Guilds -- England -- London; London (England) -- Description and travel; London (England) -- History
Alderman Robert Fabian (d. 1513) was buried here in 1513; he
compiled an elaborate chronicle, _The Concordance of Histories_,
dealing with France as well as England. This church is specially
connected with the antiquary John Stow, and both his father and
grandfather were buried here. Against the north walk there is a
monument in memory of John Vernon, erected in place of one consumed
by the Fire, by the Merchant Taylors in 1609; he was a donor of
several large legacies. In 1609 John Cowper was buried here—founder
of a family whose memory is still preserved in connection with
Cowper’s Court, Cornhill. To this family the poet Cowper belonged.
The parish was extremely rich in charitable gifts. Brass tablets are
affixed to the sides of the tower recording the dates, etc., of
repairs, and the benefactors in connection, amongst whom are the
following: Sir John Langham, £500; Sir Edward Riccard, £100; James
Clotheroe, £50. Other benefactors were Robert Drope, donor of £30,
and his wife Jane, afterwards Viscountess Lisle, of £90.
William Brough (d. 1671), Dean of Gloucester, and author of several
religious works, was rector here; also Robert Poole-Finch
(1724-1803), chaplain of Guy’s Hospital and a preacher of some
eminence.
No. 15 Cornhill is the oldest shop of its class in the Metropolis. The
window is set in a carved wooden framework, painted green, which
encloses the small glass panes in three arches. It was established as a
confectioner’s shop in the time of George I., and it is a confectioner’s
still. Within, the low roof and thick woodwork testify its age. It might
easily be overlooked, as the brick house rising above it presents no
noticeable feature.
Of =Change Alley= one has to note that Jonathan’s Coffee-house was the
resort of those who dealt and dabbled in stocks.
[Illustration:
GARRAWAY’S COFFEE-HOUSE
]
Why did ‘Change Alley waste thy precious hours,
Among the fools who gap’d for golden show’rs?
No wonder if we found some poets there,
Who live on fancy and can feed on air;
No wonder they were caught by South-Sea schemes,
Who ne’er enjoyed a guinea but in dreams.
Here also were Garraway’s and Robins’ Coffee-houses. In 1722 “the better
sort,” according to Defoe, who carried on business as a hosier in
Freemason’s Court, met at these coffee-houses before going to the
Exchange.
The present Stock Exchange was not erected till the year 1801.
Strype thus speaks of the Alley as it was after improvements:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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