GOLDSMITHS HALL, a spacious building in Foster lane, Cheapside, was originally built by Drew Barentin, about the year 1407, but was destroyed by the fire in 1666, and the present edifice arose in its place. It is an irregular structure built with brick, and the corners wrought in rustic of stone. The door is large, arched, and decorated with Doric columns, which support a pediment of the arched kind, but open for a shield, in which are the arms of the company. The hall room is spacious, and both that and the other rooms well enlightened. In this hall are, among others, the pictures of Sir Martin Bowers, and Sir Hugh Middleton, both of this company, and great benefactors to it. They both enjoyed the office of Lord Mayor of London. The latter is worthy of immortal honour, for bringing the New River water to the city: out of the rents of which he gave 30_l._ a year to this company, which is now worth near the annual revenue of 300_l._ They have also a very great estate, and apply above 1000_l._ a year to charitable uses. By an act passed in the 12th year of the reign of his present Majesty George II. it is ordered that no goldsmith, silversmith, or other person dealing in gold or silver wares, shall make any gold vessel, plate, or manufacture, of less fineness than 22 carats of fine gold in every pound troy weight; nor any of silver, of less fineness than 11 ounces, two pennyweights, of fine silver in every pound troy. And that no goldsmith, silversmith, or other dealer in gold or silver wares, shall sell, exchange, or expose to sale, any gold or silver plate, or export the same, without its being marked with the first letters of the christian and surname of the maker, and, if in London, with the marks of the Goldsmiths company, namely, the leopard’s head, the lion passant, and a distinct variable mark, denoting the year in which such plate was made; or with the mark of the worker, and the marks appointed to be used by the assayers of York, Exeter, Bristol, Chester, Norwich, or Newcastle upon Tyne; on the penalty of forfeiting 10_l._ for every omission. The forging of the company’s marks, exposes the maker to the penalty of 100_l._ or two years imprisonment. However, such pieces of gold or silver, as are either too small or too thin to receive the marks, and do not weigh ten pennyweights of gold or silver each, are not to be stamped. The price of assaying is fixed by the Wardens of the company. GOLDSMITH’S _alley_, 1. Jewin street.† 2. Lukener’s lane, Drury lane.† GOLDSMITH’S _court_, 1. Goldsmith’s alley, Jewin street.† 2. New street.† GOLDSMITH’S _rents_, East Smithfield.† GOLDSMITH’S _street_, 1. Crucifix lane, Barnaby street, Southwark.† 2. Wood street, Cheapside. GOLD’S _square_, Golston street, Whitechapel.† See GOULD’S _square_. GOLD _street_, 1. Near New Gravel lane. 2. Wood street, Cheapside. GOLSTON’S _court_, Drury lane.†