MARRIAGES***


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THE FLEET.


[Illustration]


THE FLEET

Its River, Prison, and Marriages

by

JOHN ASHTON

(Author of "Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne," "Dawn of the
Nineteenth Century," &c., &c., &c.)

Illustrated by Pictures from Original Drawings and Engravings

[Illustration]







New York
Scribner and Welford
1888


[Illustration: VIEW OF MOUTH OF THE FLEET _circa_ 1765. (_Guildhall Art
Collection._)]

  _Frontispiece._




[Illustration]




PREFACE.


This book requires none, except a mere statement of its scheme. Time
has wrought such changes in this land of ours, and especially in
its vast Metropolis, "The Modern Babylon," that the old land-marks
are gradually being effaced--and in a few generations would almost
be forgotten, were it not that some one noted them, and left their
traces for future perusal. All have some little tale to tell; even
this little River Fleet, which with its Prison, and its Marriages--are
things utterly of the past, entirely swept away, and impossible to
resuscitate, except by such a record as this book.

I have endeavoured, by searching all available sources of information,
to write a trustworthy history of my subject--and, at the same time,
make it a pleasant book for the general reader. If I have succeeded
in my aim, thanks are due, and must be given, to W. H. Overall, Esq.,
F.S.A., and Charles Welch, Esq., Librarians to the Corporation of the
City of London, whose friendship, and kindness, have enabled me to
complete my pleasant task. It was at their suggestion that I came upon
a veritable _trouvaille_, in the shape of a box containing Mr. Anthony
Crosby's Collection for a History of the Fleet, which was of most
material service to me, especially in the illustrations, most of which
were by his own hand.

I must also express my gratitude to J. E. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A., for
his kindness in putting his magnificent and unrivalled Collection of
Topographical Prints at my disposal, and also to J. G. Waller, Esq.,
F.S.A., for his permission to use his map of the Fleet River (the best
of any I have seen), for the benefit of my readers.

JOHN ASHTON.

[Illustration]




[Illustration]




CONTENTS.


  The River.

                                                                  PAGE
  CHAPTER I.

  Course of the Fleet--Derivation of its Name--The River of
  Wells--The Fleet choked up--Cleansing the Fleet--The
  Fleet Navigable--Wells--Ponds and Pools                            1

  CHAPTER II.

  Water Supply of London--The Fleet to be Cleansed--Smell
  of the River--Prehistoric London--Antiquarian
  Discoveries--Cleansing the Fleet--Fouling the River--Rivers
  rising at Hampstead--The Tye-bourne--The West-bourne--Course
  of the West-bourne                                                13

  CHAPTER III.

  Course of the Fleet--The Hampstead Ponds--Rural Fleet--Gospel
  Oak--Parliament Hill--Kentish Town--Brown's
  Dairy--Castle Inn--St. Pancras Wells--Burials at St.
  Pancras--the Brill                                                25

  CHAPTER IV.

  Battle Bridge--King's Cross--The Dust-heaps--St. Chad's
  Well--St. Chad's Well-water                                       39

  CHAPTER V.

  Medicinal Waters--Spas--The White Conduit--White Conduit
  House--White Conduit Gardens                                      53

  CHAPTER VI.

  Sadler's Discovery--Miles's Musick House--A Man Eats a
  Live Cock, &c.--Forcer, the Proprietor--Macklin on
  Sadler's Wells--Actors at Sadler's Wells--The Pindar of
  Wakefield                                                         67

  CHAPTER VII.

  "Black Mary's Hole"--Its Disappearance--Bagnigge Wells--Nell
  Gwyn's Houses--Bagnigge House                                     77

  CHAPTER VIII.

  Bagnigge Wells--The Organist--Different Proprietors--"Punch"
  on Bagnigge Wells--Decadence of the Wells                         87

  CHAPTER IX.

  Cold Bath Fields Prison                                           99

  CHAPTER X.

  The "Cold Bath"--Cold Baths--Sir John Oldcastle--Archery--Tea
  Gardens--Small Pox Hospital--The Pantheon--Lady
  Huntingdon's Chapel--Lady Huntingdon                             111

  CHAPTER XI.

  The Spencean System--Orator Hunt--Riot in the City--Riots--End
  of the Riots                                                     127

  CHAPTER XII.

  Fighting--Hockley-in-the-Hole--Bear Baiting--Bear Gardens--Bull
  Baiting--Sword Play                                              137

  CHAPTER XIII.

  Mount Pleasant--Saffron Hill--Old House in West
  Street--Fagin--Field Lane--Thieves                               153

  CHAPTER XIV.

  Bleeding Hart Yard--Ely Place--John of Gaunt--Ely
  Chapel--Turnmill Brook--The Fleet--Holborn Bridge                163

  CHAPTER XV.

  Lamb's Conduit--Clerkenwell--Fleet Market--Rye-House
  Plot--Fleet Bridge                                               179

  CHAPTER XVI.

  Alderman Waithman--John Wilkes--Ludgate Prison--Sir
  Stephen Foster                                                   193

  CHAPTER XVII.

  Bridewell--Montfichet Castle--Fuller on Bridewell--Ward
  on Bridewell--Howard on Bridewell--Bridewell Prison--
  The City and Apprentices--Mother Cresswell--Bridewell
  Court Room                                                       205

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  Alsatia--Whitefriars--