London and Its Environs Described, vol. 3 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round ItAnonymous
History
London and Its Environs Described, vol. 3 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round It
Anonymous
London (England) -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; London (England) -- Gazetteers -- Early works to 1800
GEORGE _court_, 1. Bennet’s hill.* 2. Coleman street.* 3. East
Smithfield.* 4. George street, Conduit street.* 5. George street in
the Mint.* 6. Gravel lane.* 7. Hatton Wall.* 8. St. John’s lane.* 9.
Little St. Thomas Apostles.* 10. Near Newington Turnpike.* 11.
Prince’s street, Spitalfields.* 12. Seacole lane, Snow hill.*
GEORGE INN _yard_, in the Borough.*
GEORGE _lane_, St. Botolph lane.*
GEORGE’S _buildings_, 1. Catharine Wheel alley, Whitechapel.† 2. Near
Rosemary lane.† 3. Jermain street.†
_St._ GEORGE’S _Bloomsbury_, is one of the fifty new churches appointed
to be built by act of parliament within the bills of mortality. The
name of St. George was given to it in honour of his present Majesty;
and it received the additional epithet of Bloomsbury, from its
situation, to distinguish it from others of the same name.
The portico through which you enter the church stands on the south
side, as is represented in the print. It is of the Corinthian order,
and makes a very good figure in the street, but has no affinity to the
church, which is very heavy, and would be better suited with a Tuscan
portico. The tower and steeple at the west, is a very extraordinary
structure. On the top standing on a round pedestal or altar, is a
colossal statue of the late King, supported by a pyramid. At the
corners near the base are alternately placed the lion and unicorn the
British supporters, with festoons between: these animals being very
large, are injudiciously placed over columns very small, which makes
them appear monsters. The under part is heavy enough, but not
connected with the church. The introduction of figures and other
pieces of sculpture into steeples, which are so much the work of
fancy, and where the artist is not so much confined as in the other
parts of the building, if managed with taste and propriety might be
made elegant ornaments, and would make a fine variety with the
architectonic ones with which the city already abounds.
This church was erected at the public expence, and consecrated in
January 1731. A district for its parish was by authority of parliament
taken out of that of St. Giles’s, and the sum of 3000_l._ was given
towards the support of its Rector, to which being added 1250_l._ by
the inhabitants of St. Giles’s parish, both sums were ordered to be
laid out in the purchase of lands, tenements, &c. in fee simple, as a
perpetual fund for the maintenance of the Rector and his successors;
but the poor of this parish and that of St. Giles’s in the Fields, are
to be maintained by the joint assessment of both parishes, in the same
manner as before their being divided.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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