Curiosities of London

Curiosities of London: exhibiting the most rare and remarkable objects of interest in the metropolis; with nearly sixty years personal recollections
by Timbs, John, 1801-1875

Publication date: 1867
Publisher London : J. C. Hotten

The digitised edition was scanned by the University of California Libraries with sponsorship of MSN. The scanning process frequently fails to render characters correctly.

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PREFACE

IT is not without considerable anxiety that I submit to the public this enlarged edition of a Work in which are garnered many of the labours of a long life, for the most part passed amidst the localities and charac- teristics which it is the aim of this volume to focus and portray. The cause of the above anxiety lies chiefly in the changeful nature of the subject ; for at no period in the existence of the Metropolis have so many changes been wrought in its “scarred face,” and its modern aspect, as in the Twelve Years that have elapsed since the publication of the first edition of this Work.

The ” Curiosities of London” originally appeared in the Spring of 1855, f in a small octavo volume of 800 pages, when it was received by the Critical Press with almost unanimous approval ; or, in some respects, an inclina- tion to take the word for the deed, and in others to kindly regard the difficulties of the labour. In either case I am bound to be grateful. The edition, over 3000 copies, was sold within a comparatively short period, considering the character of the work, then regarded as almost exclusively antiquarian ; although the above reception induces the belief that ” the Present has its Curiosities as well as the Past.” The book remained for several years entirely out of print, and second-hand could only be rarely obtained by advertisement. I then resolved upon its revision, and its reproduction, enlarged and more perfect in its details than hitherto ; and the present volume of library size, 880 pages, is the result; im- proved, it is hoped, in the value of its contents, as well as increased in bulk.

The plan and arrangement of this edition are essentially the same as those of its predecessor. The type is somewhat enlarged, and more readable ; in the quotations and descriptive details, the small but clear letter has been adhered to, so as to comprise an additional amount of exact and authorized illustrative information. Meanwhile, the extent of the more important articles has been considerably augmented, though with the requisite attention to conciseness and facility of reference. Several new articles have been added.; others have been re-written and enlarged. Correctness has been the cardinal point throughout the Work ; although the many thousand facts, names, and dates contained in this large volume will, it is hoped, be taken into account.

The Preface to the First Edition has been reprinted for the sake of its explanation of the design, which I have here amplified, improved, and rendered more trustworthy as well as entertaining, by the best means and opportunities at my disposal, venerating the injunction of the old poet —

“Up into the watch-tower get,
And see all things despoiled of fallacies.”

The Annals of a great City are ofttimes to be traced in the history of its Public Edifices. In the ancient and modern Cathedral, the venerable Minster, and the picturesque Churches of the Metropolis, we not only read the history of its Architecture, but in their ” solemn paths of Fame” we trace countless records of our country’s greatness.

The Birthplaces and Abodes of eminent Londoners are so many hallowed sites to those who love to cherish the memories of great men. The palace-prison of  the Tower ” bears upon its very walls an index to most stirring events in our history.

The Civic Halls of London are stored with memorials of past ages illustrating curious glimpses of manners and artistic skill in their Pictures, Plate, and Painted Glass.

To trace the growth of great centres of population, from the village in the fields to a city of palaces, part of the Great Town itself, leads us through many vivid contrasts of life and manners : — from the times when Southwark was a Roman suburb ; Lambeth and Chelsea were Saxon villages; “Westminster was a u Thorny Island ;” St. Marylebone, a hamlet on the brook ; St. Pancras, in the fields ; and Finsbury, a swampy moor : all lying around the focus of Roman civilization, the City itself.

Certain localities bear names which ” make us seek in our walks the very footmarks of the Roman soldier;” whilst one of our most thronged thoroughfares can be identified as a British trackway and Roman street. Plow often upon such sites are unearthed relics of the civilization and luxury of our conquerors and colonists.

The records of the Amusements of the People, and their Sights and Shows, in all ages, are richly stored with Curiosities : from the period when Smithfield was an Anglo-Norman race-course, to the waning of the last of the City pageants, Lord Mayor’s Show. Old Poets and Dramatists, Travellers and Diarists, have left us pictures-in-little of the sports and pastimes, the follies and nine-day- wonders, of the ” Londiners.” Fitz- stephen and Hentzner, Stow and Strype, Howell and Aubrey, Evelyn and Pepys, Ned Ward and Tom Brown, Gay and Walpole, have bequeathed us many ” trivial fond records” of this anecdotic class. Again, how many amusing eccentricities are recorded in the lives of the Alchemists, Astrologers, and Antiquaries of Old London !

Such are the leading Archaeological features which, interwoven with the Modern History and Present Condition of the Metropolis, form the staple of the present volume. In the intermediate changes have disappeared many old London landmarks, which it has been my special object to describe :

” Praising what is lost,
• Makes the remembrance dear.”

JOHN TIMBS
HORNSEY-ROAD,
Dec. 1867.

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

LITTLE need be said to bespeak the interest of readers in the staple of the present work — the Notable Things in the History of London through its Nineteen Centuries of accredited antiquity. Still, I am anxious to offer a few words upon the origin and growth of this volume ; and the means by which I have striven to render it as complete as the extent and ever-varying nature of the subject will allow.

Twenty-seven years since (in 1828), I wrote in the parlour of the house No. 3 Charing Cross (then a publisher’s), the title and plan of a volume to be called ” Curiosities of London;” and the work here submitted to the public is the realization of that design. I then proposed to note the most memorable points in the annals of the Metropolis, and to describe its most remarkable objects of interest, from the earliest period to my own time,-:— for the Present has its Curiosities as well as the Past. Since the commencement of this design in 1828, — precisely mid-way in my lifetime, — I have scarcely for a day or hour lost sight of the subject; but, through along course of literary activity, have endeavoured to profit by every fair opportunity to increase my stock of materials ; and by constant comparison, ” not to take for granted, but to weigh and consider,” in turning such materials to account. In this labour I have been greatly aided by the communications of obliging friends, as well as by my own recollection of nearly Fifty Years’ Changes in the aspects of ” enlarged and still increasing London.”

” Thinking how different a place London is to different people,” I have, in this volume, studied many tastes ; but its leading characteristics will be found to consist in what Addison’s Freeholder calls ” the Curiosities of this great Town.” Their bibliographical illustration, by quotations from Old Poets and Dramatists, Travellers and Diarists, presents a sort of literary chequer-work of an entertaining and anecdotic character ; and these historic glimpses are brought into vivid contrast with the Social Statistics and other Great Facts of the London of to-day.

The plan of the book is in the main alphabetical. Districts and locali- ties are, however, topographically described ; the arrangement of street3 being generally in a sub-alphabet. The Birthplaces, Abodes, and Burial- places of Eminent Persons — so many sites of charmed ground — are specially noted, as are existing Antiquities, Collections of Rare Art and Virtu, Public Buildings, Royal and Noble Residences, Great Institutions) Public Amusements and Exhibitions, and Industrial Establishments ; so to chronicle the renown of Modern as well as Ancient London. The articles describing the Churches, Exchanges, Halls, Libraries and Museums, Palaces and Parks, Parliament-Houses, Roman Remains, and the Tower of London, are, from their importance, most copious in their details.

The utmost pains has been taken to verify dates, names, and circum- stances ; and it is trusted that no errors may be found in addition to those noted at the close of the volume, with the changes in the Metropolis during the progress of the printing of the work. The reader, it is hoped, will regard these inaccuracies with indulgence, when the immense number of facts sought to be recorded in this volume is considered. Lastly, it has been my aim to render the Curiosities useful as well as entertaining ; and with that view are introduced several matters of practical informa- tion for Londoners as well as visitors.

JOHN TIMBS
88, SLOANE-STREET, CHELSEA,
Jan. 16, 1855.


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