Part 12

VIRGINIA _row_, 1. Greyhound lane, Limehouse: 2. Shoreditch.

VIRGINIA _street_, Ratcliff Highway.

UNDERWOOD’S ALMSHOUSE, was at first erected at the west end of the rectory house of St. Botolph’s Bishopsgate, by one Mr. Underwood, for the accommodation of sixteen poor old women; but on the rebuilding of Petty France, when it changed its name to that of Broad street, _&c._ this almshouse, with that of Alleyn’s adjoining, were in the year 1730, forced to make way for the new passage leading into Bishopsgate street; and a new building was erected in Lamb Alley, in the same parish, for these poor women, each of whom is allowed 2_s._ 6_d._ per month.

UNICORN _alley_, 1. Blackman street, Southwark.* 2. Fore street, Cripplegate.* 3. Holiwell street.* 4. Kent street, Southwark.* 5. in the Minories.* 6. Wheeler street.*

UNICORN _court_, 1. in the Haymarket.* 2. Kent street.* 3. Redcross street.*

UNICORN _yard_, 1. Blackman street Southwark.* 2. Butcher Row, East Smithfield.* 3. St. Olave’s street, Southwark.* 4. Old street, Horselydown.* 5. Tooly street, Southwark.*

UNION _bridge_, Old Horselydown, Southwark.

UNION _court_, 1. a well built court in Broad street, London Wall, extending into Wormwood street: 2. Scroop’s court, Holbourn: 3. Throgmorton street, Lothbury.

UNION FIRE OFFICE, is a very handsome building, erected for that purpose in Maiden lane, near Cheapside, where goods and merchandize, but not houses, are insured from loss by fire, by a mutual contribution.

This office, like that of the Hand-in-Hand Fire Office, was erected by a considerable number of persons, who mutually agreeing to insure one another’s goods and merchandize from loss by fire by an amicable contribution, entered into a deed of settlement for that purpose, on the 16th of February, 1714–15, and had it inrolled in chancery on the 3d of July following, and this deed being signed by all persons desirous of becoming members, they are thereby admitted to an equal share in the profit and loss, in proportion to their respective policies.

This office insures for all merchants, traders, housekeepers, and others in the cities of London and Westminster and within ten miles round, merchandize, goods, wares, utensils in trade, houshold furniture, and wearing apparel; except plate, pictures, glass and china ware not in trade; except also ready money, jewels, books of account, tallies, writings, barns, ricks and stacks of corn, hay, straw and horses. The term of insurance to be seven years, or less if desired.

_The terms and methods of insurance are as follows_

I. For the policy and mark are paid 8_s._ 6_d._ over and above all other expences.

II. Every person designing to insure, shall before surveying the goods, pay 10_s._ earnest money, to go towards the charge of insuring, if agreed to, and the policy be taken up within three months after, otherwise the said 10_s._ is sunk to the society: but if the directors do not agree to such insurance, the earnest money to be returned. Also old policies directed to be renewed, and not taken away within three months are also to be cancelled, and the charge of the policies and stamps of such renewals deducted out of the deposit-money of such insurers.

III. For every 100_l._ insured on goods inclosed within brick or stone, 2_s._ premium, and 10_s._ deposit; and on goods not so inclosed, 3_s._ premium, and 15_s._ deposit. And so in proportion within part brick part timber.

IV. For insurances deemed hazardous, as to situation, or kind of goods, each 100_l._ inclosed in brick or stone, 4_s._ premium, and 1_l._ deposit; in timber, 6_s._ premium, and 1_l._ 10_s._ deposit. Hazardous Insurances both by situation and kind of goods, if inclosed in brick or stone, 6_s._ premium, and 1_l._ 10_s._ deposit; in timber 9_s._ premium, and 2_l._ 5_s._ deposit. And so in proportion within part brick part timber.

V. Those who insure above 1000_l._ not exceeding 2000_l._ in one policy, to pay double the premium that others do, but the same deposit; and from 2000_l._ to 3000_l._ on the following terms, _viz._ For every 100 _l._ insured on goods inclosed in brick or stone, 6_s._ premium and 10_s._ deposit, and on goods not so inclosed, 9_s._ premium, and 15_s._ deposit. Insurances deemed hazardous, as to situation or kind of goods, each 100_l._ inclosed in brick or stone, 12_s._ premium, and 1_l._ deposit; in timber 18_s._ premium, and 1_l._ 10_s._ deposit. Hazardous insurances, both by situation and kind of goods, if inclosed in brick or stone, 18_s._ premium, and 1_l._ 10_s._ deposit; in timber 1_l._ 7_s._ premium, and 2_l._ 5_s._ deposit; and so in proportion within part brick part timber. Since the 15th of November 1738, the society have enlarged their insurances to 4000_l._ on the following terms, _viz._ For every 100_l._ insured on goods inclosed in brick or stone, 6_s._ premium, and 10_s._ deposit; and on goods not so inclosed, 9_s._ premium, and 15_s._ deposit; and the hazardous insurances in the same proportion as the 3000_l._ insurances; and so in proportion within part brick part timber, and since to 5000_l._

VI. If more than twenty pounds weight of gunpowder is kept on the premises insur’d, the policy is to be void.

VII. All insurances beyond the bills of mortality pay 3_s._ to the surveyor for his charges, _&c._

VIII. Every member to have a policy under the hands and seals of three of the trustees, and the society’s mark (being a double Hand-in-Hand) affix’d upon his house, _&c._ The insurance to be good from the time the charge is paid, and the deed of settlement subscribed by the person insuring. The policy, on expiration (after accounting for the deposit-money and mean profits) to be returned to the Office, as also the mark.

IX. So much of the deposit-money is to be returned at the expiration of the policy, as has not been applied to the making good of losses, and the payment of necessary charges, together with a proportionable dividend of profits. And beyond the deposit, no one to be answerable for above 10_s._ _per cent._ on brick, and proportionably for part brick and timber, to any one loss.

X. Every member transferring his policy, and the executors or administrators of every member dying, shall within three months at farthest, give notice thereof to the directors or their clerk, and bring the policy to the office, to have such transfer, or death, indorsed, and enter’d in the books, and in default thereof the benefit of the insurance to be lost. Every of which indorsements to be sign’d by two trustees at least, and 6_d._ for every 100_l._ on each removal insured to be paid for the same. Provided, that if the directors do not allow of such executor, administrator or assignee to be a member, or do not admit of any such indorsement of any such transfer, or death, (all questions thereabouts to be decided by balloting) then such executor, administrator or assignee, or person, shall only have what shall be due to their respective policies, and all farther demands on the said policies shall henceforth cease, any forfeitures or disabilities incurred by the breach of this article, where no loss has happened, may be relieved by the directors, if from the nature and circumstances of the case they think it reasonable.

XI. Any members of this society removing their goods from the places where they were assured, shall have no benefit of such assurance, or be paid for any loss that may happen, till such removal be allowed by the directors for the time being; and if notice be not given of such removal within three kalendar months after the time of such removal, the policy to be void.

XII. The insurance of any goods, _&c._ in this society, which shall be insured in any other office at the same time, to be void: And yet such insurer shall be liable to his covenants. Nevertheless a liberty is given to insure in any other office, so as such other insurance is indorsed on this society’s policy, and subscribed by two of the trustees, for which 6_d._ _per cent._ is to be paid; and in which case a proportionable part of any loss is to be paid by this society.

XIII. All members sustaining any loss, shall give immediate notice of it to the directors, or clerk, in order to a view, and shall make out their loss by the oaths on affirmations of themselves, or by their domesticks or servants, or by their books or vouchers, or the Certificates of the minister, churchwardens, constables, or other neighbouring inhabitants, not concern’d in such loss, or by such other method as the directors shall reasonably require; and in case of fraud or perjury, such pretended sufferers to lose all benefits of the insurance. In case of any violent suspicion of fraud or clandestine practices, (though the same for want of evidence may not be fully proved) it shall be lawful for the directors to declare such member’s policy void, and exclude him the society; and he is never afterwards to be capable of insuring in this office. All questions relating thereunto to be decided among the directors by balloting.

XIV. The directors, shall on all alarms of fire meet together at their office to determine upon the methods most conducive to the safety of the office, and service of the public.

XV. The directors with all convenient expedition, after any loss, shall settle a rate of contribution, and set it up in the office, and publish it in the Gazette, and otherwise as they think fit. And when such loss amounts to 50_l._ or upwards, such rate shall be settled by a majority of the directors at two successive weekly-meetings at the least; and if any five members, insuring to the value of 5000_l._ think themselves agrieved, they may within fourteen days after such publication, inspect all the office accounts, _&c._ and offer their exceptions to the directors; and not being there agreed, it shall stand referred to the next general meeting. Nevertheless when such rates shall exceed the deposit-money, every member shall pay into the office his proportion, within thirty days after such publication; and all defaulters may by the directors be excluded the benefit of their insurances, and yet be liable to the payment of the said rates, pursuant to these articles.

Other offices of insurance on goods either deduct at least 3 _per cent._ out of each claim for defraying charges, _&c._ or oblige the sufferers to agree to an average; which this office is so far from doing, that no person is put to any charge but that of an affidavit to prove his loss. And though it is objected against this office, that the members are liable to farther contributions, upon extraordinary losses, which is not the case in any other office that insures goods; yet this is certainly so far from being an objection against the Union Office, and a recommendation of those other offices, with such as reason justly, that this single confederation proves the excellency of the Union establishment, in making such provision for answering losses, as it is presumed, cannot be exceeded by any human contrivance. This office has paid since its first establishment in 1715 to the end of the year 1757, to sufferers by fire, the sum of 62,538_l._ 18_s._ 11_d._ ½ besides which, there have paid to porters and other necessary charges occasioned by fires upwards of 5600_l._

This office is under the management of twenty-four directors, elected by a majority of the members out of their own body, by balloting, at a general meeting in the month of September; at which time the oldest eight of the twenty-four go out, and eight others are elected in their stead in a way of constant rotation. These appoint all the other officers, and meet every Wednesday in the afternoon between the hours of three and seven, to dispatch business, and in March to ascertain the dividends and contributions for the preceding year. The directors annually chuse out of their own body by balloting, a treasurer, and two assistant treasurers; also six trustees, three of whom sign all policies; and five auditors, to examine and pass the accounts; but as this office is solely calculated for the public good, none of the directors have any advantage above the rest of the members.

There are porters and watermen, _&c._ provided by the office, who assist in removing of goods; these wearing the societies livery and badge, and having given security for their fidelity, may be trusted in case of danger. _Extracted from a copy_ _of the proposals, and an abstract of the deed of settlement received at the office in_ October 1758.

UNION _square_, in the Minories.

UNION _stairs_, Wapping.

UNION _street_, 1. King street, Westminster: 2. New Bond street.

UPHOLDERS, or UPHOLSTERERS, a fraternity incorporated by letters patent granted by King Charles I. in the year 1627. They are governed by a master, two wardens, and twenty-eight assistants with a livery of an hundred and thirty-one members; who upon their admission, pay a fine of 4_l._ 10_s._ but they have no hall.

UPPER _Brook street_, Grosvenor square.†

UPPER _East Smithfield_, near Tower Hill.

UPPER _Ground street_, near the Falcon, Southwark.

UPPER _Gun-alley_, Wapping.*

UPPER _Middle-row_, Broad St. Giles’s.§

UPPER _Moorfields_, near St. Luke’s hospital.

UPPER _Millbank_, Horseferry.

UPPER _Moorfields-row_, Upper Moorfields.

UPPER SHADWELL _street_, Shadwell.

UPPER _street_, Islington, the street and row on the west side of Islington.

UPPER _Turn-stile_, High Holbourn.☐

UPPER _Well-alley_, Wapping.

_Gentleman_, USHERS, an order of officers under the Lord Chamberlain, of which there are several classes, as the gentlemen ushers of the privy chamber; those of the presence chamber daily-waiters; and those who are quarter-waiters in ordinary.

The gentlemen ushers of the privy-chamber are four in number, and have the power of commanding all officers under them in the privy-lodgings, the bed-chamber excepted, and when there is a Queen, have the honour of leading her, in the absence of the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain. The salary of each is 400_l._ a year.

The gentlemen ushers of the presence chamber, are also four, who are daily-waiters in ordinary, the first of whom has the considerable office of black rod. This gentleman in time of parliament attends every day the house of Lords, and is also usher of the most noble order of the Garter. See BLACK ROD. These gentlemen ushers wait in the presence chamber, where they attend next the King’s person; these under the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain order all affairs, and all the under officers above stairs obey them. They have each 150_l._ _per annum_. There is also an assistant gentleman usher whose salary is 66_l._ 13_s._ 4_d._ a year.

The gentlemen ushers quarterly-waiters in ordinary, are eight in number. These also wait in the presence chamber, and give directions in the absence of the gentlemen ushers daily-waiters, to whom they are subordinate. Their salary is only 50_l._ a year. _Chamberlain’s present state._

USHER’S _court_, Seething lane, Tower street.†

UXBRIDGE, a town in Middlesex, in the road from London to Oxford, from the first of which it is distant eighteen miles and a half. Though it is entirely independent, and is governed by two bailiffs, two constables, and four headboroughs, it is only a hamlet to Great Hillington. The river Coln runs through it in two streams, full of trout, eels, and other fish, and over the main stream is a stone bridge that leads into Buckinghamshire. The church, or rather chapel, was built in the reign of Henry VI. This town has many good inns, and is particularly distinguished by the whiteness of the bread, particularly their rolls. There are many corn-mills at a small distance, and a considerable number of waggon loads of meal are carried from thence every week to London. Uxbridge gives the title of Earl to the noble family of Paget.

W.

WADE’S _rents_, Gunpowder alley.†

WAITE’S _yard_, Blackman street, Southwark.†

WAKE’S _court_, Five Feet lane.†

WALBROOK, a street which runs down from the south-west corner of the Mansion-house, towards the Thames. This street, which is chiefly inhabited by merchants and tradesmen, especially furriers, took its name from a rivulet called Walbrook, on account of its entering the city through the wall, between Bishopsgate and Moorgate, and after many turnings and windings, ran down this street, and emptied itself into the Thames near Dowgate. The loss of this rivulet was owing to the many bridges built over it, which at last increased to such a number, covered with houses, that whole streets were erected over it, and the channel of the river became a common sewer.

WALBROOK CHURCH. See St. STEPHEN’S WALBROOK.

WALBROOK WARD, takes its name from the above street. It is bounded on the east by Langbourn ward, on the south, by Dowgate ward; on the west, by Cordwainers ward; and on the north, by Cheap ward. Its principal streets and lanes are, Walbrook, Cannon street on both sides the way from Green Lettice court to Abchurch lane; the east end of Bucklersbury; St. Swithin’s lane, almost as far as Bearbinder lane, a small part of Lombard street, and almost all Bearbinder lane.

The most remarkable buildings are the fine church of St. Stephen Walbrook, and St. Swithin’s; the Mansion-house for the residence of the Lord Mayor; Salter’s hall; and that antient piece of antiquity called London stone.

This ward is governed by an Alderman, and eight common council men, one of whom is the Alderman’s deputy; thirteen inquestmen, six scavengers, seven constables, and a beadle. The jurymen returned by the wardmote inquest serve in the several courts of Guildhall in the month of October.

WALINGFORD _court_, Throgmorton street.†

WALKER’S _court_, 1. Berwick street, Old Soho.† 2. Knave’s Acre.†

WALKER’S _yard_, Tothill street.†

WALL of _London_. See LONDON WALL.

WALL’S _alley_, in the Minories.†

WALLIS’S _street_, Shoreditch.†

WALNUT-TREE _alley_, 1. Bishopsgate street.‡ 2. Tooley street, Southwark.‡

WALNUT-TREE _court_, Tooley street.‡ 2. Whitechapel.‡

WALNUT-TREE _yard_, Bishopsgate street without.‡

WALTER’S ALMSHOUSES, of these there are the three following founded by Mr. John Walter, citizen and draper: one of which was in Blackman street, Southwark, built and endowed in the year 1651, for four poor men and eight poor women, each of whom receives 5_s._ a month, 10_s._ every new year’s day, and a chaldron of coals yearly. This almhouse is now removed to the south-east side of the New Road, leading from Westminster bridge to Blackman street.

Another founded by the same person in the year 1651, at Newington Butts, for sixteen poor men and women, who have each an allowance of 5_s._ _per_ month, half a chaldron of coals every year, and 10_s._ every new year’s day.

Another in Old street, founded by the above Mr. Walters, in the year 1658, for eight poor widows, each of whom have likewise an allowance of 5_s._ _per_ month, and half a chaldron of coals every Christmas. _Maitland._

WALTON, a village in Surry, situated on the Thames, opposite to Shepperton in Middlesex. It is said that the last mentioned county once joined to this town, till about 300 years ago, the old current of the Thames was changed by an inundation, and a church destroyed by the waves.

At this place is a very curious bridge over the Thames, erected by the public spirited Samuel Decker, Esq; who lives in this town, and who applying to parliament for that purpose, obtained in the year 1747, an act to impower him to erect a bridge there, and this admirable structure was completed in August 1750.

It consists of only four stone piers, between which are three large truss arches of beams and joists of wood, strongly bound together with mortises, iron pins, and cramps; under these three arches the water constantly runs; besides which are five other arches of brick-work on each side, to render the ascent and descent the more easy; but there is seldom water under any of them, except in great floods, and four of them on the Middlesex side are stopped up, they being on high ground above the reach of the floods.

The middle arch, when viewed by the river side, affords an agreeable prospect of the country, beautifully diversified with wood and water, which is seen through it to a considerable distance. The prodigious compass of this great arch to a person below, occasions a very uncommon sensation of awe and surprize; and his astonishment and attention are increased, when he proceeds to take notice, that all the timbers are in a falling position; for there is not one upright piece to be discovered; and at the same time considers the very small dimensions of the piers by which the whole is supported. The manner of its construction is better shewn in the print than can be described in words.

In passing over this bridge, when you have proceeded past the brick-work, the vacant interfaces between the timbers, yield, at every step, a variety of prospects, which, at the centre, are seen to a still greater advantage. But though each side is well secured by the timber and rails, to the height of eight feet; yet as it affords only a parapet of wide lattice-work, and the apertures seem, even to the eye, large enough to admit the passage of any person to go through, provided he climbs, or is lifted up, and as the water is seen through every opening at a great depth below, those unused to such views cannot approach the side without some apprehensions.

It would, indeed, have been easy to have closed these openings between the braces and rails with boards; but they are purposely left open to admit a free passage for the air, in order to keep the timbers the more sound, and that the least decay may be the more easily perceived and repaired.

From this admirable bridge the nobility and gentry in this neighbourhood find a very agreeable benefit, especially as the ferries are dilatory, dangerous, and at times impassable; and its being erected has caused the roads thereabouts, in both counties, especially on the Surry side, to be greatly improved.

WALTHAM ABBEY, a village in Essex, on the east side of the river Lea, which here dividing, incloses some islands with fine meadows, and parts it from Waltham Cross. The abbey from whence it took its name, was built in honour of the holy cross, by Harold son to Earl Godwin, to whom Edward the Confessor gave the village; and this abbey Harold endowed with West Waltham, now called Waltham Cross, and sixteen other manors. Its abbots, who were mitred, and had the twentieth place in parliament, lived in a most splendid, but hospitable manner, and were frequently visited by Henry III. when he was reduced, and obliged to carry his family about for a dinner. The abbey was at its dissolution bestowed by King Henry VIII. on Sir Anthony Denny, his groom of the stole, whose grandson afterwards employing workmen to convert it into a seat for himself, they are said to have dug up the corpse of Harold, which after his being slain in battle against William the Conqueror, was at his mother’s request, by the Conqueror’s consent, interred in the abbey.

This is now, or was lately, the seat of —— Jones, Esq; the gardens belonging to the house, were some years since much admired; but since the taste for inclosed gardens has been condemned, they have been little frequented unless by some curious persons, to see the fine tulip tree that grows in a grass plot near the house.

WALTHAM CROSS, also called West Waltham, is a post and market town on the west side of the river Lea in Middlesex, in the road to Ware, twelve measured miles from London. It takes its distinguishing epithet from the cross built there by Edward I. in honour of his beloved Queen Eleanor, whose corps in its way from Lincolnshire to London rested here. That Princess’s effigies are placed round the pillar with the arms of her consort, and those of her own, _viz._ England, Castile, Leon, and Poictou, which are still in part remaining though greatly defaced.