Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 5.djvu/475

 ii s. v. MAY is, i9i2.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

391

RELICS OF LONDON'S PAST: THE CHINESE BRIDGE AND PAGODA.

(11 S. v. 270.)

THE pagoda and the Chinese bridge on which it stood were erected in St. James's Park for the (so-called) " Grand Jubilee " in the parks on 1 Aug., 1814, in celebration of the return of peace. Towards the end of the display of fireworks the illuminated pagoda caught fire, and the upper stories were burnt. Two persons were killed. The ruins of the pagoda were taken down soon afterwards, but the bridge remained. " Be- coming unsafe, it was taken down in 1820, to the great inconvenience of the inhabitants of Westminster." See ' Leigh's New Picture of London,' new edition, 1823, p. 216 ; ' The Original Picture of London,' 24th ed., re-edited by J. Britton, 1826, p. 160 ; W. Toone's ' Chronological Historian,' 1826 ; Jacob Larwood's ' Story of the London Parks,' circa 1872, p. 481 et seq. Larwood (i.e., L. R. Sadler) gives a good many details, but is not apparently very precise. He describes the bridge as " a wooden attempt at a Venetian Rialto Bridge," and says that " by the side of it a bright yellow and blue wooden pagoda reared its many storied height."

Toone, writing in or before 1826, says :

" A Chinese bridge was thrown over the canal in St. James's park, upon the centre of which was erected a lofty pagoda, decorated with pillars and boxes for the exhibition of fire works." -

I have a coloured print, published 10 Nov., 1814, by G. Jones, showing what is evidently meant for a Chinese bridge, with an eight- storied pagoda standing on the middle. The bridge and pagoda are yellow, excepting for the roofs and eaves, which are blue. The print is entitled ' Chinese Pagoda and Bridge in St. James's Park.'

Larwood says that the bridge remained open for public use till 1827, whereas Leigh and Britton, publishing their books in 1823 and 1826 respectively, both say that it was taken down in 1820.

Peter Cunningham, in his ' Handbook of London.' new edition, 1850, p. 261, says that the bridge " was taken down about 1825."

As to the question by whom it was erected, Larwood quotes a saying, attributed to Canova, in which " the trumpery Chinese bridge in St. James's Park " is mentioned as "the production of the Government."

In the print to which I have referred is a pink balloon, with three blue bands, sailing above the bridge. In the basket is a man throwing papers out. According to Toone, " the ascent of Mr. Sadler, in a magnificent balloon, added to the interest of the day."

On the same plate paper is a picture of " The Temple of Concord, erected for the Celebration of Peace, on the 1st of Augt.. 1814," " J. Pass sc." This was in the Green Park. The plate paper is headed " London Plate vii. s." I should like to know from what book it has been taken.

ROBEBT PlEBPOINT.

I have a most curious contemporary print representing ' The Chinese Bridge a"nd Pagoda with the Tents in St. James's Park,' all erected over the canal in honour of the Peace of 1814. It is certainly a gay scene, but how the large pleasure - boats, each containing six or more persons, managed to get about without colliding with each other is a wonder. The print represents : (a) the Chinese Bridge, (b) the Pagoda, (c) Tents for refreshments, (d) the Canal, (e) the Queen's Palace, and (/) Mr. Sadler ascending with his balloon from the lawn opposite the Queen's Palace. This was on the occasion of the visit of the Allied Sovereigns in the above year. The grand fete took place on 1 Aug., and the public were informed that " a beautiful Chinese bridge had been thrown over the canal, upon the centre of which had been constructed an elegant and lofty pagoda consisting of seven pyramidal stories. The pagoda was illuminated with gas lights ; and bril- liant fireworks, both fixed and missile, were dis- played from every division of the lofty structure, while copious and splendid girandoles of rockets were occasionally displayed from the summit, and from other parts of this towering edifice, so covered with squibs, Roman candles, and pots de brin, as to become in appearance one column of brilliant fire, smaller temples and columns on the bridge were vividly illuminated, and fixed fireworks of different devices on the balustrade of the bridge contributed to heighten the general effect."

It is not surprising to read that the fireworks set light to the structure and burnt its three upper stories.

The Covent Garden sundial, consisting of a column supported by a pedestal surrounded by marble steps and supporting a square stone, three sides of which served as dials, was erected, as the inscription indicated, in 1668, and removed in 1790. It does not appear what became of it. ' Old and New London ' has a quotation from a brochure