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three vacancies are over three of the middle arches, for all the piers are not of a like thickness, nor stand at equal distance one from the other; for those under these three vacancies are much wider than the rest, and are called the Navigable Locks, because vessels of considerable burden may pass through them. One of these is near unto the gate, and is called the Rock Lock. The second is under the second vacancy, where the drawbridge antiently was, and is called the Drawbridge Lock. And the third is near the chapel, and is called St. Mary's Lock. There is a fourth, between St. Magnus's church and the first vacancy, and is called the King's Lock; for that the king in his passage through bridge in his barge, goes through this lock,"

The dreadful fire which happened on the 13th of February, in this year, and of which we have made some mention, under St. Magnus's church, broke out between eleven and twelve at night in the house of Mr. Briggs, a needle maker, at the north end; and it was occasioned by the carelessness of a female servant, by setting a tub of hot sea-coal ashes under the stairs. The fire consumed, before eight the next morning, all the buildings from the end to the first vacancy, including forty-two houses. The Thames was frozen over, and owing to the consequent scarcity of water, the fire continued burning in the vaults and cellars upwards of a week. From this period till 16-46, the bridge was in a desolate state; deal boards were set up on each side, to prevent passengers falling into the Thames; many of these, by high winds, were often blown down, and the passage was very dangerous by night, although there were lanthorns and candles hung upon all the cross beams which held the boards together.

In 1646, the buildings were re-constructed, in, what was then termed, a very substantial and beautiful manner of timber. The houses were three stories high, besides the cellars, which were within and between the piers. Over the houses were stately platforms, surrounded with railing, with walks, gardens, and arbours, and other embellishi, ments, necessary for enlivening the prospect up and down the river, and over the adjacent country,

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The south side did not partake of these convenient additions, but appeared a heterogeneous mass of awkward structures and narrow passages, the street at this end being not above fourteen, and in some places twelve feet broad, whilst that at the other side was twenty feet wide.

The year 1666, however, again desolated the north end, whilst the old buildings erected in the reign of king John, again escaped destruction; after having continued four hundred and ninety years.

The fall of the buildings on the north end, and the violence of this fire, had so battered and weakened the stone work, that the repair of the arches and piers before they could again be rendered strong enough to support the houses about to be rebuilt, amounted to an expence of above 1500l. which was paid out of the rents of the bridge.

The reparation of the stone work having been finished, leases for sixty years were taken of a certain number of feet on both sides the street, to build on, at 10s. per foot; by such means the north end was rebuilt in the space of five years; the houses being four stories high, and the street of its accustomed breadth of twenty feet.

This being so quickly and completely accomplished, an expedient was suggested to make the south end answerable both in appearance and convenience; but as the leases were undeterminable on account of their various dates, a balance was contrived, by which all persons might have equal right; and the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons, who composed the Bridge House committee, with the assistance of Mr. Odde, clerk comptroller, were appointed to compro

mise differences.

The means used were as follow: First, they caused to be measured how many feet every proprietor had in front of his house. Secondly, what rent he paid annually to the Bridge House. Thirdly, what number of years of his lease were unexpired. The next rank were of those whose leases. were unexpired. These they purchased at a valuable consideration of the tenants, who were not able to build. And, for such as had longer time, they, in consideration thereof,

added

added a competent time to what they had to come of their old leases, with an abatement of rent, answerable to what the house or houses would cost rebuilding, which was to be in the same form of building as the north end; the city being at the charges of repairing and making good the stone work, fit for the new buildings: these reparations cost the city an additional sum of 1000l. The south was then finished answerable to the other end; and thus it continued till 1756.

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It was at length discovered that, besides its great inconvenience, this street had become a losing concern; measures were therefore taken to improve the bridge; the street estate being in such a bad condition, that it must be taken. down; and beside, that the city in building ten houses, had not received any other remuneration than 2 per cent. for their money.

Many obstacles were started against the proposed improvement, and when these were obviated by parliament, a temporary bridge, which had been constructed whilst these improvements were going on, was wholly consumed by fire on the 11th of April 1759 *. Nothing could equal the vigilance of the magistrates on this occasion, and the diligence of the workmen to restore the communication between the City and the Borough, which was, in a manner, cut off by this accident; and indeed the old bridge was passable in so short a space of time, as did honour to the undertaker. Till the passage could be effected, the lord mayor licensed forty boats more than were allowed by the statute, to ply on Sundays, for the convenience of ferrying passengers †.

Mr. Pennant well remembered the street on London Bridge, narrow, darksome, and dangerous to passengers, from the multitude of carriages frequent arches of strong timber crossed the street, from the tops of the houses, to keep them together, and from falling into the river. Nothing but use could preserve the rest of the inmates, who soon grew deaf to the noise of the falling waters, the clamours of watermen, or the frequent shrieks of drowning wretches. Most of the houses were tenanted by pin or needle-inakers; and economical ladies were wont to drive from the St. James's end of the town to make cheap purchases. + Gent, Mag. xxviii, 192.

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