Drawing -- England -- London -- Catalogs; London (England) -- Pictorial works -- Catalogs
On the east side of Fetter Lane, at No. 32, is the chief establishment
of the Moravians in London; behind is their chapel, and a little
further north is a narrow passage leading to Nevill's Court. Here,
on the south side, stands an interesting old house, which belongs
to the Moravian Society. As long ago as 1744 it passed into their
hands, when it was described as "the great house of Nevill's
Alley." It was the home of the Rev. C. J. la Trobe and of Count
Reuss; and Charles Joseph la Trobe, first Governor of Victoria,
was born here. The earliest account of the Moravian missions was
issued from this house—then as now No. 10—more than a hundred years
ago. There is a quiet dignity about the old place, which bears the
stamp of having seen better days. This site was for some years to let
on building lease, but at the time of writing the house was no longer
threatened. Further east, on the opposite side of the way, were one
or two buildings of still earlier date. These houses just escaped the
Great Fire; they were destroyed in the winter of 1911-12.
(13-1/8 × 10-3/8) D. 73-1896.
71. New Exchange Court, Strand, 1891 (Black and white).
On the north side of the Strand, between Nos. 418 and 419, is New
Exchange Court, now occupied by that excellent body, the Corps of
Commissioners, who have their headquarters here. Of late years all
the old buildings represented in this drawing have been swept away.
In 1891 they formed an admirable background for the figures of the
veterans who made it their home. The picturesque house behind the
projecting lamp on the left of this drawing was known until about 1886
as the Thatched House Tavern. Earlier in the century it was called Nell
Gwynn's Dairy, and her name had also been connected with a panelled
room (now also destroyed) in a house near Maiden Lane, with which the
court communicates. It is, however, almost certain that Nell Gwynn
never resided here; like Cromwell, if we believe the popular legends
she must have been ubiquitous.
(9-3/8 × 6-1/2) D. 59-1896.
72. The Nag's Head Inn, Whitcombe Street, 1889 (Black and white).
This drawing represents an old galleried inn on the east side of
Whitcomb Street, once Hedge Lane, which, as its former name implies,
was not always hemmed in by bricks and mortar. It appears from a
manuscript note-book, formerly in the possession of the late Mr. F.
Locker-Lampson, that Hogarth in his later years, when he set up a coach
and horses, kept them at the Nag's Head. He was then living on the east
side of Leicester Square. On an old drawing of the Nag's Head, which
belongs to the writer, it is stated that "this inn did the posting
exclusively for the Royal family from George I. to William IV." It was
latterly used as a livery stable, and, the lease having come to an end,
was closed in 1890. The space remained vacant for many years, and is
now covered by the fine publishing offices of Messrs. Macmillan & Co.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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