A List of the Aldermen of Vintry Ward, from the Year 1682 to the present time.

Sir Thomas Abney, knt., elected in 1682; served the office of sheriff in 1684; and that of lord mayor in 1704.

Sir John Eyles, bart., elected in 1716; served the office of sheriff in 1720; and that of lord mayor in 1725.

Edward Gibbon, esq., elected in 1743; resigned in 1745.

Sir Richard Gascoyne, knt., elected in 1745; served the office of sheriff in 1748; and that of lord mayor in 1752.

Richard Blunt, esq., elected in 1762; served the office of sheriff in 1763.

B. Trecothick, esq., elected in 1764; served the office of sheriff in 1766; and that of lord mayor in 1770; resigned in 1774.

Nathaniel Newnham, esq., elected in 1774; served the office of sheriff in 1775; and that of lord mayor in 1782.

Christopher Magnay, esq., elected in 1810; served the office of sheriff in 1913; and that of lord mayor in 1821.

Henry Winchester, esq., elected in 1829; served the office of sheriff in 1826; and is the present alderman of this Ward.

END OF VINTRY WARD.

Wallbrook Ward.

THIS Ward derives its name from the street which leads from the south-west corner of the Mansion House, south towards the Thames, and so named on account of a rivulet, which took its rise north of Moorfields, and entering the city through the wall between Bishopsgate and Moorgate, was called Wallbrook; which after several turnings came down this street, and discharged its waters into the Thames.

This stream was formerly open, and several bridges led across it, which were upheld in repairs by some of the religious houses, &c. It has long been entirely covered from public view, so that its course now is only known to the reader of history.

This Ward is bounded on the east by Langbourn and Candle

wick Wards; on the north by Cheap Ward; on the west by Cordwainer's Ward; and on the south by the Ward of Dowgate. It is governed by an alderman, and eight common councilmen, &c.

It is divided into seven precincts; viz. two of St. Swithin, St. Mary Woolchurch, St. Stephen Wallbrook, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary Bothaw, and St. Mary Abchurch.

Before the fire of 1666, there were in this Ward five churches; viz. St. Stephen Wallbrook, St. Swithin, St. John upon Wallbrook, St. Mary Bothaw, and St. Mary Woolchurch Haw. the two former of which only were rebuilt.

The church of St. Stephen Wallbrook, stands at the north-east corner of Walbrook, and derives its name from being dedicated to the first martyr Stephen, and the street where it is situated.

It appears, that before 1135, there was a church dedicated to the same saint, but situated on the other side of the stream or brook : this was given to the monastery of St. John in Colchester, by Eudo, steward of the household to Henry I., but it does not appear how long they enjoyed it, or how, or for what they parted with it.

In 1428 it belonged to the duke of Bedford; in this year Robert Chichely, lord mayor, gave a piece of ground, 208 feet long, and 66 feet broad, on the east side of the rivulet, to this parish, on which to build a new church, and for a church yard. In the following year he laid the first stone for himself, and the second on account of William Stondon, formerly mayor, who at his death left some money for purchasing the ground and erecting the building; the remainder was supplied by the said Robert Chichely.

The duke of Bedford, in 1432, sold the advowson of this church to Robert Whittington, esq. draper, afterwards inade a knight of the Bath. The family of Lee afterwards becaine possessed of it, two of whom, named Richard, one a knight and the other an esquire, served the office of lord mayor in 1460, and 1469. The latter of these, after 1474, gave it to the Grocer's Company, and it still continues in their hands.

The old church suffering in the general devastation of 1666, the present structure was erected in 1676 in its place, by the justly celebrated architect Sir Christopher Wren, who appears to have exerted his skill solely on the interior of this fine church, so that a spectator might be taken by surprise on finding that so much superior to what he might have expected from so mean an exterior. Its plan is a parallellogram, having a square tower, &c. at the west end built of brick, with stone dressings, and compoed; being surrounded by buildings, but little of it appears visible, except the tower and porch. Its north front, which ought to be seen from Mansion House-street, has a house occupied by a shoe-maker built against it.

The church is of brick, and also compoed over. The western porch leads to the chief entrance of the church, by nine steps.

The interior is embellished with 16 columns of the Corinthian order, twelve of which are disposed in a square, at the eastern extremity of the plan; the other four are on a line with the western wall.

The excellent contrivance of the projecting bow prevents the gallery, and the organ in it, from marring the design: the columns are raised on plinths to the height of the pews: the centre inter

columniation of each side of the inscribed square is wider than the others, thereby producing a cruciform appearance, and evidencing the superior skill of the designer, in preserving in such a novel plan a perfect church arrangement. The ceiling is rich in architectural ornament and design. The whole interior deserves the attention of the curious and the man of science, as no description can convey the beauty of the design and ornament, which is justly considered as the most celebrated of the works of this eminent architect; and in fact is the admiration of those of every nation. It must be examined in order for its beauties to be appreciated or understood.

The altar screen is divided into compartments by two columns of the Corinthian order. Paintings of Moses and Aaron are in the centre, intersected by the Decalogue; and on each side the Lord's Prayer and the Creed. Over this is a large painting of St. Stephen, the patron saint, after being stoned to death, removing by his friends. It occupies the place of the east window, and was painted by B. West, esq, in 1776. The pulpit is hexagonal, with a large sounding board, highly ornamented with figures of angels, &c. The church is wainscotted to the height of the plinths of the columns; opposite to which, in pannels, are the arms of the Grocer's Company, to whom it belongs.

There are many monuments. Against one of the pilasters at the east end is a large pyramid, ornamented with a relief, representing the Christian virtues, and inscribed to the memory of Thomas Wilson, D.D. rector of the parish for upwards of 40 years, died 15th April, 1784, aged 80 years; and also Mary his wife, who died November 4, 1772, aged 79. Against the north wall is a tablet to the memory of Percivall Gilbourne, surmounted by his bust, in the costume of the time of Charles II. He died on the 1st of December 1694, aged 78. Some of the other pilasters are defaced by monuments, as they destroy that unity of appearance which an architect would wish by all means to preserve.

In the south aisle there is a neat monument by J. Bacon, of George Griffin Stonestreet, esq. deputy-lieutenant of the county of Surrey, and managing director of the Pelican and Phoenix insurance companies, the proprietors of which caused this monument to be put up.

The font is octagonal, and is embellished with cherubims, &c. The screen is of oak, with eight figures finely carved. Dr. Wilson, whose monument is noticed above, had caused, while he was rector, a monument to be set up in commemoration of Mrs. Macauley, a once celebrated political writer, but now little heard of; this said statue exciting the displeasure of his successor, he made a shew of loyalty to his sovereign, and a display of his own Vandalism, by destroying the offending statue.

This conduct merited the most severe animadversion and correction. Mr. Pennant (a whig himself) thus speaks of this disgraceful action. “I looked,” said he, "to no purpose, for the statue erected to Divae Mac Aulae, by her doating admirer, a former rector; which a successor of his has most profanely pulled down." This church cost £7652. 13s. 8d. It is 87 feet 10 inches long, 64 feet 10 inches broad, outside; and 82 feet 6 inches long, and 59 feet 6 inches in the interior.

The church of St. Swithin is situated on the north side of Cannon-street, at the east corner of St. Swithin's-lane, with its western front abutting on Salter's-hall court.

It derives its name from the saint to whom it is dedicated, who had been bishop of Winchester, and chancellor to Egbert the king. He died in 806. It appears that in 1331 there was a church standing on the same spot, and dedicated to St. Swithin, but how long it had been standing before, is not ascertained: it was, however, among those which fell in the general conflagration of 1666, since which the present structure arose in its stead.

The patronage seems to have been in the prior and convent of Tortington, in the diocese of Chichester, until the dissolution of the monasteries; Henry VIII. in 1540 granted this, along with a stately mansion on the north side of it, where Oxford-court now is, to John, earl of Oxford. It afterwards became the property of various others, until it came into the possession of the Salter's Company, who are now the patrons.

The plan of the present church, erected in 1679, is square; a tower and aisle attached to the north side increases its breadth. The principal front is to the south, two stories high, with one large