_The part of the North West Suburbs of London, since called Saint Giles's was about the time of the Norman Conquest an un-built tract of country, or but thinly scattered with habitations.--The parish derived its name if not its origin from the ancient Hospital for Lepers, which was built on the site of the present church by MATILDA queen of King Henry I and dedicated to Saint Giles: before which time there had been only a small Chapel or Oratory on the spot.--It is described in old records as abounding with gardens and dwellings in the flourishing times of Saint Giles's Hospital, but declined in population and buildings after the suppression of that establishment and remained but an inconsiderable village till the end of the reign of Elizabeth, after which period it was rapidly built on and became distinguished for the number and rank of its inhabitants. The great increase of St. Giles's Parish occasioned the separation of St. Georges Bloomsbury Parish from it anno 1734.--The above view (which is partly supplied by the great Plan of London by Ralph Aggas, and partly from authorities furnished by parochial documents) was taken anno 1570._ The Seal of the Antient Hospital of St. Giles. _pp. 190, 191._ * * * * * LONDINIUM FERACISSIMI ANGLIÆ REGNI METROPOLIS. [Illustration] * * * * * LONDON [Illustration] LONDON, 1593. BY JOHN NORDEN.] * * * * * WESTMINSTER [Illustration] WESTMINSTER, 1593. BY JOHN NORDEN.] * * * * * LONDON [Illustration] CITY OF LONDON, 1658. BY FAITHORNE AND NEWCOURT.] * * * * * LONDON IN 1741-5. BY JOHN ROCQUE. [Illustration] MAP ACCOMPANYING "LONDON IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY" BY SIR WALTER BESANT. PUBLISHED BY ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, LONDON.] * * * * * A LARGE AND ACCURATE MAP OF THE CITY OF LONDON Ichnographically Describing all the Streets, Lanes, Alleys, Courts, Yards, Churches, Halls and Houses, &c. Actually Surveyed and Delineated. By JOHN OGILBY Esq; His Majesties Cosmographer. [Illustration] _For explanations of the references &c. on map see pp 356-396 of the book_ MAP ACCOMPANYING "_LONDON IN THE TIME OF THE STUARTS_" BY SIR WALTER BESANT. PUBLISHED BY ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, SOHO SQUARE, LONDON 1903] End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Maps of Old London, by Anonymous