Chronicles
OF
LONDON BRIDGE.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY D. S. MAURICE, FENCHURCH STREET.

PREFACE.

The plan of narrative adopted in the ensuing pages, is recommended by both the sanction and the example of very learned antiquity; since, without referring to the numerous classical volumes, which have been written upon the same principle, two of the most ancient and esteemed works on English Jurisprudence have honoured it with their selection. Of the accuracy of the historical events here recorded, the authorities so explicitly cited are the most ample proofs; and, that they might be the more generally interesting, whatever may have been their original language, the whole are now given in English: so that an argument should lose none of its effect from its too erudite obscurity, nor an illustration any of its amusement by requiring to be translated.

The collection and arrangement of these materials have been a labour so unexpectedly toilsome and extended, as, it is hoped, fully to excuse every delay in the work’s appearance; and, but for the valuable aid of those numerous friends who have so kindly assisted its progress, it must have still been incomplete. Of these, the first and the most fervent has been John Garratt, Esq., who, by a singularly happy coincidence, was at once the founder of the New London Bridge, as Lord Mayor, and a native, and Alderman, of the Ward containing the Old one. Of other benefactors to these sheets, the names of Henry Smedley, Esq.; H. P. Standley, Esq.; Henry Woodthorpe, Esq., Town Clerk; Mr. Joseph York Hatton; Mr. John Thomas Smith, of the British Museum; Mr. William Upcott, of the London Institution; and Mr. William Knight, of the New Bridge Works; will sufficiently evince the importance of their communications; to whom, as well as to the many other friends, whose kindnesses I am forbidden to enumerate, I thus offer my sincerest acknowledgments. The Historians of the Metropolis have hitherto passed over the subject of this work far too slightingly: it will be my most ample praise to have endeavoured to supply that deficiency, by these

Chronicles of London Bridge.

June 15th, 1827.

DESCRIPTIVE LIST
OF
THE EMBELLISHMENTS.

1. Historical Title-page, displaying a rich Gothic edifice, surrounded by the Effigies, Armorial Ensigns, &c. of the most eminent persons connected with the history of London Bridge. The two upper figures represent Richard, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Cardinal Hugo di Petraleone, who subscribed so liberally to its original foundation, (see page 61,) and the two lower ones, Kings John and Edward I., commemorative of the Bridge having been finished in the reign of the former, and of the several grants made to it by the latter. In the upper centre is suspended a banner, with the present Royal Arms of England, alluding to the foundation of the New London Bridge in the reign of George IV.; and beneath it, a representation in tapestry, of the triumphal entry of Henry V. across the ancient Bridge, in 1415, after the victory of Agincourt, described on pages 220-229: at the sides of which are groups of banners, &c., commemorative of some of the principal persons engaged in the battle. Below, are the Armorial Ensigns of King Henry II., the Priory of St. Mary Overies, the ancient device of Southwark, and the Monograms of Peter of Colechurch, and Isenbert of Xainctes; the benefactors and Architects of the First Stone Bridge at London. Beneath these is a monumental effigy of Peter of Colechurch; under which appear the ancient and modern Arms of the City of London, see page 177; those of Robert Serle, Mercer, and Custos of London in 1214, the principal citizen to whom the finishing of the Bridge was entrusted, see page 73; those of Henry Walleis, Lord Mayor in 1282, and an eminent benefactor to London Bridge, see pages 131, 132; and in the centre, the shield of John Garratt, Esq., Alderman of the Ward of Bridge-Within, and Lord Mayor in 1824-25, who laid the First Stone of the New Edifice: see pages 635-660.—Designed and Drawn by W. Harvey, from ancient Historical authorities. Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
2. Antique Rosette Device on the Title-page, containing the Armorial Ensigns of England, the City of London, the Borough of Southwark, and the Priory of St. Mary Overies. Engraven by the late W. Hughes.
3. Dedication Head-piece: An Ornamental Group, consisting of the Armorial Ensigns, &c. of the City of London, the Company of Goldsmiths, and the Right Worshipful John Garratt. Engraven by A. J. Mason.
4. Page 1. Head-piece: Exterior view of the river-front of Fishmongers’ Hall, with the Shades’ Tavern below it. Drawn and Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
5. Initial Letter: View down Fish-Street-Hill, comprising the Monument, St. Magnus’ Church, and the Northern entrance to London Bridge. Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
6. Page 39. Ancient Monumental Effigy, from the Church of St. Mary Overies, Southwark; reported to represent John Audery, the Ferryman of the Thames, before the building of London Bridge. Copied from an Etching by Mr. J. T. Smith, Keeper of the Prints and Drawings in the British Museum. Drawn and Engraven by G. W. Moore.
7. Page 57. Ancient Water-Quintain, as it was played at upon the River Thames, near London Bridge, in the 12th century: Copied from an Illuminated Manuscript in the Royal Library in the British Museum. Drawn by W. H. Brooke; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
8. Page 57. Ancient Boat-Tournament of the same period: copied from the same authority. Drawn and Engraven by the same.
9. Page 74. Architectural Elevation of the Centre and Southwark end of the First Stone Bridge erected over the Thames at London, A. D. 1209. Drawn from Vertue’s Prints, and other authorities; Engraven by the late W. Hughes.
10. Page 80. Ground-plan of London Bridge, as first built of Stone by Peter of Colechurch, A. D. 1209. Drawn from the measurements and surveys of Vertue and Hawksmoor; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
11. Page 84. Western Exterior of the Chapel of St. Thomas, on the centre pier of the First Stone London Bridge, A. D. 1209. Drawn from the same authorities, and Engraven by the late W. Hughes.
12. Page 85. Interior View of the Upper Chapel contained in the above, looking Westward. Drawn from Vertue’s Prints, and Engraven by the late W. Hughes.
13. Page 86. Interior View of the Crypt, or Lower Chapel, contained in the above, looking Eastward. Drawn from the same authorities by W. H. Brooke; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
14. Page 87. Southern Series of Windows in ditto. Drawn from the same authorities, and Engraven by the late W. Hughes.
15. Page 302. Ancient Date of 1497, carved in stone, found on London Bridge in 1758, and supposed to commemorate a repair done in the former year. Engraven by G. W. Moore.
16. Page 304. Eastern View of part of London Bridge, as it appeared in the reign of King Henry VII.; shewing the houses, &c. then erected upon it, and the whole depth of the Chapel of St. Thomas. Copied from an Illuminated Manuscript in the Royal Library in the British Museum; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
17. Page 308. Ancient Dates of 1509 and 1514, carved in stone, and found in 1758 with the former. Engraven by G. W. Moore.
18. Page 336. Cage and Stocks on London Bridge, with the confinement of a Protestant Woman, in the reign of Queen Mary. Engraven by A. J. Mason.
19. Page 339. Southern View of Traitors’ Gate at the Southwark end of London Bridge, with the heads erected on it in 1579. Drawn from the Venetian copy of Visscher’s View of London, and other authorities; Engraven by H. White.
20. Page 343. Southern front of the old Southwark Gate and Tower, at the South end of London Bridge, as they appeared in 1647. Drawn from W. Hollar’s Long Antwerp View of London; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
21. Page 344. Southern front and Western side of the Nonesuch House and Drawbridge erected on London Bridge, at the above period. Drawn from the same authority; Engraven by T. Mosses.
22. Page 346. Western side of the Nonesuch House on London Bridge, as it appeared in the time of Queen Elizabeth. Copied from a Tracing of an Original Drawing on vellum, preserved in the Pepysian Library, in Magdalen College, Cambridge; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
23. Page 356. Ancient Corn Mills erected on the Western side of London Bridge, at Southwark. Drawn from the same authority; Engraven by H. White.
24. Page 357. Ancient Water-Works and Water-Tower standing on the Western side of London Bridge, at the North end. Drawn from the same authority; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
25. Page 367. General View of the Western side of London Bridge, with all its ancient buildings, taken from the top of St. Mary Overies’ Church in Southwark, at the close of the Sixteenth Century. Drawn by W. H. Brooke; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
26. Page 384. Copy of a Brass Token, issued by John Welday, living on London Bridge in 1657. Drawn from the Originals in the Collection of the late Barry Roberts, Esq., in the British Museum; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
27. Page 385. Other Tokens in Brass and Copper, issued by Tradesmen residing at London Bridge. Drawn from the Originals in the British Museum; Engraven by G. W. Moore.
28. Page 387. Obverses of Two Medalets struck by P. Kempson, and P. Skidmore, of London Bridge, and Bridge-Gate. Drawn from the Originals, and Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
29. Page 397. Group of buildings at the Northern end of London Bridge, destroyed in the Fire of 1632-33. Drawn from the Venetian Copy of Visscher’s View of London; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
30. Page 403. Ground Plan of the Old Stone Bridge of London after the Fire of 1632-33, the extent of which is indicated by the dotted line attached to the seventh sterling from the left hand, or City end, where the Waterhouse was situate. Copied from an Original Drawing on Parchment, preserved in the Print Room of the British Museum; Engraven by G. W. Moore.
31. Page 405. Northern end of London Bridge after the Fire of 1632-33, shewing the Old Church of St. Magnus, and the temporary wooden passage erected on the sites of the houses, as it appeared in 1647. Drawn from the Long Antwerp View by Hollar; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
32. Page 407. View of the same part of London Bridge in the year 1665, before the Great Fire of London, shewing the last wooden passage and King’s Gate, afterwards burned. Copied from a contemporary etching by Hollar; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
33. Page 445. View of the Northern end of London Bridge, and part of the banks of the Thames as they appeared in ruins after the Great Fire of London in 1666. Copied from a contemporary view by W. Hollar; Engraven by H. White.
34. Page 446. Ancient View of Fishmongers’ Hall from the river, before the Great Fire of London, A. D. 1666. Drawn from the Long Antwerp View, by W. Hollar; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
35. Page 462. View of the Northern end of London Bridge, with the Water Works and Tower, as they appeared in 1749. Copied from Buck’s View of London; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
36. Page 487. Southern side of Bridge Gate, as rebuilt in 1728. Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
37. Page 501. Eastern side of London Bridge before the taking down of the Houses in 1758. Drawn from Scott’s View, taken from St. Olave’s Stairs. Copied by W. H. Brooke; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
38. Page 516. Chapel of St. Thomas on London Bridge, with the adjoining houses, as they appeared at their taking down in 1758. Drawn from a contemporary Etching; Engraven by the late W. Hughes.
39. Page 517. Southern front of the Nonesuch House on London Bridge, with the Draw-Bridge, as they appeared in their dilapidated state previously to their taking down in 1758. Drawn from a picture then painted by J. Scott; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
40. Page 518. Eastern View of the Southwark Gate and Tower on London Bridge, as they appeared previously to their taking down in 1758. Drawn from the same authority; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
41. Page 521. Northern View of the Temporary Bridge adjoining London Bridge on fire during the night of April 11, 1758. Drawn by W. H. Brooke from an Engraving by Wale and Grignion, with other contemporary authorities; Engraven by H. White.
42. Page 526. Western side of London Bridge, shewing the ruins of the Temporary Bridge, and the destruction occasioned by the fire of 1758. Drawn by W. H. Brooke, from the view by A. Walker and W. Herbert; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
43. Page 532. Part of the middle of London Bridge, shewing the wooden Centering upon which the Great Arch was turned, when the Chapel Pier was taken away, and the whole edifice repaired in the year 1759. From a Drawing by Mr. W. Knight; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
44. Page 537. Section of the Northern Pier of the Great Arch of London Bridge, shewing its modern state, and the ancient method of constructing the Piers. From a Drawing by Mr. W. Knight, in August, 1821, when open for examining the foundation. Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
45. Page 578. Elevation and Ground-plan of Old London Bridge, shewing the various forms, &c. of the Sterlings, the line of soundings taken along their points, a section of the bed of the River, and the different sizes of the several Locks; with Mr. Smeaton’s method of raising the ground under the great Arch, and the timbers laid down to strengthen it in 1793-94. Reduced from the large survey made by Mr. George Dance in July, 1799, and published with the Second Report on the Improvement of the Port of London. Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
46. Page 604. South-Eastern View of London Bridge, A. D. 1825. Drawn and Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
47. Page 612. Eastern View of the Sixth Arch of London Bridge, from the City end, usually called the Prince’s Lock, as it appeared in the great Frost of 1814; shewing the modern stone casing, with the original building beneath it. Copied by permission from a View taken on the spot and engraved by Mr. J. T. Smith. Drawn and Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
48. Page 628. Silver Effigy of Harpocrates, discovered in digging the foundations of the New London Bridge, and presented to the British Museum by Messrs. Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell, November 12, 1825. Drawn from the Original by W. Harvey; Engraven by J. Smith.
49. Page 631. Architectural Elevation and Ground-plan of the New London Bridge, shewing its foundation-piles, and relative situation to the former edifice. From the original authorities. Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
50. Page 641. Entrance to the Coffer-Dam from London Bridge, as it appeared decorated for laying the First Stone of the New Bridge on Wednesday, June 15, 1825. Drawn on the spot; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
51. Page 642. Western end of ditto. Drawn from the River; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
52. Page 643. General View of the Exterior of ditto. Drawn on the Southern side; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
53. Page 646. General View of the Interior of ditto, looking Southward; shewing the position of the First Stone, with the cavity beneath it for depositing the Coins, &c. From a Drawing made on the spot; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
54. Page 651. Representation of the Silver-Gilt Trowel, presented to the Right Honourable John Garratt, for laying the First Stone of the New London Bridge. Drawn from the original; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.
55. Page 662. Obverse of a Medal struck to commemorate the above ceremony, containing busts of the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. Drawn by W. H. Brooke from the original Model, in the possession of Joseph York Hatton, Esq., executed by Peter Rouw and W. Wyon, Esquires, Modeller and Die-Sinker to His Majesty. Engraven by A. J. Mason.
56. Page 664. Western side of the New London Bridge, looking down the River. Drawn by T. Letts; Engraven by G. W. Bonner.

“This is a Gentleman, every inch of him; a Virtuoso, a clean Virtuoso:—a sad-coloured stand of claithes, and a wig like the curled back of a mug-ewe. The very first question he speered was about the auld Draw-Brig, that has been at the bottom of the water these twal-score years. And how the Deevil suld he ken ony thing about the auld Draw-Brig, unless he were a Virtuoso?”

Captain Clutterbuck’s Introductory Epistle to the Monastery.