of rank, before the Tower was used for that purpose. In 1422, this gate was rebuilt by the executors of the famous Sir Richard Whittington, out of the effects he had allotted for works of charity; his statue with the cat, remained in a niche to its final demolition on the rebuilding of the present prison. It was destroyed in the fire of 1666, and rebuilt in its late form, whence it obtained the name of Newgate, and which gave a name to the street so named. It was again burnt during the Gordon riots in 1780.

OLD BAILEY.

Our antiquaries are of opinion, says Maitland, that the Old Bailey is a corruption of Balehill (several such appellations still remaining in diverse cities and towns of this kingdom) ;* an eminence whereon was situated the Bale, or Bailiff's House, wherein he held a court for the trying of malefactors. Stow says, the Chamberlain of London held a court here as early as the reign of Edward III.

OLD JEWRY.

In the reign of Henry II., this quarter of the city was occupied principally by the Jews, hence it took the name of the Old Jewry. The church of St. Olave, Old Jewry, was one of their synagogues, until they were forcibly dispossessed of it, A.D. 1291.

PATERNOSTER ROW.

Howell says, Paternoster Row had its name from stationers or text-writers, who resided here, and wrote and sold all sorts of books, namely: A B C, with the Pater Noster, Ave, Creed, Graces, &c. There, and in Ave-Maria Lane, dwelt turners of beads, called Paternoster makers. It was afterwards inhabited by mercers, and now chiefly by booksellers.

PICKETT STREET.

The principal houses in this street were built by Alderman Pickett, from whom the street derives its name. It was built on the site of Butchers' Row, in 1813.

PETTY FRANCE.

So denominated from its being principally (in former times) inhabited by people of that nation. It was rebuilt in 1730, and called New Broad Street.

PEDLAR'S ACRE.

Pedlar's Acre, which runs parallel with the Thames from Westminster bridge towards Broad-wall, derives its name from *There is a Balehill at York, and another at Chester.

a portion of it being left by a pedlar to the parish of Lambeth, now a very valuable property. A painting on glass, representing the Pedlar and his Dog, may be seen in Lambeth church.

POULTRY.

This street was so denominated, from being the Poultry market. In the reign of William and Mary, however, the poulterers removed to Leadenhall, and were succeeded by haberdashers, glovers, &c.

PYE CORNER.

Pye Corner was so called, says Stow, from such a sign, sometimes a fair inne, for receipt of travellers, but now divided into tenements. It was at Pye Corner that the fire of London ended: the houses that escaped were taken down in 1809, and upon their site other dwelling houses have been erected, together with an engine-house. There is a figure of a bloated boy stuck up at the corner, on which is an inscription, ascribing the fire as a punishment on the citizens for their gluttony!

PHILPOT LANE.

This lane was called after Sir John Philpot, an alderman of London, who resided here, and who, in the reign of Richard II., fitted out a fleet at his own charge, and took abundance of prizes. On being called to account by the duke of Lancaster, for annoying the nation's enemies without authority, he was honourably acquitted, and the administration censured for not protecting the trade of the kingdom.

PORTPOOL LANE.

This lane was so denominated, from being the manor of Portpool (a prebend of St. Paul's cathedral), and received its name originally from a neighbouring pool.

PALL MALL.

Pall Mall, and the Mall in St. James's Park, take their names from being used as a walk, or place for the exercise of a game called Paille-Maille, introduced into England in the reign of Charles I., but long since disused.

PICCADILLY.

The derivation of the name is uncertain; Gerrard in his Herbal, 1596, says, "That the small wild buglosse grows upon the drie ditche banks about Pickadilla." From which, no doubt, the present street takes its name.

POPLAR.

The hamlet of Poplar derives its name from the great number of Poplar-trees which anciently grew there.

RATHBONE PLACE.

Rathbone Place, Oxford Street, was so called after a carpenter and builder of that name. It was built in 1718.

RED AND WHITE CROSS STREETS.

At the upper end of Red Cross Street, says Maitland, and northeast corner of Beach Lane, stood a Red and White Cross, which gave names to the streets so called.

REGENT'S PARK.

This delightful place, which is bounded on the one hand by Chalk Farm and Primrose Hill, and on the other by Portland Place and the Crescent, was denominated the Regent's Park, out of compliment to George IV., when Prince Regent of these realms.

SLOANE STREET.

Sloane street, so called after Sir Hans Sloane, the celebrated projector, architect, naturalist, and book virtuosi; born 1660, died January 11, 1753.

SKINNER STREET.

The principal houses in this street were built by Alderman Skinner, who resided here, and whose name the street bears. Lord Mayor in 1795.

SHOREDITCH.

Shoreditch does not take its name from Jane Shore, as is generally supposed, but from one Sir John de Sordich, a valiant knight in the time of Edward III., who was lord of the manor. This parish forms a part of the Tower Hamlets, and, according to the census of 1851, contained 109, 209 inhabitants.

SOHO SQUARE.

This square was begun in the reign of Charles II. It was originally called Monmouth Square, after the unfortunate duke, who lived in the centre house; it was afterwards called King's Square, and subsequently Soho Square, that (Soho) being the battle-word of the day at the field of Sedgemoor.

ST. JAMES'S PARK.

A park of eighty-seven acres, originally appertaining to the Palace of St James's; first formed and walled in by Henry VIII.; replanted and beautified by Charles II.; and finally arranged by George IV. much as we now see it, in 1827, 1828, and 1829. When George I. came first to England, he talked of turning St James' park into a turnip ground, and to employ turnip hoers.

SAFFRON HILL.

Saffron Hill was formerly a part of Ely gardens, and derives its name from the crops of saffron which it bore.

SHERBORNE LANE.

The immediate neighbourhood of Fenchurch Street was very fenny ground, and was intersected by various brooks, or bournes, which took various directions; one of these streams flowed into the Thames in a southerly direction, and was called Southbourn, and when built over gave a name to the lane now corrupted into Sherborne.

SMITHFIELD.

An open area containing five acres and three quarters, and used as a market for sheep, horses, cattle, and hay, for which it has been for centuries famous. Fitzstephen, who wrote in the reign of Henry II., says, Smithfield was so called because it was a plain or smooth field. Stow says, it was at one time called The Elms, because it was covered with elm-trees; since the which time, saith he, building hath so increased, that now remaineth not one tree growing: he also adds, it hath been a place for honourable jousts and triumphs, by reason it was unpaved. Smithfield has been long celebrated for its market and its Bartholomew fair. cattle market will shortly be transferred to Copenhagen fields.

ST JOHN'S GATE.

The

St. John's Gate is the only remaining part of a priory, founded there by the knights of St. John of Jerusalem. It was completed by Prior Docura about the year 1504; hence the name of the gate, as well as the Old Jerusalem Tavern.

STEEL YARD.

The place called the Steel Yard, in Thames Street, belonged to the corporation of Hanseatic merchants, who engrossed all the foreign trade of Europe.

The steelyard derives its name from its being the place where the King's steelyard or beam was erected, for weighing the tonnage of goods imported into London.

STRAND.

In the year 1353, the Strand was an open highway, with here and there a great man's house, with gardens to the water side. There was no continued street till about the year 1532, when an Act was passed for "paving the street-way between Charing Cross and Strand Cross, at the charge of the owners of the land;" before that, it entirely cut off Westminster from London, and nothing intervened except the scattered houses and a village, which afterwards gave a name to the whole. The parish of St. Clement Danes, originally consisted of the village Strande. The mansions of the Cecils, Bedfords, Villiers, &c., are swept away; nought remains of the days of chivalry and ancient grandeur, (save Northumberland House); and a distant age will ask where the fabrics stood. Narrow streets and courts now bear the names of men who once swayed the destinies of England.

SOMERSET HOUSE.

In the year 1549, in the reign of Edward VI., the lord-protector, Somerset, pulled down several churches and houses in the vicinity of the Thames, and built himself a palace thereon, now called Somerset House. The old brick palace just alluded to, was taken down in the beginning of the reign of George III., and the present magnificent palace built thereon. The architect was Sir William Chambers, son of a Scottish merchant residing at Stockholm.

SPITALFIELDS.*

The series of streets thus denominated, derive their appellation from an hospital that stood here in the reign of queen Elizabeth, and which was dedicated to St. Mary Spital. It was founded in 1197, by Walter Brune and Mary his wife.

Those who have passed through those parts of Spitalfields, chiefly inhabited by weavers, must have often heard them singing at their looms. Singular as it may seem, this practice came with their forefathers from the Low Countries, and also was the custom with such of the Protestants as at an earlier period came over from Flanders, and brought with them the woollen manufactory.

SAVOY.

This place derives its name from Peter, Earl of Savoy, who built a palace here in the reign of Henry III. Edward III.

*See Spital Sermon.

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