Suburbs without Aldersgate. Streets. 69

Suburbs without Aldersgate. Streets.
[ Click here to view 
The Prospect of Grays Inn
  The Prospect of Grays Inn ]

&c. now damned up. [And so remained, and altogether unknown, till within this 40 Years, or thereabouts; when upon some occasion they, or some of them were new discovered; and being found Mineral Waters, of the nature of Tunbridge, they became greatly frequented by Citizens, and used as Chalybiate Waters for correcting Hypochondriacal Distempers.

J. S.

The old Well of Clerkenwel, and from whence the Parish had its Name, is still known among the Inhabitants. It is on the right hand of a Lane that leads from Clerkenwel to Hockley in the Hole, in a bottom. One Mr. Cross, a Brewer, hath this Well enclosed: but the Water runs from him into the said place. It is enclosed with an high Wall, which formerly was built to bound in Clerkenwel-Close: The present Well being also enclosed with another lower Wall from the Street. The way to it is through a little House, which was the Watch-house, you go down a good many Steps to it. The Well had formerly Iron Work and Brass Cocks, which are now cut off: The Water spins through the old Wall. I was there and tasted the Water; and found it excellently clear, sweet and well tasted. The Parish is much displeased (as some of them told me) that it is thus gone to decay: and think to make some Complaint at a Commission for Charitable Uses, hoping by that means to recover it to common Use again, the Water being highly esteemed thereabouts; and many from those Parts send for it.

The Well of Clerkenwel.

Skinners Well is almost quite lost; and so it was in Stow's Time. But I am certainly informed, by a knowing Parishioner, that it lies on the West of the Church, enclosed within certain Houses there. The Parish would fain recover the Well again, but cannot tell where the Pipes lie. But Dr. Rogers, who formerly lived in an House there, shewed Mr. E.H. late Churchwarden, two Marks in a Wall in the Close, where these Pipes (as he affirmed) laid, that it might be known after his Death.]

Skinners Well.

There was also a Ducking Pond near to Clerkenwell. At which Pond a sad Mischance once happened, Viz. the 19th of January 1633. Six pretty young Lads going to sport themselves here upon the Ice, the Ice brake, and they all fell in and lost their Lives, to the great Grief of many that saw them dying, and many more that saw them dead, as well as of their Parents.]

The Ducking Pond.

R.

In the Year 1615 the Justices for Middlesex, by License from the King, built an House of Correction for the County of Middlesex, near unto the East End of Clerkenwel, upon a large Garden Plot, purchased by the said Justices. Which House was for the Punishment and Employment of Rogues and Vagabonds of Middlesex: Who formerly used to be taken into Bridewel, as well as the Vagrants of London. But these Miscreants so encreased now, that Bridewel could not contain them, nor employ them: neither were the Governors willing to receive them of Middlesex from the said Justices; holding it contrary to the Charter of London and the Foundation of Bridewel. But the City gave unto this House 500l. in Money, at the Request of the Council, to make a Stock for the Employment of the Poor. The Purchase of that Plot of Ground, and the Building cost about 2500l. Part of which was the free Gift of the Justices, and the rest levied by the Inhabitants. The 500l. which the City gave, instead of making a Stock, was employed in the building and furnishing the House. The Justices appointed over it two Masters and Governours, and a Matron, who were to order and govern the Vagrants committed there; and to have a Salary of 200l. a Year for their Pains. For which Salary they receive them and keep them at Work, without further Charge to the County, unless they be discharged thence by Order of the Justices of Peace.]

House of Correction built in Clerkenwel.

J. S.

Bridewel:

E. Howes.

Now to return to Giltspur Street, where I first began with this Suburb, there standeth the Parish Church of St. Sepulchre in the Bayly, as is before shewed, from this Street to Turnagain Lane, by Hosier Lane, Cow Lane, and Holborn Conduit, down Snore Hill, to Holborn Bridge, and up to Holborn Hill, by Gold Lane on the Right Hand, and Lether Lane beyond it, up to the Bars; beyond the which Bars on the same side is Port Pool Lane, or Greys Inn Lane, so called of the Inn of Court, named Greys Inn, a goodly House there situate: by whom builded, or first begun, I have not yet learned, but it seemeth to be since Edward the Thirds Time, and is a Prebend to Paul's Church in London.

St. Sepulchres.

Port Pool Lane, or Greys Inn Lane.

Greys Inn.

This Lane is furnished with fair Buildings, and many Tenements on both the sides, leading to the Fields towards Highgate and Hamsted.

On the high Street have ye many fair Houses builded, and Lodgings for Gentlemen, Inns for Travellers, and such like, up almost (for it lacketh but little) to St. Giles in the Fields. Among the which Buildings, for the most Part being very new, one passeth the rest in Largeness of Rooms, lately builded by a Widow, sometime Wife to Richard Alington, Esq; which Richard Alington deceased in the Year 1561. And thus much for that North side of Holborn.

Widow Alington her Building.

Now from Newgate on the left Hand or South side, lieth the Old Bayly, and so down by Seacole Lane end to Holborn Bridge, up Holborn Hill, by Shoe Lane, and Fewters Lane, to the Bars.

South side of Holborn.

These two Cross Lanes, Shoe Lane and Feater or [Fewter] Lane, with the third, called Chancery Lane, (all which lie between the two high Streets, Fleetstreet and Holborn, and are Passages from one to the other) were foul for Passengers and unpaved, until the 9 Edw. 2. An. 1315. When that King granted an Imposition upon Commodities brought to the City, for the mending and paving those Lanes, and likewise to pave and mend the High way from Portpole Bridge to Tyburn, and to Highgate. And also the same Grant extended from the paving between Temple Bar and Westminster.]

Shoe Lane, Fetter Lane, &c. when first paved.

J. S.

Beyond the Bars had ye (in old Time) a Temple, builded by the Templers, whose Order first began in the Year of Christ 1118. the 19 of Henry the First. This Temple was left, and fell to ruin since the Year 1184. when the Templers had builded them a new Temple in Fleetstreet, near to the River of Thames. A great Part of this old Temple was pulled down but of late, viz. in the Year 1595.

Old Temple.

Templers.

Adjoining to this old Temple, was the Bishop of Lincolns Inn, wherein he lodged, when he repaired to this City, Robert de Curars *, Bishop of Lincoln, builded it about the Year 1147. And John Russel, Bishop of Lincoln, Lord Chancellor, in the Reign of Richard the Third, was lodged there. It hath of late Years belonged to the Earls of Southampton, and therefore called Southampton House. Which House was conveyed in Fee to the Lord Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, and Lord Chancellor, in the Time of King Edward the Sixth. For which the Bishop hath no other House in or near London, as is thought.]

The Bishop of Lincolns Inn.

*de Chisvey, or de Querceto.

Southampton House.

J. S.

Relig. Spelm.

One Master Roper hath of late builded much there; by means whereof, part of the Ruins of the old Temple was seen to remain, builded of Cane Stone, round in form as the New Temple, by Temple Bar, and other Temples in England.

Ruines of the Old Temple.

Beyond this old Temple and the Bishop of Lincoln's House, is New-street, so called in the Reign of Henry the Third, when he (or a Jews House) founded the House of Converts, betwixt the old Temple and the new.

New Street.

House of Converts.

Con-