Its foundation is uncertain; though in early periods it belonged to the family of De Waltham, and was appropriated by bishop Sudbury, in 1367, to the abbey of Our Lady of Grace; but it was so old as to fall down a short time after the fire, about the year 1669, and was rebuilt in 1694. The building is very plain, having neither pillar nor gallery; the front next the street is of free stone, of the Tuscan order, and the inside is wainscotted seven feet and an half high. The whole of the interior is devoid of ornament. The height of the church is twenty-four feet, breadth thirtytwo, and length seventy-eight feet in the whole. The altitude of the tower is about seventy feet; it contains (one of which is dated 1458) six bells. The benefactors put up in a table at the west end of the church are ten; the Grocers Company gave the window, on which is painted the following inscription: "A. D. 1664. 16 R. Car II. This window was thus glazed, and a liberal allowance granted towards the repairing of the church, and the parsonage house, by the right worshipful Company of Grocers, patrons of this church and rectory, being an impropriation purchased by the company, and disposed to the sole benefit of the church, according to the trust and appointment of the memorable Lady Dame Margaret Slany, whose pious intention and paternal arms is here monumentally recorded." There were other ancient benefactors; particularly Mr. John Castin, Gilder; who died in the year 1244, and gave one hundred quarters of charcoal yearly to the poor for ever; also Mr. John Man, Citizen and Mercer, who deceased the third day of June 1615, &c. gave towards the repair of the church 1007. MONUMENTS. Those mentioned by Stow, are as follow: Sir John Steward, and his lady. Sir Richard Tate, ambassador to king Henry the VIIIth, buried in 1554. Mr. Mr. Christopher Holt, who had inscribed on his tomb: Our Holt (alas) hath stint his hold, By Death call'd hence in hast; Whose Christian name being Christopher, With Christ is better plac'd. In Sawton born, of gentle Race, In London spent his days; A Clerk that serv'd in Custom-house, In Credit many ways. So that we loose the Loss Of this so dear a Friend, Whose Life well spent while he was here There are at present monuments to the memory of Daniel Fogg, D. D. Hugh Ingram, Esq. Monkhouse Davison, Esq. and Walter Ray, Esq. The living is a lay-impropriation, though a rectory; the tithes being paid according to act of parliament to the incumbent for his own use. The advowson is in the gift of the Company of Grocers. The churchwardens books of this parish are very antient and curious, the earliest date of which is 1492. The description of the interior of the church in the reigns of Henry VII. and VIII. with the furniture, sacred utensils, &c. affords much entertainment. It appears that in 1494, Roger Apsland "cast the chalice on the ground." The cause of this sacrilege is not recorded, but the "playnt against him him cost 2d. the arrest, 8d. and the withdrawing, 6d. The organ, in 1520, cost only 4l. 6s. 8d. There is no organ at present. The inhabitants of this parish had their infant bishop, in honour of St. Nicholas; as appears by the following extract from the register: "1535. The churchwardens paid unto the Goodman Chese, broyderer, for making a new mytter for the byshoppe ageynst Saint Nycholas nyght, 2s. 8d.*" "When "It was the ancient practice," says Mr. Malcolm, " on Palm Sunday, for the people to walk in procession (preceded by the priests and choir), "When the Princess Elizabeth came forth from her confinement in the Tower, she went into the church of Allhallows Staining, the first church she found open, to return thanks for her deliverance from prison. As soon as this pious work was concluded, and the thanksgiving finished, the princess and her attendants retired to the King's Head in Fenchurch Street, to take some refreshment; and here her royal highness was regaled with pork and pease. The memory of this visit is still preserved at the King's Head; and on the 17th of November, her highness's birth-day, certain people still meet to eat pork and pease in honour of the visit and the day. It must be observed, however, that as the Princess Elizabeth came from her confinement in the Tower, according to Mr. Nichols, in his Progresses, some day in May, the original day has probably been lost and forgot, and the birth-day substituted in its stead. A print of the Princess Elizabeth, from a picture by Hans Holbein, is hung up in the great room of the tavern; and the dish, that appears to be of a mixed metal, in which the pork and pease were served up, still remains affixed to the dresser in the kitchen *." There is a tradition that the bells were rung with such zeal on this occasion, that the queen presented the ringers with silken ropes. A lane formerly passed this church from Mark Lane into Fenchurch Street, called Craddock's Lane. This avenue being encumbered by encroachments, was reduced to being called Church Alley, and now Star Alley. It exhibits a most striking portrait of the unhealthy and inconvenient mode of antient structure. At the end of this alley is the King's Head tavern above mentioned. choir), with consecrated palm branches in their hands, in commemoration of the public entry of Our Saviour into Jerusalem, when the Jews strewed his way with the leaves of that tree. What an angel had to do with this ceremony I am at a loss to conceive; but it is certain the priests of Allhallows Staining thought the presence of one necessary; and ac j cordingly the churchwardens paid for the hyring of a payer of wynges, and a creste, for an angelle on Paulme Sonday, viiid." * Gentleman's Magazine, March 1790. IRONMONGER's IRONMONGER's HALL is a very noble, modern structure. The edifice is entirely fronted with Portland stone; it was erected in the year 1748, from a design by Mr. Holden. The whole lower story is formed in rustic: the centre of the building has a small projection; and here is a large arched entrance, with three windows on each side. Over this basement the superstructure has a slight rustic at the corners, to correspond with the other parts of the building; the projecting part of this story is ornamented with four lonic pillars coupled, but with a large inter-columniation. In the centre is a spacious Venetian window, and over it one that is circular. The spaces between the pilasters contain smaller windows, with angular pediments; over these are others that are circular; but the sides of the building are ornamented by arched windows, surmounted by square ones. The central part of the hall is crowned by a pediment, supported by the pilasters abovementioned; and in its plane is the arms of the company, with suitable decorations, in relievo; the whole building is terminated by a balustrade, crowned by vases. The vestibule is divided by six Tuscan columns into avenues, with apartments on the left, an entrance to the court room on the right, and the stairs of the dining hall in front. On one side of the latter is the door to a court, in which are handsome apartments for the clerk, and other officers, as well as a good kitchen. In the COURT ROOM, at the north end, are two antique chairs, with carved work of the company's arms; over which, in a small niche in the wall, is a statue of Edward IV. in armour, clothed in his regal robes, and crowned. It is a very pleasing performance. The portraits in this room are those of Nicholas Leate, Esq. master in 1626-7; and Mr. John Child, senior warden, 1782. A large painting of Westminster Bridge is over the chimney piece. The WITHDRAWING ROOM is approached by a very hand some oval geometrical stair-case, at the east end of the hall. hall. In this apartment is an elegant chimney piece, and at the north end a small statue of Sir Robert Jeffrey, knight, alderman, Ironmonger, and lord mayor in 1686, the bene volent founder of the hospital in Kingsland Road. The STATE ROOM is very magnificent, with Ionic decorations, a divided pediment, and a bust; it is entered through large foiding doors. On the west side are the chairs of the master and wardens; behind which, among some very beautiful carved work, the arms of England is very excellently displayed. A grand beaufet, with Ionic columns and pilasters, ornaments the north side, on which side also is the fire place. The east end is appropriated to the orchestra, which is supported by two pillars. The whole room over the windows, is surrounded by a cornice, whence a semi-oval cieling rises, with the company's arms, satyr's head, various cornua-copiæ, palm branches, flowers, scrolls, and three large pannels, enclosed by beautiful borders, all richly stuccoed. The centres of this cieling are French grey; the ornaments are white, as are the walls; but the carvings are gilt. The portraits in this room are-at the west end, Mr. THOMAS BETTON. This gentleman, by will in 1723-4, made the company trustees for the following excellent purposes: "One-half of the interest and profits of the possessions devised, to be expended in ransoming British subjects, captives in Barbary or Turkey. One quarter to be divided among the different charity schools of London, and the suburbs: but the sum given not to exceed 20l. to any one. The remaining fourth to be distributed among poor freemen, Ironmongers, their widows, or children, in sums not exceeding 10s. per annum. One hun dred pounds per annum to a female relation for life; 10 per annum to a clergyman of the church of England, and to keep his tombstone in the Kingsland alms house burial ground in repair. ADMIRAL LORD VISCOUNT HOOD, by Gainsborough; a very fine picture, presented by his lordship, a freeman of the company. South |