The Public Buildings In This Ward Are Sion College, Barber-Surgeons'
Hall, Plasterers' Hall, Brewers' Hall, Curriers' Hall, The Churches
Of St. Mary Aldermanbury, St. Alphege, St. Alban, Wood Street, And
St. Giles, Cripplegate.
Sion College is situated against London Wall, a little to the
eastward of Cripplegate, where anciently stood a nunnery, and
afterwards a hospital founded for a hundred blind men, anno 1320, by
W. Elsing, mercer, and called Elsing's Spittal:
He afterwards
founded here a priory for canons regular, which being surrendered to
King Henry VIII. anno 1530, it was purchased by Dr. Thomas White,
residentiary of St. Paul's, and vicar of St. Dunstan's in the West,
for the use of the London clergy, who were incorporated by King
Charles I., anno 1631, by the name of the president and fellows of
Sion College, for the glory of God, the good of His Church, redress
of inconveniences, and maintaining of truth in doctrine, and love in
conversation with one another, pursuant to the donor's will; which
college is governed by the president, two deans and four assistants,
who are yearly elected out of the London clergy, on the third
Tuesday after Easter; but none of them reside there, the whole being
left to the care of the librarian. The great gate against London
Wall is adorned with two columns, their entablature and pitched
pediment of the Tuscan order, whereon is this inscription in gold
letters:-
Collegium Sionis a Thoma White, S. T. P. Fundatum Anno Christi 1631,
in Usum Clerici Lond. Bibliotheca a Johanne Simpson, S. T. B.
Extracta, a diversis Benefactor, Libris locupletata, & in posterum
locupletanda. Vade & fac similiter.
The college consists of a handsome hall, the president's lodgings,
chambers for students, and a well-disposed library, one hundred and
twenty feet in length, and thirty in breadth, which is at this day
very well replenished with books, notwithstanding both library and
college were burnt down anno 1666. It was rebuilt and furnished by
contributions from the London clergy and their friends. The library
is kept in exact order, and there are all imaginable conveniences
for those who desire to consult their books.
20. Aldersgate Ward. The principal streets and places in this ward
are, Foster Lane, Maiden Lane, Noble Street, St. Martin's-le-Grand,
Dean's Court, Round Court, Angel Street, Bull-and-Mouth Street, St.
Anne's Lane, Aldersgate Street, Goswell Street, Barbican, Long Lane,
and Little Britain.
St. Martin's-le-Grand was anciently a magnificent college, founded
by Jugelricus and Edwardus his brother, anno 1056, and confirmed by
William the Conqueror, by his charter, dated anno 1068, in the
second year of his reign, who also gave all the moorlands without
Cripplegate to this college, exempting the dean and canons from the
jurisdiction of the bishop, and from all legal services, granting
them soc and sac, toll and theam, with all liberties and franchises
that any church in the kingdom enjoyed.
This college was surrendered to King Edward VI. in the second year
of his reign, anno 1548, and the same year the church pulled down,
and the ground leased out to persons to build upon, being highly
valued on account of the privileges annexed to it, for it still
remains a separate jurisdiction.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 25 of 78
Words from 12680 to 13218
of 40922
