Part 17
WIMPLE _street_, Henrietta street.
WINCHESTER _court_, Monkwell street, near Cripplegate.
WINCHESTER _street_, 1. by Broad street, so called from the Mansion house of the Earls of Winchester there, built by Sir William Pawlet Knt. created Earl of Wilts, and Marquis of Winchester, Lord High Treasurer of England in the reign of Edward VI. _Maitland._ 2. St. Mary Overies, from the palace of the Bishops of Winchester.
In its neighbourhood were the licensed stews under the jurisdiction of the Bishop, whence the common prostitutes were called Winchester geese. _Maitland._ The name of stews was given to lewd houses from the fishponds near this place.
WINCHESTER _yard_, Winchester street, St. Mary Overies.
WINCLE _court_, Pallmall.
WINDELOW’S _court_, Black Friars.†
WINDMILL _alley_, 1. St. Margaret’s hill.* 2. Whitechapel.☐
WINDMILL _bank_, Isle of Dogs, so called from windmills there.
WINDMILL _court_, 1. Coleman street.* 2. Pie corner, near Smithfield.* 3. Snow hill.*
WINDMILL _hill_, 1. Hatton wall: 2. Leather lane, Holbourn: 3. near Upper Moorfields. This last hill was raised by above a thousand cart loads of human bones, brought from St. Paul’s Charnel house and laid there in the year 1549, which being soon after covered with street dirt from the city, the place was converted into a lay stall, whereby the ground was so raised, that three windmills were erected upon it, whence it obtained its present name. _Maitland._
WINDMILL HILL _row_, Upper Moorfields.☐
WINDMILL _lane_, Whitechapel.☐
WINDMILL _street_, 1. Haymarket*: 2. Tottenham Court road.
WINDMILL _yard_, Coleman street.*
WINDSOR, so called from its winding shore, is a pleasant, and well inhabited borough, twenty-three miles from London, agreeably situated on the south bank of the Thames, in the midst of delightful vallies. Its church is a spacious ancient building situated in the High street of the town, in which is also the town house, a neat regular edifice built in 1686, and supported with columns and arches of Portland stone; at the north end is placed in a niche the statue of Queen Anne, in her royal robes, with the globe and other _regalia_; and underneath, in the freeze of the entablature of the lesser columns and arches, is the following inscription in gold letters:
Anno Regni VIº. Dom. 1707.
_Arte tua, sculptor, non est imitabilis_ ANNA; ANNÆ _vis similem sculpere? sculpe Deam_ S. Chapman, _Prætore_.
And in another niche on the south side is the statue of Prince George of Denmark, her Majesty’s royal consort, in a Roman military habit, and underneath is the following inscription:
_Serenissimo Principi_ GEORGIA _Principi_ Daniæ, Heroi omni sæculo venerando, Christophorus Wren, _Arm._ Posuit. MDCCXIII.
In the area, underneath the town hall the market is kept every Saturday and is plentifully supplied with corn, meat, fish, and all other provisions.
Besides the castle, the chief ornament of the place; many gentlemen of fortune and family constantly reside in the town and its neighbourhood. The Duke of St. Albans has a handsome large house on the east part of the town, with pleasant gardens that extend to the park: and at the south side of the town is Sir Edward Walpole’s house, a neat regular edifice with large gardens beautifully laid out and designed; where Marshal Bellisle resided for some time while a prisoner in England, during the last war.
WINDSOR CASTLE, the most delightful palace of our Sovereigns, was first built by William the Conqueror soon after his being established on the throne of this kingdom, on account of its pleasant and healthful situation, and as a place of security; it was greatly improved by Henry I. who added many additional buildings, and surrounded the whole with a strong wall. Our succeeding Monarchs resided in the same castle, till King Edward III. caused the ancient building to be taken down; erected the present stately castle, and St. George’s chapel; inclosed the whole with a strong wall or rampart of stone, and instituted the most noble order of the garter.
It may be proper to observe, that William of Wickham, afterwards Bishop of Winchester, was principally employed by Edward III. in building this castle, and when he had finished it, he caused this doubtful sentence to be cut on one of the towers:
THIS MADE WICKHAM.
which being reported to the King, as if that prelate had assumed to himself the honour of building this castle, that Bishop would probably have fallen under his Majesty’s displeasure, had he not readily assured his royal master, that he meant it only as an acknowledgment, that this building had _made him great_ in the favour of his Prince; and had occasioned his being raised to his present high station.
Great additions were in succeeding times made to the castle, by several of our Monarchs, particularly by Edward IV. Henry VII. Henry VIII. Elizabeth, and Charles II. This last Prince soon after the restoration, entirely repaired the castle, and though it had suffered greatly by plunder and rapine, in the preceding times of national disorder, he restored it to its ancient splendor. As that Prince usually kept his court there during the summer season, he spared no expence in rendering it worthy the royal residence; he entirely changed the face of the upper court; he enlarged the windows and made them regular, richly furnished the royal apartments, and had them decorated with large and beautiful paintings, and erected a large magazine of arms.
In short, King Charles II. left little to be done to the castle except some additional paintings in the apartments, which were added by his successors James II. and William III. in whose reign the whole was completed.
This stately and venerable castle is divided into two courts or wards, with a large round tower between them called the middle ward, it being formerly separated from the lower ward by a strong wall and drawbridge. The whole contains above twelve acres of land, and has many towers and batteries for its defence: but length of time have abated their strength, and the happy union that subsists between the Prince and people, has made it unnecessary to keep these fortifications in perfect repair.
The castle is situated upon a high hill, which rises by a gentle ascent, and enjoys a most delightful prospect around it, in the front is a wide and extensive vale, adorned with corn fields and meadows, with groves on either side, and the calm smooth water of the Thames running through it, and behind it are every where hills covered with woods, as if dedicated by nature, for game and hunting.
On the declivity of the hill is a fine terrace faced with a rampart of free stone, 1870 feet in length. This may justly be said to be one of the noblest walks in Europe, both with respect to the strength and grandeur of the building, and the fine and extensive prospect over the Thames of the adjacent country on every side, where from the variety of fine villas scattered about, nature and art seem to vie with each other in beauty.
From this terrace you enter a beautiful park, which surrounds the palace, and is called the little or house park, to distinguish it from another adjoining, which is of a much larger extent. This little park is four miles in circumference, and surrounded by a brick wall. The turf is of the most beautiful green, and it is adorned with many shady walks; especially that called Queen Elizabeth’s, which, on the summer evenings is frequented by the best company. A fine plain on the top of the hill was made level for bowling in the reign of King Charles II. and from hence is the like extended prospect over the Thames, and the same beautiful and well cultivated country. The park is well stocked with deer and other game, and the keeper’s lodge at the farther end is a delightful habitation.
But to return to the castle. In the upper court is a spacious and regular square, containing on the north side the royal apartments, and St. George’s chapel and hall, on the south and the east sides are the royal apartments, those of the Prince of Wales, and the great officers of state, and in the centre of the area is an equestrian statue in copper of King Charles II. in the habit of one of the Cæsars, standing on a marble pedestal, adorned with various kinds of fruit, fish, shipping and other ornaments. On the east side is the following inscription on a shield:
CAROLO SECUNDO. _Regum Optimo,_ _Domino suo clementissimo._ Tobias Rustat _Hanc Effigiem humilime_ _Dedit et Dedicavit_, Anno Domini MDCLXXX.
The Round tower, which forms the west side of this upper court, contains the Governor’s apartments. It is built on the highest part of the mount, and there is an ascent to it by a large flight of stone steps: these apartments are spacious and noble, and among the rest is a guard-room or magazine of arms. King Charles II. began to face this mount with brick, but only compleated that part next the court.
The Lower court is larger than the other, and is in a manner divided into two parts by St. George’s chapel, which stands in the centre. On the north, or inner side are the several houses and apartments of the Dean and canons of St. George’s chapel, with those of the minor canons, clerks and other officers; and on the south and west sides of the outer part, are the houses of the poor knights of Windsor. In this court are also several towers belonging to the officers of the crown, when the court is at Windsor, and to the officers of the order of the garter.
The royal apartments are on the north side of the Upper court, and are usually termed the Star building, from a star and garter in gold in the middle of the structure, on the out side next the terrace.
The entrance into the apartments is through a handsome vestibule, supported by columns of the Ionic order, with some antique bustos in several niches; from hence you proceed to the great staircase, which is finely painted with several fabulous stories from Ovid’s Metamorphoses: In the dome Phaeton is represented desiring Apollo to grant him leave to drive the chariot of the sun; in large compartments on the staircase, are the transformation of Phaeton’s sisters into poplar trees, with this inscription, _Magnis tamen excidit Ausis_; and Cycnus changed into a swan. In several parts of the ceiling are represented the signs of the Zodiac supported by the winds, with baskets of flowers beautifully disposed: at the corners are the four Elements each express’d by a variety of figures. Aurora is also represented with her nymphs in waiting, giving water to her horses. In several parts of the staircase are the figures of Music, Painting, and the other sciences. The whole is beautifully disposed and heightened with gold, and from this staircase you have a view of the back stairs painted with the story of Meleager and Atalanta.
I. Having ascended the staircase, you enter first into the Queen’s guard chamber, which is compleatly furnished with guns, pistols, bayonets, pikes, swords, _&c._ beautifully ranged and disposed into various forms, as the star and garter, the royal cypher, and other ornaments. On the cieling is Britannia in the person of Queen Catharine of Portugal, consort to King Charles II. seated on a globe, bearing the arms of England and Portugal, with the four grand divisions of the earth Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, attended by deities, making their several offerings. On the outer part of this beautiful group, are the signs of the Zodiac, and in different parts of the cieling are Minerva, Mars, Venus, and other heathen deities, with Zephyrs, Cupids, and other embellishments properly disposed; over the chimney is a portrait of Prince George of Denmark on horseback, by Dahl; with a view of shipping by Vandewell.
II. You next enter the Queen’s presence chamber, where Queen Catharine is represented attended by Religion, Prudence, Fortitude and other Virtues: she is under a curtain spread by Time, and supported by Zephyrs, while Fame sounds the happiness of Britain; below, Justice is driving away Envy, Sedition, and other evil genii. The room is hung with tapestry, containing the history of the beheading of St. Paul, and the persecution of the primitive Christians; and adorned with the pictures of Judith and Holofernes, by Guido Reni; a Magdalen, by Sir Peter Lelly; and a Prometheus by young Palma.
III. On entering the Queen’s audience chamber, you see the cieling painted with Britannia in the person of Queen Catharine, in a carr drawn by swans to the temple of Virtue, attended by Flora, Ceres, Pomona, _&c._ with other decorations heightened with gold. The canopy is of fine English velvet, set up by Queen Anne; and the tapestry was made at Coblentz in Germany, and presented to King Henry VIII. The pictures hung up in this room, are, a Magdalen by moonlight, by Carracci; St. Stephen stoned, by Rotterman; and Judith and Holofernes, by Guido Reni.
IV. On the cieling of the ball room King Charles II. is represented giving freedom to Europe by the figures of Perseus and Andromeda; on the shield of Perseus is inscribed _Perseus Britannicus_, and over the head of Andromeda is wrote _Europa Liberata_, and Mars attended by the celestial deities, offers the olive branch. On the coving of this chamber is the story of Perseus and Andromeda, the four seasons, and the signs of the Zodiac, the whole heightened with gold. The tapestry, which was made at Brussels, and set up by King Charles II. represents the seasons of the year; and the room is adorned with the following pictures, the Roman Charity, after Tintoret; Duns Scotus, by Spagnoletto; a Madona, by Titian; Fame, by Palmegiani, the Arts and Sciences, also by Palmegiani; and Pan and Syrinx by Stanick.
V. The next room you enter is the Queen’s drawing room, where on the cieling is painted the assembly of the gods and goddesses, the whole intermixed with cupids, flowers, _&c._ and heightened with gold. The room is hung with tapestry representing the twelve months of the year, and adorned with the pictures of Lot and his daughters, after Angelo; Lady Digby, wife of Sir Kenelm Digby, by Vandyke; a sleeping Venus, by Poussin; a family in the character of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, by de Bray; a Spanish family, after Titian; and a flower piece by Varelst.
VI. In the Queen’s bed-chamber, the bed of state is rich flowered velvet made in Spitalfields, by order of Queen Anne, and the tapestry, which represents the harvest season, was also made at London, by Poyntz. The cieling is painted with the story of Diana and Endymion, and the room is adorned with the pictures of the Holy family, by Raphael; Herod’s cruelty by Giulio Romano; and Judith and Holofernes, by Guido.
VII. The next is the room of Beauties, so named from the portraits of the most celebrated beauties in the reign of King Charles II. they are fourteen in number, _viz._ Lady Ossory, the Duchess of Somerset, the Duchess of Cleveland, Lady Gramont, the Countess of Northumberland, the Duchess of Richmond, Lady Birons, Mrs. Middleton, Lady Denham and her sister, Lady Rochester, Lady Sunderland, Mrs. Dawson, and Mrs. Knott. These are all original paintings drawn to great perfection by Sir Peter Lelly.
VIII. In the Queen’s dressing room are the following portraits, Queen Henrietta Maria, wife to King Charles I. Queen Mary, when a child, and Queen Catharine; these three are all done by Vandyke; the Duchess of York, mother to Queen Mary and Queen Anne, by Sir Peter Lelly.
In this room is a closet wherein are several paintings, and in particular a portrait of the Countess of Desmond, who is said to have lived to within a few days of an hundred and fifty years of age; also a portrait of Erasmus and other learned men. In this closet is likewise the banner of France annually delivered on the second of August by the Duke of Marlborough, by which he holds Blenheim house built at Woodstock in Oxfordshire in the reign of Queen Anne, as a national reward to that great General for his many glorious victories over the French.
IX. You are next conducted into Queen Elizabeth’s or the picture gallery, which is richly adorned with the following paintings: King James I. and his Queen, whole lengths, by Vansomer; Rome in flames, by Giulio Romano; a Roman family, by Titian; the Holy family, after Raphael; Judith and Holofernes, by Tintoret; a night piece, by Skalkin; the pool of Bethesda, by Tintoret; a portrait of Charles VI. Emperor of Germany, by Sir Godfrey Kneller; the wise men making their offerings to Christ, by Paulo Veronese; two usurers, an admired piece, by the famous blacksmith of Antwerp; Perseus and Andromeda, by Schiavone; Aretine and Titian, by Titian; the Duke of Gloucester, a whole length by Sir Godfrey Kneller; Prince George of Denmark, a whole length by Dahl; King Henry VIII. by Hans Holbein; Vandanelli, an Italian statuary, by Correggio; the founders of different orders in the Romish church, by Titian and Rembrant; a rural piece in low life, by Bassano; a fowl piece, by Varelst; the battle of Spurs near Terevaen in France, in 1513, by Hans Holbein; two views of Windsor Castle, by Wosterman, and two Italian markets, by Michael Angelo. In this room is also a curious amber cabinet, presented by the King of Prussia to Queen Caroline.
There is here likewise Queen Caroline’s china closet, filled with a great variety of curious china elegantly disposed, and the whole room is finely gilt and ornamented; over the chimney are the pictures of Prince Arthur, and his two sisters, the children of King Henry VII. by Holbein; and in this closet is also a fine amber cabinet, presented to Queen Anne, by Dr. Robinson, Bishop of London, and plenipotentiary at the congress of Utrecht.
X. From this gallery a return is made to the King’s closet, the cieling of which is adorned with the story of Jupiter and Leda. Among the curiosities in this room is a large frame of needle work, said to be wrought by Mary Queen of Scots, while a prisoner in Fotheringhay castle; among other figures, she herself is represented supplicating for justice before the Virgin Mary, with her son, afterwards King James I. standing by her; in a scrawl is worked these words _Sapientiam amavi et exquisivi a juventute mea_. This piece of work, after its having lain a long time in the wardrobe, was set up by order of Queen Anne. The pictures are, a Magdalen, by Carracci; a sleeping cupid, by Correggio; contemplation, by Carracci; Titian’s daughter, by herself; and a German Lady, by Raphael.
XI. You are next conducted into the King’s dressing room, where the cieling is painted with the story of Jupiter and Danae; and adorned with the pictures of the birth of Jupiter, by Giulio Romano; and of a naked Venus asleep, by Sir Peter Lelly.
XII. On leaving the above room, you are conducted into the King’s bed chamber, which is hung with tapestry representing the story of Hero and Leander; the bed of state, which was set up in the reign of King Charles II. is of fine blue cloth, richly embroidered with gold and silver; and on the cieling that Prince is represented in the robes of the garter, under a canopy supported by Time, Jupiter and Neptune, with a wreath of laurel over his head, and he is attended by Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, paying their obedience to him. The paintings are, King Charles II. when a boy, in armour, by Vandyke; and St. Paul stoned at Lystra, by Paulo Veronese.
XIII. The cieling of the King’s drawing room, which is next seen, is finely painted with King Charles II. riding in a triumphal carr, drawn by the horses of the sun, attended by Fame, Peace, and the polite arts; Hercules is driving away Rebellion, Sedition and Ignorance; Britannia and Neptune, properly attended, are paying obedience to the Monarch as he passes; and the whole is a lively representation of the restoration of that Monarch, and the introduction of arts, and sciences in these kingdoms. In the other parts of the cieling are painted the labours of Hercules, with festoons of fruit and flowers, the whole beautifully decorated in gold and stone colour. The pictures hung up in this room are, a converted Chinese, by Sir Godfrey Kneller; the Marquis of Hamilton, after Vandyke, by Hanneman; Herodias’s daughter, by Carlo Dolci; a Magdalen, by Carlo Dolci; and a Venetian Lady, by Titian.
XIV. You next enter the King’s drawing room, where the painted cieling represents the banquet of the gods, with a variety of fish and fowl. The pictures hung up here are, the portraits of his present Majesty, and the late Queen Caroline, whole lengths; Hercules and Omphale, Cephalus and Procris, the birth of Venus, and Venus and Adonis, the four last by Genario; a naval triumph of King Charles II. by Verrio; the marriage of St. Catharine, by Dawkers; nymphs and satyrs, by Rubens and Snyders; hunting the wild boar, by Snyders; a picture of still life, by Girardo; the taking of the bears, by Snyders; a night piece, being a family singing by candle light, by Quistin; a Bohemian family, by de Brie; divine love, by an unknown hand; and Lacy, a famous comedian in King Charles the Second’s time, in three characters, by Wright.
Many of the paintings in this room are best seen at noon by the reflection of the sun; the carving of this chamber is very beautiful, representing a great variety of fowl, fish and fruit, done to the utmost perfection on lime wood, by Mr. Gibbons, a famous statuary and carver in the reign of King Charles II.
XV. In the King’s audience chamber, the canopy, which was set up in the reign of King Charles II. is of green velvet, richly embroidered with gold, and on the cieling is represented the establishment of the church of England at the restoration, in the characters of England, Scotland and Ireland, attended by Faith, Hope, Charity, and the Cardinal Virtues; Religion triumphs over Superstition and Hypocrisy, who are driven by cupids from before the face of the church, all which are represented in their proper attitudes, and highly finished. The pictures hung up in this room are, our Saviour before Pilate, by Michael Angelo; the Apostles at our Saviour’s tomb, by Scavoni; Peter, James and John, by Michael Angelo; and the Duchess of Richmond, by Vandyke.
XVI. The King’s presence chamber is hung with tapestry containing the history of Queen Athaliah, and the cieling is finely adorned with painting, Mercury is represented with an original portrait of King Charles II. which he shews to the four quarters of the world introduced by Neptune; Fame declaring the glory of that Prince, and Time driving away Rebellion, Sedition, and their companions. Over the canopy is Justice in stone colour, shewing the arms of Britain to Thames and the river nymphs, with the star of Venus, and this label, _Sydus Carolynum_, at the lower end of the chamber is Venus in a marine carr drawn by tritons and sea-nymphs. The portraits hung up are, Henry Duke of Gloucester, brother to King Charles II. and his governess the Countess of Dorset, both by Vandyke; and father Paul, by Tintoret.
XVII. The King’s guard chamber, which you next enter, is a spacious and noble room, in which is a large magazine of arms, consisting of some thousands of pikes, pistols, guns, coats of mail, swords, halberts, bayonets, and drums, disposed in a most curious manner in colonades, pillars, circles, shields, and other devices by Mr. Harris, late master gunner of this castle; the person who invented this beautiful arrangement of arms, and placed those in the great armoury in the Tower of London. The cieling is finely painted in water-colours: in one circle is Mars and Minerva, and in the other Peace and Plenty. In the dome is also a representation of Mars, and over the chimney piece is a picture of Charles XI. King of Sweden, on horseback, as big as the life, by Wyck.