London and Its Environs Described, vol. 4 (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. 4 (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
MERMAID _court_, 1. Charing Cross.* 2. Great Carter lane.* 3. St.
Margaret’s hill.* 4. Pater noster row, Cheapside.* 5. Ratcliff Cross.*
MERRICK _street_, New Bond street.†
MESSENGER’S _rents_, Still alley.†
METCALF’S _court_, Jacob’s street, Rotherhith.†
METHODISTS, a body of Dissenters from the church of England, who have
several meeting houses in this metropolis: 1. At the Foundery, Windmill
hill. 2. Beech lane. 3. Bull and Mouth street. 4. Marybon fields, which
is more properly a chapel of the church of England, the service of the
church being performed by one of the principal founders of the sect of
Methodists. 5. St. Agnes le Clare. 6. West street, Seven Dials.
MEWS, the stables for the King’s horses near Charing Cross, is a place
of considerable antiquity, and is thus denominated from _Mew_, a term
used among falconers, signifying to moult or cast feathers; for this
place was used for the accommodation of the King’s falconers and hawks,
so early as the year 1377; but the King’s stables at Lomesbury, since
called Bloomsbury, being destroyed by fire in the year 1537, King Henry
VIII. caused the hawks to be removed, and the Mews enlarged and fitted
up for the reception of his Majesty’s horses, where they have been kept
ever since: the building going to decay, the north side was rebuilt in a
magnificent manner by his present Majesty, in the year 1732.
[Illustration:
_S. Wale delin._ _B. Green sculp._
_Part of the Meuse and S^t. Martins Church._
]
There is something in this part of the intended building of the Mews
very noble, particularly the center, which is enriched with columns and
a pediment, and the continuity of the architecture preserved. The
smaller pediment and rustic arch under the cupolas or lanthorns are
properly subordinate, but set so close to the balustrade that its
intent, as a gallery, is thereby destroyed. In the view given in the
print scarce half the front is seen: and over some old houses you see
the beautiful steeple and part of the portico of St. Martin’s church,
which has the general fate of our public buildings, to be so incumbered
with houses as to have no place to view them to advantage.
Upon viewing this edifice, it is impossible not to be offended at the
wretched buildings which form the other sides of the square. It is
indeed much to be wished that they were made to correspond with the main
building; this, if it were done, and a suitable regular entrance made
from Charing Cross, would make the royal stables one of the greatest
ornaments of this metropolis. Some of the finest horses in the kingdom,
both for the coach and saddle, may here be seen.
MEWS, Devonshire square, Bishopsgate street.
_St._ MICHAEL’S _alley_, by the side of St. Michael’s church, Cornhill.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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