Vintry Ward.

THIS Ward owes its name to a part of it being occupied anciently by Vintners, or Wine Merchants from Bordeaux, who settled on the banks of the Thames, where they landed their wines, which they were compelled to dispose of in 40 days, until the 28th of Edward I., who granted longer time, and other privileges, to the said merchants.

It is bounded on the east by Walbrook and Dowgate Wards; on the north by Cordwainer's Ward; on the west by Queenhithe Ward; and on the south by the river Thames.

The principal streets are-part of Thames-street, from Little Elbow-lane, now called Little College-street, in the east, to Townsend-lane on the west; a part of Queen-street, Great St. Thomas Apostle, Garlick-hill, Great and Little Elbow-lane, or Great and Little College-street, &c., which form nine precincts. It is governed by an alderman and nine common councilmen.

At the bottom of New Queen-street, the lower part of which is only in this Ward, is the stairs or landing place, commonly called Three Cranes, from their having been three strong cranes of timber for drawing up the wine casks out of the vessels in the river. There the lord-mayor used to go on board his barge on the day when he was sworn into office, and was rowed up the river to Westminster, to take the usual oath before the barons of the Exchequer at Westminster Hall.

At the north-east corner of Three Cranes-lane in Thames-street, stood formerly a stately edifice, called the Vintry; wine having been stowed there. In this fine building, Henry Ricard, who had

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been lord mayor in 1356, sumptuously entertained the kings of England, Scotland, France, and Cyprus, in the year 1363.

There were four churches in this ward before the general conflagration of 1666; viz. St. James Garlick-hithe, St. Michael Royal, St. Martin Vintry, and St. Thomas Apostle: the two former only were rebuilt.

The parish church of St. James Garlick.hithe, stands at the north-east corner of Garlick-hill. It derives its name from its dedication to St. James, and from its being near to a market for the sale of garlic formerly held here, and named a hithe from its being on the banks of the river.

The tower attached to the west front does not extend to the entire breadth; the elevation is divided into three stories by strong courses, which is increased in height by a pyramidal addition of stone work in three stories. There is an arched doorway in the western front of the tower, between two Corinthian columns, coupled with pilasters and sustaining a pediment. The first story of the building is octagonal. The upper portion of the elevation is in the form of a cross. Several of the windows were walled up in 1815. The ceiling of the church is coved, and springs from the main cornice. The altar screen is composed of two columns of the Corinthian order, and two pilasters; above which is a painting of the Ascension, by John Burnet, esq., surmounted by a curtain, which fills up the space formerly a window. The pulpit is hexagonal, as also the sounding board, which is upheld by two columns. 1 The front of the pulpit has a shield of arms in relief, carved in oak, two bars on a canton, two lions passant, crest on a wreath, a demi-lion rampant. The scallop shell, the emblem of the saint, is repeated often in the decorations of the church. This, as well as many others, was rebuilt by sir Christopher Wren in 1663. It cost £5,37. 12s. 10d. It is 75 feet long; 40 feet in height, and the height of the steeple is 96 feet.

St. Michael Royal is situated on the east side of College-hill, and so named from its dedication to the saint, and its vicinity to the Tower Royal. It is a rectory; and the patronage appears to

have been, as early as 1285, in the prior and canons of Canterbury, when Hugh de Derby was collated to it. This was rebuilt, and in 1410, by license from Henry IV., made a college of the Holy Spirit and St. Mary, by the celebrated Richard Whittington, (four times lord mayor) for a master, four fellows, clerks, &c.

Near to this was erected an almshouse, called "God's House, or Hospital," for thirteen persons; one to be master, with the title of tutor. For this building, the mayor, &c., granted a spot of ground, but the benevolent mayor dying before its completion, his executors finished it, and inade laws for its government; the master, besides the profits of the church, to have an annual salary of ten marks; the chaplains, eleven each; the second, seven and a half; the choristers, five marks each yearly; the tutor of the almshouse 1s. 4d. weekly, and the brethren 1s. 2d. each.

The benevolent character of Whittington was not sufficient to restrain the cupidity of a rapacious priest, who, in the reign of Edward VI. became the incumbent. In the hope that the fine monument enclosed something more precious than the ashes of the deceased, he broke it open, and having robbed them of their leaden covering, conveyed them again to the earth. The body was again raised in the following reign, enclosed in lead, and again deposited, where it remained at rest until 1666, when it was involved in that devastation.

The master and wardens of the Mercer's Company were the trustees of this college, and they nominated the rector for the approval of the monks of Canterbury. It now forms one of the thirteen peculiars of that see.

This church fell a prey to the flames in 1666, after which the present was erected by sir Christopher Wren, and the parish of St. Mary Vintry added thereto. It is an oblong square, with its chief front towards College-hill. The tower is at the south western angle, it has two stories. The altar screen is composed of four Corinthian columns, sustaining an entablature, all of brown oak. Above the cornice is a fine painting of "Christ reproving Judas for his interfering with Mary Magdalen in her anointing the feet of the Saviour," by Mr. Hilton; which, as appears by an inscription on

the pannel above the frame, was presented to this church by the directors of the British Institution in 1820.

The erection cost £7,455. 7s. 9d. It is 86 feet long, 48 feet broad, and 40 feet high; the height of the tower is 90 feet. An inscription within the church states, that the spire was erected and the church beautified in 1713. Against the south wall is a handsome monument to the memory of Samuel Pennant, esq., surmounted by his bust; he died May 20th, 1750, aged 41.

The parish church of St. Martin Vintry, now annexed to St. Michael Royal, stood at the south-east corner of Queen-street in Thames-street, the site of which is now a burying place for the inhabitants.

The German Catholic chapel is on the south side of Trinitylane. It consists of a large room on the first floor, over a gateway; it is of brick, and has two large windows, circular at the top. Three sides of the interior are filled up by a gallery, the north side is occupied by the altar. There are no pews, but there are chairs provided for the congregation as in the churches on the continent. The altar is highly ornamented, and in the form of a sarcophagus, painted to imitate marble; on this are placed several candlesticks and a crucifix gilt, and between pillars behind is a good painting of the Virgin and Child, inscribed "Refugium peccatorum." The eastern part of the gallery supports the pulpit, which is suspended from it.

The Tower-Royal, formerly situate at the end of the street so named, was a large, elegant, and strong mansion, and supposed to have been founded by Henry I. It was once inhabited by king Stephen, who having invited William d'Ypres from Flanders, to assist him against the empress Maud, in reward for his services, allowed him to build a house for himself at the west end of the church of St. Thomas Apostle.

This appears to have been the residence of an individual named Simon Beawmes, in the beginning of the reign of Edward I. Edward III. gave it, in the 43rd of his reign, to his college of St. Stephen at Westminster, under the name of his Inne, called the Royal, in his city of London.