Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 5.djvu/427

 ii ST. MAY 4, i9i2.] XOTES AND QUERIES.

851

VANISHING LOXDOX:

THE SARDINIAN ARCHWAY.

(11 S. v. 267.)

IT is fitting that the destruction o this fine old archway and its surroundings which lie within the district in which Took's Court and Bream's Buildings are . situated, and are therefore peculiarly asso ciated with ' X. & Q.,' should be recordec in these columns, but the statement that the adjacent houses (Xos. 52, 53, and 54 Lincoln's Inn Fields) were erected by Inigo Jones is. I think, without foundation. ] have seen this statement in several news- papers, including The Graphic of 27 Jan., 191 2 7 which, in common with some other journals, gives an excellent sketch of the archway, and also draws attention to its connexion with Dickens, who, it says, immortalized it in ' Barnaby Rudge,' as' well as the Sar- dinian Chapel, which was burnt by the Gordon rioters. It is, however, very satis- factory to see that the London County Council is taking steps to preserve some of the other old houses on the west side of Lincoln's Inn Fields, Nos. 57, 58, 59, 60, 66, and 67 (Xewcastle House). Of these the most interesting is Lindsey House (Nos. -59, 60), which there is little doubt was designed by Inigo Jones. The London County Council proposes that in any arrange- ments which may be made for leasing Lind- sey House, provision shall be made for the preservation of the facade and main internal features of the existing buildings. Of the other houses that have luckily obtained a respite, No. 58 was long occupied by John Forster, and it was in his drawing-room that Dickens read ' The Chimes ' before -a distinguished gathering, as lately recorded by MR. JOHN Coixnsrs FRANCIS (ante, p. 121). Before Forster, its best-remembered occupant was known in legal circles as Mr. Tulking- horn. W. F. PRIDEAUX.

In the interesting note on this quaint old relic of vanishing London there .is no mention of a peculiarity connected with it which probably makes it a unique London archway, according to what I understand -about it.

The old house on the left of the archway, as you face it when standing in Lincoln's Inn Fields, was the priest's house, the official residence of the priest who had charge of the Sardinian Chapel.

This house was one of the comfortable old panelled houses of the period. The front parlour, looking into the Fields over
 * a little antique paved court in front, was a

very snug room, having its walls covered with old wood panels. On each side of the fire- place, which was on the side abutting on the Sardinian archway, the panels were doors opening into spacious old-fashioned closets.

The closet door on the left of the fireplace being opened, you beheld a goodly array of shelves, of course duly occupied. But on pulling out or forward the middle shelf, it gave way, and a sort of fastening was seen. This being undone, the whole set of back shelves could be moved, like a door on hinges. There was then seen a narrow, low stone passage hidden in the thickness of the old walls. Proceeding along this a short space, you noticed that it turned, and you met a small set of very narrow, steep steps, going upward. Ascending these, you found yourself in a small, low, confined chamber, or stone enclosure. Though it was dim, dusty, and dirty, it was in a measure lighted and aired by two square openings, over which were iron gratings.

Peering through, you found that that on the right looked into the Fields, that on the left into the road coming from Little Queen Street, now Kingsway. This hidden chamber was above the Sardinian archway ; so that you effectually commanded the only two approaches to the chapel and pres- bytery, while no one could possibly see you, through the grating, in the dark secret room.

This was, in fact, a " priest's hole," constructed in the days of " No Popery " riots. In passing under the archway, one saw, on looking up, a small square black iron grating in the keystone of the deep arch. This is the spyhole seen from outside, and in passing under the arch I often won- dered at the singular position of a grating in a keystone, until the above explanation accounted for it. It seems a pity these urious little relics of a former London annot be incorporated instead of being destroyed. The presbytery had a private way into the chapel from the back.

K. T. L.

Under this head it will be appropriate .o recall previous notes upon the Sardinian Chapel, Lincoln's Inn Fields, at 10 S. v. 46 ; xii. 285. In the latter reference as to its closing MR. FREDERICK T. HIB- JAME gives the date of the last service held in the chapel as 4 July, 1909, and demolition