September 1846

Friday 4th September 1846

Pipes laid down at Eccleston Wharf for gas to communicate with bench, Wharf Clerk’s office, and stable.  Weather cock removed from bench.  After tea took walk with Ann Fox over old Westminster Bridge, which at the present time is being pulled down.  No thoroughfare for carriages, and the foot way is along the centre of the bridge, boarded on each side.  Most of the buttresses and the semi-octangular towers removed, with their round lamps, and fixed to the boards temporarily on each side.  The road is strewed with the old stone work which is carefully piled, most of the arches are stopped, navigation being only through the centre ones.  We shall now soon quite lose sight of this old structure, for which I am sorry, it being the oldest fashioned built stone bridge on the Thames.

Saturday 5th September 1846

Two lamps fixed on poles against bench at Eccleston Wharf, gas fitters at work all day.

Sunday 6th September 1846

Started quarter before 8 o’clock for Hendon by Primrose Hill and Hampstead.  Had lift in carriage box above a mile beyond Hampstead Heath by offer of the coachman.  Got to Hendon Church half past 10 o’clock.  Picked and ate a quantity of blackberries in the lanes there, and took down some inscriptions from the tablets and tombs within and without the church.  Interfered with by a policeman for not keeping the footpath and annoying the congregation by walking about the grounds.  Dined at the ‘Greyhound’ Public House close to burial ground.  Commenced cutting my initials and date on burial ground gate, but only completed ‘N B 1’ when I was interrupted by the sight of two policemen approaching, upon which I made off, leaving my job unfinished.  Left Hendon Church about half past three and dawdled away an hour eating blackberries, when I made for home at a smartish pace, arriving thither soon after six, walking four miles per hour.  I tried to paw up Ann but she evaded me somehow, but I saw her  comfortably seated in Tottenham Court Chapel where I let her remain unmolested, for which I  am not sorry.  Very warm, distant thunder throughout the afternoon accompanied with a few large drops of rain.  Had tea in coffee shop in Dean Street, opposite Little Dean Street.

Monday 7th September 1846

Gas fitters at Wharf all day laying pipes and conveying the same into the lamps.  Pipe conveyed into own office, but fittings not fixed.  Lamps lit first time.

Tuesday 8th September 1846

Gas fitters finished their job.  Gas fitted in my office and stable and lit for the first time and showeth a brilliant light.

Friday 11th September 1846

Something extraordinary – sent to the London and Westminster Bank, Stratford Place, to pay in money.  To my surprise they refused taking it in.  Sent message that Mr Mitchell, the proprietor,  must see Mr Lea before he can take any more money in.  Looks somewhat disgraceful [?].   Took walk over Westminster Bridge with Ann Fox - it looketh quite a wreck with the loss of its balustrades and semi-octangular arches; being boarded in the carriage road is the present footway.

Saturday 12th September 1846

Mr G Lea closed account with London and Westminster Bank and entered it in Sir Claude Scott’s, Cavendish Square.  But not of his own choice, the London and Westminster not thinking  it worth their while, the balance in hand being so small.

Sunday 13th September 1846

Bathed at Mechanics Bath, Queen Street.  Morning went to the church of St Martin Outwich by the New Road and Shoreditch.  A church has just been completed in Old Street Road.  Went round to see if I should meet Mrs Skirriker, great grand-daughter of John Bunyan, but was unsuccessful.  A new stone has been lately fixed against 103 Bishopsgate Street Without, corner of Spital Square, showing the City bounds A D 1846.  Afternoon took walk to St Paul’s Cathedral and took down in scrapbook the Latin inscription … of Doctor Samuel Johnson as also that of Sir Christopher Wren … Got her drawers off at last, but to no purpose.  Took walk with M Ward in evening.

Monday 14th September 1846

Died this evening at Livermore Park, near Bury St Edmonds, the Honourable Justice Williams suddenly, in his 70th year.

Editor’s note:  Nathaniel is referring to Sir John Williams (1777-1846) originally of Cheshire.

Thursday 17th September 1846

William Vandercombe’s (alias Whack, the cart carman at Wharf) wife confined this morning early with a daughter.

Friday 18th September 1846

Took walk in evening with Ann Fox through Holywell and Wych Street, Strand; returned homeward through Soho Square where I believed the sky to be illuminated with a red light over the south east corner thereof, as also Leicester Square, which I saw was from some fire which I ascertained since to be the Oil Mustard and Saw Mills in the Grove, Guildford Street, Southwark, which totally destroyed the stock in trade.

Saturday 19th September 1846

Saw the Swiss Giantess this evening – as I found since, for the last time – in Leicester Square, whereupon she spoke to me concerning the above fire.

Editor's note: The Swiss Giantess was probably appearing at one of many shows and exhibitions in Leicester Square.  Nathaniel notes her suicide on 7 October.

Sunday 20th September 1846

Started half past 7 o’clock for Edgware, where I arrived at half past ten.  First place went to – Whitchurch – strolled about the burial ground an hour, taking down sundry inscriptions from tombstones into scrapbook.  Went in the church during sermon, and afterwards was shown over the church by the clerk.  It is most beautifully decorated with painted walls and ceiling, all scriptural pieces.  Then he showed me the Duke of Chandos’s family vault, over which is the marble monument of the Duke and his two wives, with sundry other branches of the family, and underneath is the coffins (48 in number) of the Brydges Chandos family (upwards 90 years) which is now extinct.  The vault has been built 130 years and is sound as when first built.  The most curious of all is a coffin with two bodies in it – a mother and daughter as I was told – the size whereof was tremendous, in appearance more resembling a coal barge than a coffin.  It is elm, covered with black velvet, and finished with brass furniture; inscription on lozenge brass plate was dated 1761.  The oldest date I saw was that of a child died 1704.  This job cost me 6d, but I was highly gratified.  Dined at ‘The Old Boot’, Edgware (bread and beef).  Afterwards went in burial ground of Edgware Church and then in the church, took down inscriptions from two brasses, 1599 and 1632, then back again to Whitchurch and viewed the same over as I did in the morning, more lengthened, and with this addition – I saw the public vault which was piled with coffins thickly and irregularly.  Picked a few blackberries and afterwards made for home sharply, where I arrived shortly before 8 o’clock, having walked about 25 miles.  Left Edgware just before 5 o’clock.  ‘Remark’: Poor old Granny Shepherd this day is the same age as Dr Samuel Johnson was when he died, viz 75 years 3 months 6 days.  Had cup of tea at coffee shop, Dean Street, opposite Little Dean Street, to read Dispatch.

Wednesday 23rd September 1846

A sorry job – broke old tobacco pipe throwing it down to show the hardness of it.

Thursday 24th September 1846

Sent a ton of coals from Wharf to Mrs Mitchell, first floor lodger.

Saturday 26th September 1846

Thomas Clarkson, the celebrated co-operator with Wilberforce in obtaining the abolition of negro slavery, died this day.  He was born 1760 and had therefore attained his 86th year.  He was educated at St Paul’s School, and finished at Cambridge.

Sunday 27th September 1846

Breakfasted and started quarter before 8 o’clock for Bromley in Kent, through Lewisham and that way.  Arrived there half past 11 and looked about the town and afterwards the churchyard, and took down a few inscriptions most remarkable.  Had dinner at the ‘Rose and Crown’, and sallied back to burial ground and fortunately met with the sexton, who let me in the church and very obligingly turned up some of the matting to show me the flat stone with the inscription on Dr Johnson’s wife, composed by himself (which sight I should have lost but for the civility of the sexton, a circumstance I should have much regretted).  Met with an inhabitant of Bromley who showed me several things, viz the College for Clergyman’s Widows, which we went over, and the Bishop of Rochester’s Palace.  Left Bromley few minutes before 5 o’clock and arrived home half past eight.  Met Mr Weaver near Bromley in a cart (from whom I learnt that Mr Bond will shortly leave his premises, the railway company requiring the ground for the enlargement of the terminus).

Tuesday 29th September 1846

Arrival of the Duke of Wellington’s statue at the Triumphal Arch opposite St George’s Hospital.  At half past 12 o’clock I went to the top of Grosvenor Place to see if the Duke of Wellington’s statue had arrived, but it had not; but Piccadilly was lined with persons to witness its arrival, but I was obliged to get back to business in my hour.  It arrived between 1 and 2 o’clock.  The carriage was drawn by Goding the brewer’s horses; it was said there would be 40, but an eye witness (R Latham) counted but 29, with a man to each horse.  The weight of the carriage was stated to be about 20 tons, and of the statue about 40, and to the top of his head 40 feet.  On the roof of Apsley House, the Duke’s residence, many persons were assembled which I suppose was the servants and their acquaintances.  Coming home I peeped between the board enclosure and caught a glimpse of the horse’s hind quarters by moonlight.

Editor’s note:  Matthew Cotes Wyatt’s equestrian statue to the Duke of Wellington was removed in 1883 when the arch was moved to a new position.  It is now in Aldershot, Hampshire.  In 1912 the Quadriga, or four-horse chariot, designed by Adrian Jones, took its position on the arch.  Goding’s Brewery stood on the site of the Royal Festival Hall.  A Coade stone lion from this brewery is on the southern end of Westminster Bridge.

Wednesday 30th September 1846

The statue of the Duke of Wellington has arrived at its destination at the top of the Triumphal Arch opposite St George’s Hospital, Hyde Park Corner.  I was there before 7 o’clock in the morning and had a fine view of the statue as it stood on the ground, and a splendid thing it is too.  I went again at midday, but it was in the same place, only that it was turned round.  I went again at night after business and it was then suspended nearly its full height, when I saw it drawn higher and finally wheeled on the arch, the apparatus moving with it.  The scaffolding is a grand affair and has been above three months erecting.

The weather this month has been changeable, the former part to about the 20th intensely warm, like the middle of July, when it changed to almost winter.  At present being so cold in the morning early that I am glad to wear gloves.

At the present time is being razed to the ground … old fabric the rectory of St James Piccadilly, corner of Church Place, which has stood about 160 years and was stated in the newspaper to have been one of Sir Christopher Wren’s architecture.  It was built with red bricks and at the side had circular windows and in front sashes of immense thickness, the upper ones opening on hinges with diamond panes.  The lower windows strongly … with iron bars; the cisterns were visible … Court, as also the water closet.