New-York tribune., 1907-06-09
LONDON NOTES.
Crosby Hall Doomed Pageants
Youth ON the Stage.
London. Nav so.

American tourists are to lose one of their IA
vorite London lions. This is Crosby Hall. in
BishOpgate. which has been accessible 10 them
for generation well appointed restaurant
The ground landlord. Sir Horatio Davies. has
sold the property; the restaurant may be closed
during the summer, and the Gothic structure
torn down and Office building erected the
site unless measures Immediately taken
for its preservation. demonstrations have
been numerous the street front being obvi-
Gus architectural afterthought, and many
structural changes having been made IN the in
terror; but Crosby Hall has been Gothic relic
Of exceptional interest from its medieval oak
and traditions. II has the distinction OF being
one OF the few London structures mentioned by
Shakespeare This may save II, although the
site Is OF enormous value for business purposes.
Originally built as n merchants residence. II was
the palace OF Richard III reception room for
ambassadors. the Lord Mayors Mansion and
banquetng hall where Queen Elizabeth was
entertained Cromwell converted it into a prison,
and much Of It as was saved from fire dur
ing the reign OF Charles II was successfully re-
modelled into Presbyterian chapel, a packers
warehouse and a literary and scientific institu-
tion. IN its final stage II has been a gilded
restaurant. rich In color and Gothic ornamental
tion, where swarms OF city clerks have taken
luncheon In dim. religious light, and thou
sands Of American tourists have tramped
through council room and banquetug hall,
carrying off souvenir pamphlet treasure
trove. Crosby Hall has survived so many catas-
trophies and restorations that its fate may not
be sealed by the sale OF tho ground rights, 1t
can never however. be we'll advertised as Il
has been as a restaurant crowded with clerks
and sIghtseers at the luncheon hour
The history OF Crosby House has been trust
worthy. since John Stow. the Elzabethan an
tlquary, who was buried around the corner IN
ST. Andrew Undershaft. reCounted II in detail
in his Survey OF London" The prioress of St.
Helen's gave 10 Sir John Crosby, woolman and
grocer sheriff and alderman. a nInety-nine
years lease OF tenements near the convent for
the annual rent of i'll is Sd, and he cleared
the ground and built a house "of stone and tim
Der. very large and beautiful, and the highest
at that time in London" He lived only few
years after the hall was finished. and he was
buried in st. Helen's. where q monument was
erected in memory OF him and Lady Crosby for
their generosity in contributing to the restora-
tion and enlargement OF the church Stow re-
cords the name OF Richard. Duke of Gloucester
afterward Richard III, as a lodging in this
house. Shakespeare's great scene may not have
been enacted there, but Richard without doubt
held levees in the banqueting hall before his
usurpaton of the crown. and received in the
princes who stood between him and the throne
Stow, who had as much interest In merchant
princes as in monarchs. recorded the names Of
several rich OcCupiers OF Crosby Hall Including
Alderman William Bond. who Increased its
height and added turret; and Sir John Spen-
Ger, who entertained civic guests there sumptu-
ously when he was Lord Mayor. Apart from the
survey by the quaint chronicler II is known that
Sir Thomas More wrote utopia" while living in
Tower his pathetic letter to Antonio Bonvici
It was palatial residence where special
with retinues of mobiles and knights
could be entertained with stately spIendor
Only fragment of II remains after centuries
of adaptation and restoration. and IL Is doubt
tul If the ghost of the sturdy knight, Sir John
Crosby. after making the rounds from ancient
ST. Helen's, would know where he was in either
council room or banqueting hall.
The summers pageants will offer unique en-
tertainmeRt for American tourists Those st
Oxford Bury st. Edmunds and St Albans I
have already mentioned in my London letters;
and there will be another one in the lower valley
of the Test late in June when the thousandth
of the founding of Romsey Abbey
VIII be celebrated by series OF costume pict-
lres The abbey itself Is one OF the noblest
blends OF Norman, early English and Transition
work to be seen In England. with q nave higher
han that OF Winchester. and carved chancel
screen which has been untouched since the apa
Of William of Wykehan, The episodes OF the
history OF this grand Hampshire church will he
enacted IN Broadlands Park. once the home Of
Lord Palmerston. and now the residence OF the
Right Hon Evelyn Ashley. The founding Of
the abbey IN the OF Alfred the Great will he
the opening scene. and this will be followed b1,
the murder of Ethelwold the invasion of Svevn
the Dane. the wooing of Henry Beauclerc. the
abduction of Abbess Mary, King Stephens
daughter the decline OF monastieism and tbe
of the convent into a parish church.
To these ecclesiastical scenes will be added the
civic function of the granting of a charter 70
Romsey. the capture of the town during the
civil war. and the passage OF King Charles
up the valley OF the Test to the scafrold ia