St. Margaret's Parish.63

St. Margaret's Parish.
[ Click here to view 
A Mapp of the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster.
  A Mapp of the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster. ]

King's-street is better inhabited than built, the Houses being generally built after the old Way, with Timber and Plaister, and the Street somewhat narrow, which causeth Stoppage sometimes, by Reason of Multitude of Coaches passing backwards and forwards; for it is a very great Thorough-fare, being the common Passage to Westminster Hall, and the Parliament House: And for the Accommodation of such as come to Town in the Terms, here are in this Street some good Inns for their Reception, and not a few Taverns for Entertainment, as is not unusual in Places of great Confluence.

King-street.

R. B.

On both Sides of this Street are several Allies, Courts, &c. I shall begin with those on the East Side, next unto the Gate house.

The said Gate-house is a Prison for the Liberty of Westminster; the Prison being some Years since removed from the old Gatehouse by Tuthil-street, this being more convenient. The Market, called King's street or Westminster Market; a good large open Place, with a Market-house in the midst, with Stalls and Shops round about, made Use of by Butchers, Poulterers, and others, for Sale of Provisions, the Market being well served and resorted unto. Whitehouse Yard hath a Passage into Channel-Row; but since the last Fire that happened there, most of the Houses still lye in their Rubbish, Ladyes Alley, very small and inconsiderable. Stephen's Alley, a pretty handsome Street, it being the Passage for Coaches, &c. into Chanel-Row. The Rhenishwine Yard, an ordinary Place, so called from the Rhenishwine-House at the upper End, seated in Chanel-Row. Brewer's Yard, a Passage for Carts to the Wood-wharfe by the Thames, towards the upper End, where it hath a Passage into Chanel-Row, indifferent good. Pensioner's Alley, a very narrow Passage out of King-street, but the upper End, where it falls uinto Brewer's Yard, is indifferent broad: Out of this Place there is a Door into the Privy Garden of White-hall, generally kept open during the Sessions of Parliament, and in Term-times, by Favour; which much facilitates the Passage to Westminster-hall from Whitehall.

Gatehouse.

The Market.

Whitehorse Yard.

Ladyes Alley.

Stephen's Alley.

Rhenish-wine Yard.

Brewer's Yard.

Pensioners Alley.

Channel, or Chanon-Row, running from the South to North, formerly called St. Stephen's Alley, as belonging to the Dean and Canons of St. Stephen's Chapel, who were there lodged; but afterwards became inhabited by divers of the Nobility and Gentry, having then good Houses, with Gardens towards the Thames. Amongst which was one belonging to the Earls of Derby, which was made use of, in the Reign of K. Charles the Second, for the Admiralty Office, now the greatest Part being converted into Dwelling-houses, which are well inhabited, and bears the Name of Derby Court, which goeth as far as the Thames, having a good Freestone Pavement, always cleanly kept, and lying something higher than Channel-Row. The Part not pulled down, is a large Dwelling-house with a Garden behind it to the Thames, called Derby-house. Overagainst this House was another fair House belonging to Henry Clinton, Earl of Lincoln; also another large House belonging to the Mountagues, lately built into a very fine Court, which hath a handsome Free-stone Pavement, and good Houses well inhabited, and bears the Name of Manchester Court, very pleasant towards the Thames. Dorset Court, built on the Place where Dorset House stood: It is a very handsome open Place, containing but six Houses, which are large and well built, fit for Gentry to dwell in; of which those towards the Thames have Gardens towards the Water Side very pleasant: In one of these Houses dwells Mr. Emmet, the Son of Mr. Maurice Emmet the Builder of them, where he dyed. The Woolstaple, a very ordinary Place or Lane, but lying on the Back-side of the new Palace Yard, unto which it hath a Passage out of Channel Row, and another into the Market, as also into King's-street by the Gate house: This Place was of greater Note when the Woolstaple was here kept than now it is, only now retaining its old Name. At the upper End of this Place, near the Thmaes, are the King's Alms Houses for eight Men, each having two Rooms, which they let out to Profit, besides 5l. per Ann. Bennets Court a very handsome Place, with good built Houses, well inhabited, with pretty Gardens before them, and hath a handsome Free-stone Pavment to the Thames Side; but the Entrance into this Court is narrow and not ornamental, as those of Derby or Manchester Courts. The other Side of ths Channel Row is but ordinary, the chief House being the Rhenish-wine House, of good Resort.

Channel Row.

Derby Court.

Manchester Court.

Dorset Court.

Woolstaple.

Bennet's Court.

I shall next speak of the Places on the West Side of King'sstreet, beginning with those next White-hall; and the first that offers itself is,

West Side of King's-street.

Downing-street, a pretty open Place, especially at the upper End, where are 4 or 5 very large and well built Houses, fit for Persons of Honour and Quality; each House having a pleasant Prospect into St. James's Park, with a Tarras Walk. Duffin's Alley, which at present hath but a few Houses; but those are well built, and in Time, the whole Alley (without Doubt) will be built. Ax Yard, a Place of no great Beauty for Buildings, having a very narrow and ill Entrance, but the Part towards St. James's Park is the best, as enjoying something of Prospect into the Park: The Houses are here much used by Lodgers. Sea Alley, of mean Account in all Respects. Bell Court, a pretty large Place, with good Buildings; at the upper End, ascending by Stone-steps, is Rose and Crown Court, a fine, large, and well built Place, the Houses fit for the Gentry, with a good Free-stone Pavement. The upper End of this Court cometh into Duke-street, and hath a Passage into Charles's-street. Gardiner's Lane, of a great Length, running down into Duke-street; a Place not over well built or inhabited: On the North Side is Poultrey Yard, very inconsiderable; and on the South Side is Bowman's Court, a pretty handsome, square, and well built Place; and on the same Side is Cherry Court, an indifferent good Place. Antelope Alley, indifferent good. Blewbore Inn, a Place of good Custome, the Yard being large, with some Houses in it. George Yard and Inn, also a considerable large Place for Stablings, &c. and hath a Passage, as hath the Blew Bore Inn, into De la Hay Street, adjoining to Duke-street. Bell Alley, but small and ordinary, the greatest Part at present not built. Fountain Court, very inconsiderable. Thieving Lane, so called, for that Thieves were led that Way to the Gate-house by Tuthil-street, whilst the Sanctuary continued in Force: This Place, by some, is called Bow Lane, from its turning Passage into Broken Cross or Long Ditch, like a bent Bow. The Houses are not over well built, and divers of its Inhabitants drive a Trade in second-hand Goods: In this Lane are these Alleys, viz. Eagle Alley, also Star Alley, or Court, with a Passsage into Scot's Alley; Froget's Alley; all small Places of little Account. Round Court, a pretty handsome new built Place, which hath a Passage into Thieving Lane, and another into Angel Court.

Downing-street.

Duffin's Alley.

Ax Yard.

Sea Alley.

Bell Court.

Rose and Crown Court.

Gardiner's Lane.

Duke-street.

Poultrey Yard.

Bowman's Court.

Cherry Court.

Antelope Alley.

Blew Bore Inn.

George Yard.

Bell Alley.

Fountain Court.

Thieving Lane.

Eagle Alley.

Star Alley.

Scot's Alley.

Froget's Alley.

Round Court.

Behind this North Side of King's-street, is Charles's-street, a fine large Street, not many Years built, with good Houses well inhabited: And Duke-street, new built, with good Houses and well inhabited, especially that Side towards St. James's Park, the back Windows having a pleasant Prospect thereon, and many of the Inhabitants have the Favour of a Door out of their Garden into the Park, which is no small Be-

Charles's-street.

Duke-street.

nefit,