Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 3.djvu/516

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io- s. HI. JUNE 3, 1905.

and opened for residents on 16 March, 1904. 1 believe that this is a complete record of the year's changes in the parish of St. John the "Evangelist, Westminster.

The changes in the adjoining parish of St. Margaret are nothing nearly so numerous. 'The Government Offices, to be erected on the ground bounded by Great George Street, Parliament Street, Charles Street, and Dela- liay Street, are being pushed forward, albeit "the progress seems rather slow ; but as Messrs. Spencer, Santo & Co., the contractors, -are not bound to finish until 1 June, 1907, perhaps the slowness is more apparent than real. We are informed by The Builder of "7 January that the east front is 315 feet long, -and the Charles Street, 075 feet, and that the cost o.f the structure will be some 473,000^. "We are also informed that

"the Select Committee's final report of 22nd July, 1897, appropriates the block to the Board of Edu- cation, the Local Government Board (extension), and, perhaps, the Board of Trade, and recommends that any further room required should be provided for by an extension on the Delahay Street and "Park side."

At this spot considerable changes are spoken of, and this year may see some at least of the rumours become facts. The large pile of buildings known as Queen Anne's 'Chambers, in Great Chapel Street, Tothill Street, and Dean Farrar Street (lately New 'Tothill Street), is now outwardly complete, although I am informed that there is much "work still to be done inside. Some of the shops and suites of offices are let, and the Taasement, or at least a large portion of it, has been leased to the Government for use as storehouses.

The tower of Christ Church, Victoria 'Street, was completed about Easter, 1904, the dedication taking place on Sunday, 19 June, when the Bishop of London assisted at the simple but impressive little service -arranged for the occasion. At the close his 'lordship pronounced the words of dedication, -and also preached the sermon, taking for his text 1 St. Peter v. 7, from the Epistle of the day. A noteworthy feature of the tower is that at the springing of the head moulding of the four two-light windows are boldly carved heads of persons living at the time it was 'built. On the west front, facing Iddesleigh Mansions, are the King and Queen ; on the east side, overlooking the vicarage, are the 'Bishop of London (Winnington-Ingram) and the vicar (the Rev. F. K. Aglionby) ; on the south side, towards Victoria Street, Canon "Hensley Henson, rector of St. Margaret's, patron of the living, and a contributor towards the tower fund, and the Right Hon.

J. G. Talbot, P.C, M.P. for Oxford Uni- versity, one of the original trustees of the fund ; and on the north side, overlooking Caxton Hall and St. Ermin's Hotel, the Rev. Porafret Waddington, for many years curate here, and Mr. G. Hall, F.R.I. B. A., the architect.

Many minor works have been done at the Roman Catholic Cathedral, and additions were commenced to the Archbishop's House in Francis Street. In Castle Lane a large build- ing of stone and red brick has been erected for Norton & Gregory, Limited, photographic paper makers. It occupies the site of the "Old Stag Tap," for many years the tap- house of the brewery of Messrs. Elliot, Watney & Co. On Monday, 27 June, when excavations at the rear were proceeding in what were once, many years ago, the tea- gardens belonging to the house, the men came across the roots of what must have been an enormous tree, which it was neces- sary to remove. While this was being done a large quantity of loosened earth, some three or four tons, gave way, and buried two men. They were ultimately extricated, but in an unconscious condition, and one of them, George Walker, died soon after being taken to Westminster Hospital. The old house was stated to have been the resort of some of the knights of the road, including Dick Tur- pin, who, it is said, was once nearly captured here, his escape being an exceedingly narrow one. The last occupier of the house was Herbert James Seward.

The house in Old Palace Yard lately occu- pied by Mr. Labouchere, M.P., has been vacated by that gentleman, and it is now known as the Royal Commission House. For many years this house was the residence of Sir E. Manningham Buller, and after his death his widow continued to live here.

Rumours of many changes hard by this spot are current, but up to the close of the year nothing had come of them. This, I think, is the sum total of the changes which took place during the past year in what was the "old" City of Westminster the parishes of St. Margaret and St. John the Evangelist ; but, as some may have escaped my notice in my walks abroad, I shall be glad to have such omissions notified to me. I would also state that I have found it impossible to visit the part of St. Margaret's parish lying in the hamlet of Knightsbridge, where some very extensive changes have taken place within the last year or two. So far as 1 can foresee, there will be much to take cognizance of when this year's work has to be chronicled.

W. E. HARLAND-OXLEY.