"This stump the remains of the Old Oak Tree, That flourish'd when knights of the road roamed free, When bands of lawless yet chivalrous knights Struck fear to the hearts of purse-proud wights! This gay old king of the forest's wilds, His proud head bow'd to the sun's bright smiles, In glorious prime when his branches were strong As shoulders of Atlas in time long gone! His leaves in the murmuring breeze did fling Their sweet green shade o'er the Old Plough Inn! When the knights of the road of their deeds did sing, 'Twas there to his side was first fixed the ring To which Dick Turpin the gallant and bold When going to the Plough to spend his bright gold Did tether his mare, swift Bonny Black Bess. When rider and horse stopp'd here to get rest. Removed from his place when the Old Plough's head By time's fell decree in ruin was laid! This stump that remains of the Old Plough tree In front of 'The Old House,' in Plough Lane you may see. Here placed in memory of the Old Plough Inn An aged memento of things that have been! Here in his last stage, sapped branchless and grey, Here in cool September, the trunk's first day, In the year eighteen hundred and seventy-six, Was planted by Messrs. J. Goodman and Wilkes." _William Holloway._ Situated in Plough Lane, and nearly opposite the residence of the late Rev. I. M. Soule, were Alms Houses for eight poor widows, founded by Mrs. Henry Tritton. The whole of this estate is now built upon and is called May Soule Road. At Lawn House, now occupied by Mr. Miller the Barge Builder in Lombard Road, of the Firm of Nash and Miller, lived Mr. Hammett, of the firm of Eisdale and Hammett, Bankers. He was a great patron of the rowing fraternity and kept an open house two days in the year. He awarded the prizes for the Kean's Sovereigns and the Funny Boat Club races on the lawn in front of his house. The Old Swan Tavern (now kept by Mr. R. Turner) nearly opposite the Star and Garter, was a kind of half-way house between Lambeth and Putney for the Eton and Westminster scholars who used to put in here when training for the great rowing match so strongly contested between them, but who in the zenith of their fame never obtained such popularity as the annual boat race has done of late between the Cantabs and Oxonians.