The Sun.
London, England, 1825-12-24 00:00:00

ST. GILES'S.

The ancient and modern states of this large
Parish presents a greater contrast than that of any other in
the metropolis or suburhs. In an excellent account of it re-
cently published, and which is deduced from records of St.
Giles's Hospital and other authentic sources, it is calculated
that about the reign of Henry IV. the whole number
of householders could not amount to 200. In the first year
of Edward VI. the number of what are termed " houseliog
folk" (supposed to mean communicants at the parish church)
was returned at 305. This number, judging from the small
increase of buildings. as represented in old plans and views of
London, was probably not much augmented until the end of
Queen Elizabeth's reign. The increase of inhabitants in the
next two reigns, and during the interregnum, was only mo-
.derate, owing to the absurd restrictions against building in
the out-parishes, which were only taken off towards the close
of the latter period. It was, afterwards astonishing, being
stated in an account received by Vestry from the church-
wardens in 1711 (and which was taken pursuant to the Act of
Parliament for building Churches) at 2999 housekeepers,
whereof there were 269 gentlemen, 1923 tradesmen, and 807
poor housekeepers, making, upon an average of about seven
persons to each house, 21,000 inhabitants.
At the end of the reign of James 1., the number of houses
mentioned in the rate-book was only 897. At the latter end of
the reign of Charles 11. it had increased to more than 2000. In
the rsign of Ann, the number of houses amounted to upwards
of 3000, although the Seven Dials, and its neighbourhood. was
then unfinished. In 1801, the number, including Bloomsbury,
was 3681 ; and in 1811 it amounted to 4828. The total, yearly
rent of the houses in St. Giles's and Bloomsbury, as charged to
the poor's rate for the year, amounted, in 1730, to 58,2671. ; for
1760, to 61,0571, ; for 1791, to 107,939/. ; for 1801, to 128,068/. ;
and for 1811, to 213,260/.
The number of expences of the poor in different years, is
only to be estimated from circumstances, except in occasional
instances. In the year 1642 the whole disbursement for the
poor amounted only to 53/, 13s. 3d. ; the total of money re-
ceived on account of the church and parish was 82/. 2s. Bd. ;
the disbursement for church and parish the same year was
411. 6s. 3d., making the whole amount of money received for
church, parish, and poor, 123/. 16s. 7d. The-total disburse-
ments for the same were 96/. 19s. 6d. So that there remained
in the accountant's hands a surplus of 26/. 17s. Id. In 1649
there was laid out for the poor 1731. 3s. 4d. In 1676 there was
distributed on the same account by the churchwardens 440/.
12s. 7d., and by the overseers 1,320/., making a total of 1,766/.
12s. 7d. And the following year the whole money expended
in supporting the poor was 2,1031. 3s. 10d. Its amount for the
like purpose in 1817, was no less than the enormous sum of
39,1161. 9s. _ _ .

The details respecting the very early state of 0:e parish are
extremely curious.
In the flourishing periods of St. Giles's Hospital, nearly
the whole of the parishioners were the tenants of that esta-
blishment, which then owned most of, the land in the parish,
together with the manor of St, Giles. They are stated to
have been of various descriptions, and to have held greater
or lesser quantities of. ground, according to their • conditions
and circumstances. Few of them, however, possessed more
than two acres in one in one situation, and more generally but
one, or half an acre. These portions of land were for the most
part laid out in curtilages or gardens, and had _dwellings at-
tached. 'The uncultivated parts consisted of pasture and marsh
land. • .

The whole parish was divided,- as present, into north and
south, by the great thoroughfare of-High-street and Holborn.
The former was called by.different names, as St. Giles's-street,
the King'i high-way leading from London to Tyburn,'&c.—
It had a common spring or conduit in the middle of it, and at
the end, opposite Drury lane, a stone-cross. Beyond ran Hol-
born, and terminated with the parish itself, near the bars of the
Old Temple, which stood on the east side of Chancery-lane.--.
This parish, laying on the outside of these, was hence de- ,
nominated St. Giles without she Bars, &c., and which addition
preceded that of-"In the Fields,"-by which name it was after-
wards distinguished. The other great streets were Crown-
street, at the west end of the church, -which was then called
" Old-street'74Erdestmte), and which led entirely through
fields to Nirestminster (uniting at its termination with Saint
Martin's:Tanel,r h' Le Lane,' now Mont:Louth:street, and the
via de. Aldewycit, -or present Drury-lane. The minor ways
or paths, of which —there were several intersecting other
parts of the parish, have no distinguishing names in the old
grants.
The principal road sides were not only bordered by ditches,
but the lesser ways. The chief of them was ",Blemund's-
dyke," called in after times " Bloomsbury-ditch," and " South-
ampton-sewer," whiCh divided the two manors of St. Giles'
and Bloomsbury. The next was the " Marshland-ditch,"
afterwards " Coek and Pye-ditch," and enclosed the whole,of
the present Seven Dials. " Spencer's-ditch," the other princi.
pal one, ran behind the houses on the south-side of Holborn,
and-was so called from it contiguity to land of a great family of
the name of Spencer or Dispenser, formerly parishioners. Each
of these ditches, besides others of minor consequence which
separated the' grounds of the different inhabitants, are to be
traced in.the present common sewers. "
The houkes, though confined to particular spots, stood prin-
cipally on the north-side of St. Giles's-street, and the south-
side of Holborn. They are stated in the leases granted
of them by the Hospital, to have been, for the most part, shops,
and the nature of the trades carried on in several of them may
be guessed at, by the description of persons who occur as parties
or witnesses. Among them are, Reginald le Teulleur, Wm.
le Chandelier, Gervase le Lyngedrap, Robert Cordivac, d'i'm.
le Mason, and others. The next best inhabited part seems to
have been on the east side of Drury-lane, or site of the present
Lewkenor's-lane, Parker's-street, &r.,..t.Tbe,,,,principal resi-
dences where the mansion of Win. Memund or Blernonte,from
whom the manor of " Blernandesbury.4' or Bldoinsbury, took
its name, and three or four inns or houses of entertainment.
Among the latter were the Broche Hose, the Swan on the Hop,
and the Rose.

' Like several of the other parishes in the suburbs, the greater
part of the soil at the early period spoken of was marshy. This
is not only indicated by the ditches which it was intercepted
with, but by the various places in its vicinity which terminate
their names With the addition of bourne or brook, as Ty-bourne,
West-bourne, Mary-le-bourne, Old-bourne, &c.; and by the
mention of ponds in different parts of the parish, at which va-
rious accidents are stated to have happened, and some of which
existed almost within memory. Such were" Marlyn's-pond,"
" Capper's-pond," " Smith's-pond," &c.; all of which stood
in what are now the most populous parts.
To the foundation of St. Giles's Hospital, by Matilda,
Queen of Henry 1., in the year 1101, is probably to be attri-
buted the first draining of the land, and the formation for that
purpose of the various ditches mentioned. Before this period
a small chapel, or oratory only, stood on the site of the present
parish church, of which one John, bone menzorce, is said in the
Charter of Henry 11. to have been chaplain. With that esta-
blishment the district was erected into an independent parish,
of which the former had the advowson, and of course new resi-
dents were attracted. Accordingly, Fitz-Stephens notices this
portion of the suburbs as abounding in his time with gardens
and residences of the citizens of London, and enlivened with
corn fields, water mills, and other rural appchdages. These
residences and gardens, appears as front the hospital grants,
kept on increasing, till the whole, about the reign of John, and
for ages afterwards, presented the appearance of a considerable
and populous hamlet.
Such is stated to have been the very early state of St. Giles's
parish. Its lands, for the most part pasture, or covered with
gardens and cottages, divided by ditches, and crossed by roads
and ways of a character completely rural. Heightening these
features of rusticity, lay its high street bordered with country
shops, and venerable from its ancient stone cross and hospital ;
accompanimenta which must have given to the whole a consi-
derable share of ricturesque effect, and have rendered the de-
nomination of " Villa Sancti Egidy," by which it is generally
recognized in old writings, strictly appropriate.
Of its more modern state, from the dissolution of the hospital
downwards, there are numerous interesting details.
The first alteration in the appearance and population of the
parish, seems to have taken place sometime previously to the
dissolution of the hospital, and was occasioned principally by
the extinction of the small landholders, whose estates had be-
come vested in that foundation, and been let out in large plots of
ground to particular tenants. A large inn, which stood at the
corner of Drury-lane, called the " White Hart," for instance,
enjoyed near that time most of the once-inhabited site of Lew-
kenor's-lane, Parker's-street, &c. before mentioned, which had
changed its name from Aldewych Close to White-hart Close ;
and other large portions of ground were occupied by a few in-
dividuals. So that in the grant made of the hospital posses-
sions here by Henry VIII. the greater part is described as pas-
ture and marsh land ; verifying the lines of Goldsmith-.....
44 One only master grasps the wide domain,
And half a tillage stints the smiling plain."•
This paucity of dwellings and inhabitants continue,' till late
in the reign of Elizabeth, as May be seen by the plant of Lon-
don of Ralph Aggar, and Hogenberg, both taken near the
middle of that reign. In these, the entire sites of Great Queen-
street, and thence Northwards to the back of Holborn, Lin-
coln's.inn•:tields, Long-acre, Seven-dials, and nearly the whole
of Bloomsbury, is represented as fields. On the site of the hos-
pital alone there appears a new cluster of buildings, partly en-
compassed by remains of the hospital wall. •
From this period Holborn began to be connected with St.
Giles's by building—Drury-lane, described to have been miry
and nearly impassable "by reason of the continual rode there,"
was paved, a,al near the church,-as well elsewhere, dwellings
began fast to multiply. Their amazing increase afterwards 11;.3
been described.

GEORGE and BLUE BOAR, 1107 L
80115
LONDON.
Very Elegant COACHES, built upon the most -
Principle,' set out to
ABEKYSTWITH, The Sovereign, every Sunday, Tuesdall
Weonesday, and Saturday, Afternoon at 3.
ARUNDEL, Comet, through Epsom, Dorking, Orld4'
and Billinghurst, Morning at 7.
BATH, The Blue, through Marlborough, Caine, and airpenham,
penharn, Noon at I, except Sunday.
BA RMOUTH, through Oxford Birmingham, Shrewsbury,
Wclshpool, and Dolgelly, Afternoon at 3. Oaf
BEDFORD, Times, through Welwyn, Hitchin, Shelf
every' day, at 2.
BIRMINGHAM, Prince of Wales, through Oxford, shir
stratford-on-Avon, Afternoon at 3.
BIRMINGHAM, Eclipse, through Brickhill, Towcester,
Meriden, Stone Bridge, and Coventry, Morning at 7.
BOGNOR, Comet, through Epsom, Dorking, Billinghq!
o-
Pu!h,ongh, Arundel, and Little Hampton, Morning at I.l*,
BRIGHTON, Alert, through Sutton, Crawley, and
te,id, Morning at 8. Modena
Cuck-
BRIGHTON, Union, through Sutton, Crawley, and
field, Morning at 50, except Sunday.
BRISTOL, through Reading, Newbury, and Hungerf°l.3'
Noon at 1
CAMBRIDGE, Fly, through Epping, Hockerill, Chester'
ford. and Sawson, Morning at 10, except Sunday. ter.
CAMBRIDGE, Times, through Epping, Hockerill,
•
ford, Duxford, &Whittlesford, Afternoon at 3, except Saw"'
CARLISLE, every Morning at a quarter before 7.
DOVER, The Express, Post Coach, direct without chatle.7/
ing, through Rochester, Chatham, and Canterbury,
clew
Morning at 10.
ttitir
DEAL, Four-inside Coach, through Brompton, q'
bourne, Ospringe, and Canterbury, Morning at 7, Arterso°
liaif past 5• oing
GLOUCESTER and Cheltenham Mercury, every I‘l°r
at 7, through Oxford, Witnev, Burford, NortilleaCb7 3
Fr
HARROW, through Westbourn and Kendal Green, After-
noon at 4, Sunday Morning at 8, and Evening at 9.
HA RRONVGAtE and Skiptun, every Morning at 3
ter before 7. TO'
HASTINGS, Royal William, through Seven Oa'''
bridge, Robert's-litidge, and Battle, Morning at „ „loon
HENDON, through Hautptead and Mill Hill, Al`e.
at 4, Sunday Morning at 10, Evenin at 9. qguar.HERTFORD, through Hoddesden,g Afternoon at 3
ter beftire-,4,.except Sunday. - ctot-
HOLYHEAD, Prince of Wales, through- Oxford,
ford-on-Avon, Birmingham, Shrewsbury, 'acid 'Da Aro

_
ternoon at 3. • , -
• •• t• trgh6lri
KETTERING, through Bedford, Bletsoe, Rusdeor.
Ferrers •and rinecloo, Morning at a, except Siiday. üby
. • KENDAL, thrimgh Leeds, Skipton, Settle,-and
Loosdole,-every Morning at a (patter before 7. • *;0"
Royal Onion, through Stamford, Grantham,'
ark and Pontefract, Wining quarter' before '7.'•
LIVERPOOL-through St afford, Stone. Newcastle end
ringtoff, Afternoon, at 3.
LIVERPOOL, Sovereign; through Northam
•
ter, •Burtonlin Treat. and•the Potteries, Morning at 7- ,trp
LIVERPOOL, Eclipse, through Hockliffe,
,Stonl.
foid, Diinchiireh; and CoVentry, Morning at half Pest r'
t° t
LUDLOW, through Oxford, Enstonei Chipping N'rafiti
Moreton, Pershore, Worcester, One; Hundred fital.ll

Tenbury, Morning at , ,
MANCHESTER, hrough Leek, Macclesfield '
port, -Afternoon at 3, 'and Morning au 7. , • 4,„Ltrae
MARGATE, through Rochester, Chatham, Sittingy—
and Canterbury, Morning at 7, Evening at halt past 5. t
NEWBURY, through Maidenhead and Readiug,-dailY a •
except Sunday. •
OXFORD, Star. through Uxbridge, Wycombe,• and
worth, Morning at 9. .. 1. ..-.. „a
OUNI)LE Old Coach, through St. Nenes;•-KiMboltaa ti,
Thrapst one, Tuesday, Thursday,-and Saturday Ili or' oat
PARIS, Via Calais or Boulogne, Mrirning•at 7,
half past 5.
RIPON, Bradford, and Knateisborougth Writing at a
ter RAMSGATE, before 7. . • ,--.
Champion, through Cbatliam,Sittinenur
Ospringe and Canterbury, -every Morning 4..7. ; Cr'
rd
r,
Regent, through Baldoe14; Biggles"e, -
; ;it
Neut.'s, Buckden,,Huntingdon, and Wandsford,rH' z
half past 7. • • etran"
SAREWSBURY, :Prince of :Wales, • through Birroin,3t :3,
Wolverhampton, Shiffnall, arid Wellingtim.. Atternovortiet,
SWAFFHAM, Defiance, through Cambridge,
Mildenhall, Brandon, and Mumford, 'Tuesday, Thure
and Saturday Mornings, at o, tyloffr
TUNBRIDGE, through Bromley and Seven Qaki'
ing at 9. ; Jrtn'•
UPPINGHAM, through Hitchin,Shefford., Bedlor 'ours'
lingborotigh, Kettering and Rockingham, TuesaaY,
day,W and Saturday Mornings at S.' table'
ELLINGBOROUGH, through Redburn, vg
Hockliffe, Woburn, Newport, and Emberton, every
at half past 8, except Sunday.
WOBURN, through Culny, St. Alban's, Market Str,r,el3l:
and Dunstable, every Morning at half past 8; except Silwredo
WORTHING, through Epsom, Dorking, HUrsi'4") Ci
ington and Findon, Morning, at a quarter hcfore 8, tin
turd
IVOitv/WE at 2. • NOrtoo,
STER, Aurora, through Oxford, Chipping
Moreton, Brom:way, Eversharn, and Persbore, Morning:oo,,
WOODSTOCK, Blenheitn,through Beaconstield,WYc ,
Stoker; Church, Wheatly and Oxford, every N•lorniog
W. tiolusa; and ur
Take Notice.—The Proprietors of Carriages whse!. tl,O
from- this Office will nut hold themselves accountable fa:_lt,
Passenger's Luggage, Truss, Parcel, or any Package
a`gej,
ever, above the value of Five Pounds, if Lost or P3Titell!
unless the same be entered as such, and paid for irecor
when delivered here, or to their Agents in Town or Cuiloote,
nor will they be acdountahle for an -Glass, Chin*,
Watches, Writings, Cash, Bank Notes, or Jewils Of an•
scription, however small iii value.

To T. TAYLOR, Esq.
No. 9, New Bridge-street, Londom•
HONOURED SI 11, the
BEG leave to inform you, that ever
year 1790, I had been afflicted with the Lacs Vtleil: I no owhich, front its obstinately resisting every course of ate ua
prescribed by the most eminent of the faculty here, an al.'
dergoing severalsevcre courses of salivation, and
charged from the Hospital with little relief, would fet e ccor
be of the most inveterate nature. In the spring Ofl39.lrjogi
my disorder had got to such a head, as nearly to put 3 Ph-eadf
to my existence—l bad a large ulcer on the crown tof.atY btfol
one on each arm, and my legs were brake out in a frig 19
manner ; my right was dreadfully painful, and had hei'ad also
state of ulceration for the last seven years ; my left Ind gale
two large nodes on it, was very much discoliturerf,'Lt. i,ed•
me such excruciating pain, particularly when watrm state'
as nearly to deprive me of rest ; in this lamentable
was recommended by Mr. J. Thompson, (who rec.eli`pillos
great a cure by them here), to take your spatLeate' :"
1 of
which I began to dooms the 26th 0. May; in the C3'l
fortnight 1 began to receive benefit-111 to'res,1
thriV
all
month the ulcers on my head and arms were soundli '4,)hoe
soon atter, the sores ors my legs healed also; hiat'it),gt tl
ever, considerable discolouratioo in the skin, and w 'la-otto
bone of the left, which., by the bit ssing.of God, antoded;
longer eel severance in your invaluable Medicine, 0
" saa
the nodes dispersing, the skin regaining its natural 12''
bt
the nocturnal pains gradually going off.--I thus bec37-1;'
your liberal advice and medicine, perfectly free front ao
former complaints—have recovered my former sPirthariog
strength, and am become jolly and fat, in which stAtebopeet
continued many months, to the astonishment of all e, de, bo
me, I am at a loss in what terms to express my grata°, 0)314
beg you, for the good of other sulfering mortals, i° °or
this my case as public as possible, as I shall on co'rY
;ion ; In s doing ou will greatly oblige.
Sir,o your grayteful, obedient , veryhumblesert ~.
ALEX.

Swan's Close, High-street,' Edinburgh.
'itnesses to the above Cure:----pra.iiteir:l,ilu,trbglii;
John Tboinpson, No. 3, New Poultry Market, Dill'`, .
John M'lntosh, Old.Asseintily Close, Edinburgs",lo°
Prepared and sold by the sole Proprietor, TI-1011 at I}l
Wlt, Member of the Royal College of Sursge°l"' after
house, No. 9, New Bridge-street, London; yvhcie?,.„ oft':
constant residence of more than 40 years, in it
cularly directed to the cure of Vener,tal Complain" a vialab.„
incidental to the Parts of Generation, with that i'lserfel;
secrecy which men of his profession should aluraY'a9? tore .0
such cases, he latter, himself the advice and 1540e1 I'o
gratuitimsly administers to persons taliing this Medi` .seitly •
be esterined, by a discerning Public, as an tiara/Aga
attainalale, and void of all ambiguity. ftWe
0
Also sold, by his appointment, tor the conveniencej_tt deft'
living at a distance, at the Toysliop, No. 103. ()2C,Vr. ItiOcti,l
Mr. Disbfirmigh's, No. 7, Fish-street-till; Mir: ~ aco",i,
South-bridge, Edinburgh ;.Mi. Callwel .Is, 011"ill'aio °dill,
one person in every considerable town in Great 11 sialefi:d
Ireland, in boxes of only 2s. 9th cod', stamped', uP of e"
with full and plain directions, whereby pers°l/5' ilsit'll.
sex may cute thvinaelves with ease ,speed, 6ecrect, an

t SV".
Printed and Published for the PROPRIETORS, a" tine
r,ts.
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