Langbourn Ward,

OR Long-bourne Ward, also called Fenny-about, derived its appellation from feon, a long brook or bourne of water, which rose in Fenchurch-street, through which it flowed onwards to Lombardstreet, to the west end of St. Mary Woolnoth's church, where separating into small rills, streams, or shares, it gave name to Sharebourn-lane, or Southborne, now Sherborn-lane.

It is divided into twelve precincts; St. Mary, Woolnoth north; St. Mary Wolnoth south; Nicholas-lane; Birchin-lane; Lombard-street; Clement's-lane; Allhallows, Lombard-street; St Bennet, Gracechurch-street; St. Dionis Back church; St. Gabriel and Allhallows Staining.

This Ward commences in Lombard-street, about 30 yards east of the church of St. Mary Woolnoth, and extends eastward as far as Mark-lane, including the parish church of Allhallows Staining, Crutched Friars comprising, however, no part of Gracechurchstreet, which it nearly intersects. It takes in the houses on the north side of Lombard-street, about half way on to Cornhill. It is bounded on the east by Aldgate; on the west by Walbrook; on the north by Cornhill, Bishopsgate, and Lime-street; and on the south by Candlewick, Bridge, Billingsgate, and Tower Wards.

It is governed by an alderman and ten common council-men, who appoint twelve constables, sixteen inquest men, and a ward beadle.

In this Ward were originally seven churches; Allhallows Lombard-street; Allhallows Staining; St. Dionis Backchurch; St. Edmund the king; St. Mary Woolnoth; St. Gabriel and St. Nichols Acon; but it has now only the five first.

VOL. II.

Allhallows Lombard-street is first mentioned in existing record, bearing date 1053, when Brightmer, a citizen of London, gave to the church of Canterbury his messuage at Grasschurch, and by license of Stigant the archbishop, and Godric the dean, he gave to them the church of Allhallows. Witness, Liefstan, the portreeve, and others.*

The south aisle was jointly rebuilt by John Warner, sheriff in 1494, and his son Robert Warner finished this part of the fabric in 1516; the north aisle and tower were completed in 1544, the stone porch of which, and the frames for the bells, were belonging to the priory of St. John of Jerusalem, near West Smithfield; the bells, however, were never brought to the church; the reason of which was, that the above Mr. Warner dying, his son Mark Warner refused to complete what his father had so piously intended. The tower, therefore, which was reckoned beautiful, was deprived of this part of its property, except a small bell, called the Friars bell. Being one of those destroyed by the fire anno 1666, the church was re-constructed by sir Christopher Wren, and finished in 1694. The length is eighty-four feet, breadth fifty-two, and height about thirty. The height of the tower is about eighty-five feet, square built, with a superstructure of open work.

The church has a handsome interior, and two particularly finedoor cases.

The first is very spacious, on the north side and near the east end, of the Corinthian order; the pilasters fluted, and the capitals, frieze, and cornice, well carved; over which is a large circular pediment, on which is the image of Death, and within this wall next the door, another small pilaster and an arching pediment, the space between which and the cornice under it is replenished with a piece of curious open carving, the view of part of which is intercepted by an artificial white curtain also carved, but so natural that many have attempted to draw it on one side, the better to see the carving, that is supposed to be behind.

The other door-case is at the west end, and near the south side