing, a noble and elegant structure, built by Inigo Jones, or, as some say, by Mr. Web, who was son-in-law to Inigo Jones. Indeed the architecture shews that if the plan was not drawn by that celebrated architect himself, it was designed by some of his scholars, for the building has that majestic boldness and simplicity which grace all the works of that excellent artist. It is situated on a rising ground; the approach to it from the garden is remarkably fine. The loggia has a beautiful appearance at a distance, and commands a fine prospect of the county of Surry, the river of Thames, and of all the meadows on its banks for some miles, and in clear weather of even the city of London.
The apartments are extremely convenient and well contrived. The hall, which is large and spacious, is on each side supported by rows of columns, and from thence you ascend by a noble flight of stairs to a saloon, which is a double cube of twenty-five feet high, and most elegantly furnished. This fine room has an entrance into the portico on the back front, which is supported by columns, and from the finest of the prospect over the Thames, is a delightful place to sit in, during the afternoon in the summer season; for it being contrived to face the south east, the sun never shines on it after two o’clock; but extending its beams over the country, enlivens the beautiful landscape that lies before this part of the edifice. On entering the garden from the house, you ascend a noble terrace, which affords a delightful view of the neighbouring country; and from this terrace, which extends the whole breadth of the garden, you descend by a beautiful flight of steps, with a grand balustrade on each side. But the gardens are laid out too plain, having the walls in view on every side. This was the house of the late Henry Furnesse, Esq; who had a fine collection of pictures in it.
GUNSMITHS, a company incorporated by letters patent, granted by King Charles I. in the year 1638. This fraternity consists of a Master, two Wardens, and eighteen Assistants; but has neither livery nor hall. _Maitland._
GUN _street_, Artillery lane, Spitalfields.*
GUN _wharf_, 1. Near Battle bridge.* 2. Wapping Dock.*
GUN _yard_, 1. Bishopsgate street without.* 2. Houndsditch.* 3. Maiden lane, Southwark.* 4. Pepper alley.* 5. Petticoat lane.* 6. Rosemary lane.* 7. Sugar Loaf alley, Moor lane.* 8. Tower ditch.*
GUTTER _lane_, Cheapside, originally called Guthurn lane, from Guthurn, the owner thereof. _Maitland._
GUTTIGE’S _rents_, Whitechapel.†
GUY OF WARWICK’S _court_, 1. Duke street.* 2. Upper Ground.*
GUY’S _court_, Playhouse passage, Drury lane.†
GUY’S HOSPITAL, in Southwark, for the cure of sick and lame persons, was founded by Mr. Thomas Guy, a citizen and bookseller of London, who from a small beginning amassed an immense fortune, by his industry and frugality; and more particularly by purchasing seamen’s tickets in the reign of Queen Anne; and by his success in buying and selling South Sea stock in the year 1720. He was never married, and had no near relations; and therefore towards the close of his life, considering how he should dispose of his wealth, after many ruminations, resolved to be the founder of the most extensive charity ever established by one man. He was seventy-six years of age when he took this resolution, and having no time to lose, immediately took of the President and Governors of St. Thomas’s hospital in Southwark, a lease of a piece of ground opposite to that hospital, for the term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years, for a ground rent of 30_l._ a year; and as this was covered with small houses that were old and ill tenanted, he immediately gave the inhabitants notice of his intention, and when they had removed their effects, pulled down the buildings in the year 1721, and proceeding with all the expedition of a youth of fortune erecting a house for his own residence; he caused the foundation of the intended hospital to be laid the following spring, and this vast fabric was roofed before the death of the founder, which happened on the 27th of December 1724.
The only motive that induced Mr. Guy to erect this hospital in so low and close a situation, was his design of putting it under the management and direction of the Governors of that of St. Thomas. But by the advice of his friends he altered his resolution; it was then however too late to think of chusing another situation, for the building was raised to the second story, but he rendered the place as agreeable as possible by its elevation above the neighbouring streets.
The expence of erecting and furnishing this hospital amounted to the sum of 18,793_l._ 16_s._ great part of which he expended in his life time; and the sum he left to endow it, amounted to 219,499_l._ both together amounting to 238,292_l._ 16_s._ a much larger sum than was ever before left in this kingdom by one single person to charitable uses.
The edifice is situated at a small distance from the foot of London bridge, and consists of two quadrangles, besides what the print exhibits, which is intended when the old buildings are removed to be made regular. At your approach, which is a very narrow street, you first see the side of the square, which is very elegant, and a noble iron gate, with very handsome piers, but are much disappointed when you come nearer, to find the most contemptible front you can imagine. The whole side could not be represented in the print, as there was not distance in the street to bring it into the visual angle. The iron gates open into a square, in the middle of which is a brazen statue of the founder, by Mr. Scheemakers, dress’d in his livery gown, very well executed.
In the front of the pedestal is this inscription:
THOMAS GUY SOLE FOUNDER OF THIS HOSPITAL IN HIS LIFE TIME. A.D. MDCCXXI.
On the west side of the pedestal is represented in basso relievo, the parable of the good Samaritan; on the south side is Mr. Guy’s arms; and on that side of the pedestal facing the east, is our Saviour healing the impotent man.
The superstructure of this hospital has three floors besides the garrets, and the same construction runs through the whole building, which is so extensive as to contain twelve wards, in which are four hundred and thirty-five beds; and in short the whole has a plainness that becomes the nature of the institution, and at the same time a regularity that does some honour to the builder, the whole being disposed for the mutual accommodation of the sick, and of those who attend them.
Soon after Mr. Guy’s decease, his executors, pursuant to his last will, applied to parliament to get themselves, and fifty-one other gentlemen nominated by the founder, to be incorporated Governors of the intended hospital; upon which all these gentlemen were constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name of the President and Governors of this hospital: they were to have perpetual succession and a common seal, with the power of possessing the real and personal estates of the late Thomas Guy, Esq; for the purposes of the will, and to purchase in perpetuity, or for any term of years, any other estate whatsoever, not exceeding 12,000_l._ a year.
This corporation was no sooner established by parliament, than the President and Governors set heartily about the work, by finishing and furnishing the hospital, chusing their officers and servants, and taking in patients, whose number at first amounted to 402. For the more effectual preventing inferior servants preying upon poor patients, or their friends, they resolved to give them handsome salaries, and the following were appointed and are still given.
The Treasurer 00 0 0
His Clerk 40 0 0
Steward 80 0 0
Chaplain 80 0 0
Two Physicians, 40_l._ each 80 0 0
Apothecary 80 0 0
Apothecary’s two servants 78 0 0
Surgeryman 30 0 0
Butler, with his horse 67 2 8
Cook and her servant 32 0 0
Porter 35 0 0
Beadle 30 0 0
Matron 50 0 0
Eleven sisters, 25_l._ each 275 0 0
Eight nurses, 16_l._ each 128 0 0
Twelve watch-women, 10_l._ 8_s._ 124 16 each 0
One brother belonging to the 35 0 0 lunatics
One sister belonging to the 25 0 0 lunatics
──────────────────────────────────────────── Sum total, 1349 18 8
These officers and servants are chosen by the sixty Governors, who have carried on this noble charity in such a manner as to restore ease and health to many thousands of their fellow subjects.
Besides which the out-patients who receive medicines gratis, frequently amount to about 1600 in a year.
Before we conclude this article, it may be proper to mention some other particulars relating to Mr. Guy, in order to do justice to the character of that great benefactor to the public, by which the reader will see the little foundation there is for the general opinion of his being remarkable for nothing more than his parsimony and avarice. He was a patron of liberty and of the rights of his fellow subjects, which, to his great honour, he strenuously asserted in several parliaments, whereof he was a member for the borough of Tamworth in Staffordshire, the place of his birth. To this town he was a general benefactor; and early in his life he not only contributed towards the relief of private families in distress, but erected an almshouse, with a library, in that borough, for the reception of fourteen poor men and women, to whom he allowed a certain pension during his life, and at his death he bequeathed the annual sum of 125_l._ towards their future support, and for putting out children apprentices, &c.
In the year 1701 Mr. Guy built and furnished at his own expence, three wards on the north side of the outer court of St. Thomas’s hospital, and gave to those wards 100_l._ a year, for eleven years immediately preceding the foundation of his hospital. Some time before his death, he removed the frontispiece of St. Thomas’s hospital, which stood over the gateway in the Borough, and erected it in the place where it now stands, fronting the street: he also enlarged the gateway; rebuilt the two large houses on its sides, and erected the fine iron gate between them, all at the expence of 3000_l._ To many of his relations he gave while living, a settled allowance of 10 or 20_l._ a year; and to others money to advance them in the world. At his death, he left to his poor aged relations the sum of 870_l._ a year during their life; and among his younger relations, who were very numerous, and his executors, he left the sum of 75,589_l._ He left the Governors of Christ’s hospital a perpetual annuity of 400_l._ for taking in four children annually, at the nomination of the Governors; and bequeathed 1000_l._ for discharging poor prisoners within the city of London, and the counties of Middlesex and Surry, who could be released for the sum of 5_l._ by which sum, and the good management of his executors, there were above 600 poor persons set at liberty, from the several prisons within the bills of mortality. _Maitland._
GUY’S _yard_. Vinegar yard, Drury lane.†
H.
HABERDASHER _square_, Grub street, Fore street.
HABERDASHERS, one of the twelve principal companies, was indifferently called Hurrers and Milliners; the latter from the merchandize in which they chiefly dealt, which came from the city of Milan in Italy: but they were incorporated by letters patent granted by King Henry VI. in the year 1407, by the style of _The_ _fraternity of St. Catharine the Virgin, of the Haberdashers of the city of London_. But at present they are denominated _The Master and four Wardens of the fraternity of the art or mystery of Haberdashers_.
This company is governed by a Master, four Wardens, and ninety-three Assistants, with a livery of 342 members, who upon their admission pay a fine of 5_l._ _Maitland._
HABERDASHERS _Almshouse_ at Hoxton. See ASKE’S _Almshouse_.
HABERDASHERS HALL, situated on the north side of Maiden lane, is a good brick building, and the room called the hall is very neat and lofty. It is paved with marble and Purbeck stone, wainscoted about twelve feet high; and the screen at the west end, where are two arched apertures, is adorned with pilasters of the Corinthian order.
HACKET _court_, Coleman street.†
HACKNEY, a village in Middlesex, on the north east side of London, is a very large and populous village, inhabited by such numbers of merchants and wealthy persons, that it is said there are near an hundred gentlemen’s coaches kept. The parish has several hamlets belonging to it, among which are Clapton on the north, Dorleston and Shacklewell on the west, and Hummerton, which leads to Hackney Marsh, on the east. In this village are two meeting houses, viz. a new Presbyterian meeting near the church, and an Independent meeting in Mare street: besides a Presbyterian meeting house at Clapton, There are also here six boarding schools, a free school, a charity school, and several almshouses.
Hackney church was a distinct rectory and vicarage in the year 1292, and dedicated to St. Augustine; but the Knights Templars having obtained a mill and other possessions in the parish, they were, upon the suppression of their order, granted to the Knights Templars of St. John of Jerusalem, from whom the church is supposed to have received the present appellation of St. John: however, it was not presented to by that name till after the year 1660. It is in the gift of Mr. Tyson, Lord of the manor, but in ecclesiastical affairs is subject to the Bishop of London. _Maitland._
At the bottom of Hackney Marsh there have been discovered within these few years, the remains of a great stone causeway, which by the Roman coins found there, appears to have been one of the famous highways made by the Romans. _English Gazetteer._
HACKNEY COACHES. The village of Hackney being anciently celebrated for the numerous seats of the nobility and gentry it contained, this occasioned a great resort thither of persons of all ranks from the city of London, whereby so great a number of horses were daily hired in the city on that account, that at length all horses to be lett received the common appellation of Hackney horses; which denomination has since been communicated to public coaches and chairs.