Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 12.djvu/225

 9* s. XH. SEPT. 12, MOB.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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clear that the critics of the gentleman and of the pious cleric are those who "did not perceive the point" when the words "we shall " or " we must " were made by them to precede the " dial " of a clock. W. I.

JOHN GILPIN'S ROUTE (9 th S. xii. 170). Many years ago I took what I supposed to be John Gilpin's route in tricycling from London to Ware, on the way to Cambridge. The direct way from Cheapside would be through the Poultry and Cornhill to Bishopsgate 1 Street, then northward through Shoreditch, Kingsland Road, and Tottenham, to Edmon- ton. But John Gilpin's route lay through "merry Islington," so he must be assumed to have left Cheapside at the west end, and to have ridden through St. Martin's-le-Grand, Aldersgate Street, Goswell Street, and Gos- well Road, to about where King's Cross Station now is, and then to have borne to the right through Islington, and perhaps Stoke Newington, to Tottenham and Edmon- ton. I found "The Bell at Edmonton" and its surroundings very different from Calde- cott's picture. "The Bell" is now a large " public-house," where, I am bound to say, the " shandy-gaff " was excellent. On the exterior was, and probably still is, a large painting representing Gilpin's ride. From Edmonton the unhappy John would gallop away by Enfield Highway, Waltham Cross, and Hoddesdon, to Ware, which is, as a matter of fact, about thirteen miles north of Edmonton, and twenty-two from Cheapside, or a mile or two further by way of Islington.

J. T. F.

P. M.'s question is relevant to a thought which crossed my mind two or three days before : that a minutely annotated edition of 'JohnGilpin' might be fraught with delight. I was wondering why the wine was not left behind, as a matter of course. When citizens of credit and renown like the hero went off for a day's holiday, intending to dine at a respectable hostelry like the "Bell" at Edmonton, was it usual for them to take nothing ''for the good of the house/' but to import their own wine, and to incur the liability of a charge for corkage 1

ST. SWITHIN.

BRIDGE CHANTRY IN THE WEST RIDING (9 th S. xii. 43, 111). The interesting article by MR. I. GIBERNE SIEVEKING under the above heading might with advantage be very greatly supplemented. He, however, made an incorrect and incongruous assertion, which must be rectified. MR. SIEVEKING says that Allen the historian gives the lie to the state-

ment that the chantry on the bridge dates from Edward IV. 's reign. In the following column of the same page he again quotes Allen, and says :

" The chapel was built by Edward IV. in memory of his father Richard, Duke of York, and those of his party who fell at Wakefield."

May I refer MR. SIEVEKING to Camden, fol. 710, Gibson's edition ; also Tindal's ' Notes on Rapin,' i. fol. 586, which Allen has un- doubtedly copied 1

" This chapel was built by Edward IV. in memory of his father Richard, Duke of York, and those of his party who fell in the battle of Wakefield."

In vol. xvi. of 'The Beauties of England and Wales,' edited by John Bigland, in 1812, pp. 804-5, will be found the following :

" At the south-east entrance into Wakefield is a handsome stone bridge over the Calder. It was built in the reign of Edward III., and is a fine specimen of the masonry of that age. In the centre of this bridge, projecting from the eastern side, and resting partly on the sterlings, is an ancient chapel, built in the richest style of Gothic, or Saracenic architecture. This most beautiful structure is ten yards in length, and about eight in breadth. The east window, overhanging the river, is adorned with various and beautiful tracery, and the parapets perforated. The windows on the north and south sides are equally rich. But the west front facing the passage over the bridge exceeds all the rest in profusion of ornament, being divided by buttresses into compartments forming recesses with lofty pedi- ments and pointed arches, with spandrels richly flowered, and above is an entablature supporting five basso rilievos, the whole being crowned with battlements. The buttresses, finials, traceries, &c., form an assemblage of Gothic embellishments which for richness and delicacy can scarcely be excelled."

A newspaper cutting for 1848 reads as follows :

" The Chapel on Wakefield Bridge. This splendid building, which had been used as a counting-house for a considerable period previous to its restoration, has been opened this week in connexion with the Church of England, and is called St. Mary's Chapel. It was opened without re-consecration, the Bishop deeming it unnecessary, it having been formerly occupied by Roman Catholics."

In August, 1848, Mr. C. J. Greenwood, architectural draughtsman, executed two beautiful engravings of the exterior and interior of the chantry as restored. These were published in lithographic form by Messrs. Illingworth & Hicks, of Wakefield, in royal folio, and sold at four shillings each. I have an original prospectus of the same, together with a facsimile of the ruins of the chantry as it appeared in 1846, and if these would be interesting to MR. SIEVEKING I shall be happy to lend them to him.

CHAS. F. FORSHAW, LL.D.

Baltimore House, Bradford.