The Fleet: Its Rivers, Prison, and MarriagesAshton, John
History
The Fleet: Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages
Ashton, John
Fleet Prison (London, England); Fleet, River (England)
Let us turn to a sweeter subject, and gossip about St. Chad's Well, the
site of which is now occupied by the Metropolitan Railway at King's
Cross. St. Chad is a saint in the English calendar, and might have been
a distinguished temperance leader, if the number of wells dedicated
to him, is any criterion. He lived in the seventh century, and was
educated at Lindisfarne (at least so Bede says), and afterwards became
Bishop of Lichfield, and, at his death, his soul is said to have been
accompanied to heaven by angels and sweet music.
A good modern account is given in Hone's "Every Day Book," vol. i.
pp. 323, 4, 5, which, as it was taken from actual observation about
fifty years since, may well be transcribed. Speaking of the aforesaid
dust-heap he says:--
"Opposite to this unsightly site, and on the right hand side of
the road, is an anglewise faded inscription--
[Illustration: ST. CHAD'S WELL.]
"It stands, or rather dejects, over an elderly pair of wooden
gates, one whereof opens on a scene which the unaccustomed eye
may take for the pleasure-ground of Giant Despair. Trees stand
as if made not to vegetate, clipped hedges seem unwilling to
decline, and nameless weeds straggle weakly upon unlimited
borders. If you look upwards you perceive, painted on an octagon
board, 'Health restored and preserved.' Further on, towards
the left, stands a low, old-fashioned, comfortable-looking,
large-windowed dwelling, and, ten to one, but there also stands
at the open door, an ancient ailing female, in a black bonnet,
a clean, coloured cotton gown, and a check apron, her silver
hair only in part tucked beneath the narrow border of a frilled
cap, with a sedate and patient, yet somewhat inquiring look. She
gratuitously tells you that 'the gardens' of 'St. Chad's Well'
are for 'Circulation' by paying for the waters, of which you may
drink as much, or as little, or nothing, as you please, at one
guinea per year, 9s. 6d. quarterly, 4s. 6d. monthly, or 1s. 6d.
weekly. You qualify for a single visit by paying sixpence, and a
large glass tumbler, full of warm water, is handed to you. As a
stranger, you are told, that 'St. Chad's Well was famous at one
time.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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