London Vanished and Vanishing

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter vi about the inns of court and chancery "This same starved justice hath done nothing but prate to me of the wildness of his youth.--I do remember him at Clements' Inn like a man made after supper of a cheese paring." Shakespeare, king Henry iv. Part ii. The division of our book into chapters is one mainly of convenience, for the various subjects referred to are sometimes so intimately connected that it is difficult to classify them. Thus incidentally we are now about to describe two old buildings both in or by Fleet Street, and both long used as taverns, but also very much connected with the great legal Societies of the Temple. Most of those who care for the architectural relics of old London are familiar with No. 17 Fleet Street, extending over the Inner Temple Gate, which, through the energetic action of the London County Council, aided by the City authorities, has been secured, in part at least, from destruction. With the exception of Crosby Hall (unless we include part of the Charterhouse buildings) it is perhaps the oldest house in the City and, from its artistic features alone, well worthy of preservation. Besides it has an interesting history, and one not easy to unravel I shall therefore venture to repeat to some extent what was said by me on the subject in articles contributed to vols. i. and ii. of the Home Counties Magazine. First as to the actual structure. The house, until a few years ago, occupied a considerable space along the east side of Inner Temple Lane, but the back portion with one staircase had already been pulled down before it was suggested that there should be an attempt to save the far more interesting part that remains. The massive rusticated arch, f