Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 7.djvu/155

 10 s. VIL FKB. 16, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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this road old houses with long front gardens were demolished in May to make way for the head- quarters and drill hall of the Westminster Dragoons. The founda- tion stone was laid at the commencement of July, and has remained gaunt and grim, nothing more having been done. The Golden "Grain Bread Company went into liquidation during the year, and the extensive premises, 99 to 105, Horseferry Road, were closed. They were offered at auction, but did not secure a purchaser.

Vincent Square, so long free from the builder's hand, has of late years become the centre of his handiwork. The two houses late in the occupation of Messrs. Budd and Allclmrch were demolished in March, and an important building for the use of the Westminster Technical Institute at once begun. This was hurried on at first, but for several months the works were at a stand- still, though it is stated that they will speedily be completed by the L.C.C. On the side of the square backing on to Vauxhall Bridge Road, at the corner of Alfred Street, a piece of ground imoccupied for many years is now being utilized for the erection of a hospital for the treatment of infantile disorders. It is to be known as the Infants' Hospital, the secretary being Mr. E. R. Jarratt, of 120, Victoria Street, S.W. The work is at present being carried on at Denning Road, Hampstead. The plot of ground between the square and Rochester Row had not, at the end of the year, found a purchaser, but rumour says that the Royal Horticultural Society finds the accommoda- tion of its recently erected hall not sufficient for its requirements, and has had some idea of buying this plot of ground ; but apparently nothing definite has been decided on, as the old tenants still remain in possession.

In Greycoat Place a very heavy piece oJ building was begun on 5 March in the addition of four large rooms (one on each floor) to the warehouse belonging to the Army and Navy Co-operative Society and on 22 September the drapery depart ment commenced business in this, their reserve store. The new station of the Fire Brigade, also in Greycoat Place, was completed early in the year. Shortly after wards the old station in Howick Place was closed. The official opening of the ne\\ station took place on 22 May, and Fire ant Water (the organ of the brigade) for thai month contained a good illustration anc description of the building.

In the immediate neighbourhood of Vaux hall Bridge Road there were many change

during the past year. First came the open- ng of the new bridge.

This long-looked-f or event took place n 26 May. The structure has been much riticized, public opinion not being altogether av our able. The bridge has some pecu- iarities in design, notably the balustrades.. '.t is a useful structure, and appears to be ,vell suited for its purpose. The electrifica- ion of the roadway began on 27 February, and proceeded with great rapidity, the first electric car being run along this route on Sunday, 5 August, Mr. John Burns, the D resident of the Local Government Board,. 3eing a passenger. The work of preparing
 * he road was very arduous, particularly at
 * he junction with Edward Street, where
 * he gas mains, sewers, and other pipes

required careful management. At the junc- tion with Francis Street and Tachbrook Street there was also some heavy work in connexion with lowering the crown of the King's Scholars' Pond Sewer, in order to obviate an awkward rise in the road. I would refer readers to The Westminster and Pimlico News of 23 March, 1906, where I published a short account of this old sewer. The building known as Hopkinson House, at the corner of Vauxhall Bridge Road and Edward Street, was completed early in the year, and occupied at once, but was officially opened by Sir John Wolfe Barry on 22 March,. and has already been declared to fill the want that was stated to exist at the time of the nception of the idea. An interesting account of the opening ceremony appeared in The Daily Graphic. A plot of land between Regency Street and Causton Street, from which many years ago the houses were removed, was further enlarged by the demolition of another house in Vauxhall Bridge Road. On the opposite side of the road, the building alluded to in last year's summary as being placed upon the site of a portion of Lane's Laundry, which in its turn succeeded Bass's Assembly Rooms, was com- pleted, and was forthwith occupied as show- rooms, garage, and depot for the Decauville motor-cars and for motor accesssories.

About the middle of the year some ex- tensive repairs were found necessary at Holy Trinity Church, situated in Bessborough Gardens, justly spoken of as a " beautiful modern example of the Early Decorated style " ; and it may be mentioned as being one of the first ecclesiastical structures which we owe to the eminent architect the late Mr. J. L. Pearson, R.A. It was the gift of Archdeacon Bentinck, the prede- cessor of Dr. Christopher Wordsworth (after-