Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 11.djvu/250

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. XL MAK. 13, im

I have been taken to task by an unknown critic, who some months ago favoured me with a communication signed " A. E. R. O." (presumably a resident in the parish of St. Margaret), for putting St. John's parish first. Every one knows that St. Margaret's parish stands first, as being the older, and originally the one parish of the entire city ; but I took St. John's first as being the parish where the greater number of changes were taking place in each year ; and as this is still the case, I do not see any sufficient reason for altering my plan, although in most things I am anxious to give due pride of place to the older parish.

In Millbank Street things remain much the same as at the end of 1907, for there are no fresh demolitions to chronicle. I therefore think it will be better to give a list of the houses still standing, instead of one of those which have gone. At the end of the year there were left :

No. 1. Dorset Wharf.

3. Still occupied residentially by Mr. G. Taverner Miller, J.P., a former church- warden of St. John's.

11. Westminster Electric Supply Cor- poration.

21. House and wharf in the occupation of the Gas Light and Coke Co.

23 and 25. Salvation Army men's shelter.

27. Hovis Bread and Flour Co.

47 and 49. United Gatti, Stevenson & Slater, ice merchants.

51. London Hydraulic Power Co.'s pump- ing station.

63. Vine Wharf, Robert Gardiner, Wharf- inger.

67. Horseferry Wharf, Covington & Sons, lightermen.

On the west side :

No. 50. " Jolly Miller," at the corner of Church Street. This public-house was closed on 27 Jan., 1908.

52. Formerly a coffee-house next door. Empty, as are also Nos. 53, 55, 57, and 61, on the east side.

64. A second pumping station of the London Hydraulic Power Co.

In other respects the record for 1907 holds good in every way. The ground upon which the demolished houses stood has been utilized by the L.C.C. as a playground for children. In other spots about here the great improvement scheme seems to languish sadly, little having been done for a year or so. In North Street (as stated last year) the houses have been " done up," and made smart by paint, &c. In the case of some of them, two houses have been

converted into one, viz., 2 and 3, 8 and 9, and 13 and 14 ; but up to the end of the year they had not found tenants.

It was proposed at the beginning of June to commemorate some past Deans of West- minster by naming streets after them. The London County Council suggested that the newly formed street leading from the south side of Smith Square to Horseferry Road should be named Dean Stanley Street, and that North Street should be renamed Dean Bradley Street. To this proposal exception was taken, many persons feeling that the name of Dean Stanley should have been given to North Street, as the more important thoroughfare. We in Westmin- ster knew and loved both Deans for their many good qualities and their kindly regard and reverence for the Abbey fabric. The matter has long been under consideration, but, so far as I know, no decision has been yet announced.

The building of the Smith Square meter works having been taken over by the London County Council some time pre- viously, the stamping plant, engineers' tools, &c., of Messrs. Parkinson, W. & B. Cowan, were sold by Messrs. Fuller, Horsey,. Sons & Cassell on Thursday, 17 September. The engineering firm had in August vacated the premises, migrating to Fitzalan Street Works, Kennington Road. By the close of the year the premises (including No. 10, Smith Square) were nearly demolished, and the ground will shortly be devoted to the erection of flats, &c.

The syndicate formed some few years ago to deal with that part of the locality alluded to in my note at 10 S. ix. 164 has shown no sign of vitality during the past year. As a consequence, all about the spot is very dismal-looking. In Marsham Street alone there are to let No. 16, formerly "The Fleece" public-house; Nos. 18, 19, and 20, freehold premises, together with a portion, if not the whole, of Bennett Yard adjoining, and No. 25, a very good,, if old-fashioned private house, besides minor properties. It may be useful to future in- quirers to record that a letter by Mr. Jacques Abady, a member of the Westminster City Council, appeared in The Westminster and Pimlico News of 24 July, 1908, in which many particulars were given. It is too long for insertion here.

The new home for the Society for the Propa- gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts was completed early in the year, and the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishop of London, formally dedicated the