Westminster | Page 3

nation
£200,000, but has now completely vanished. It resembled a fortress; the
entrance, which stood in Francis Street, was composed of massive
granite blocks, and had a portcullis. The prison took the place of a
Bridewell or House of Correction near, built in 1622; but in spite of the
vast sum of money spent upon it, it lasted only twenty years (1834-54).
The fire-station and Western District Post-Office also occupy part of
the same site. The extension of the Army and Navy Stores stands on the
site of the Greencoat School, demolished in 1877. Certain gentlemen
founded this school; in Charles I.'s reign it was constituted "a body
politic and corporate," and the seal bears date 1636. The lads wore a
long green skirt, bound round with a red girdle. In 1874, when the
United Westminster Schools were formed from the amalgamation of
the various school charities of Westminster, the work was begun here,
but three years later the boys were removed to the new buildings in
Palace Street. The old school buildings were very picturesque. They
stood round a quadrangle, and the Master's house faced the entrance,

and was decorated with a bust of King Charles and the royal arms. In
the wainscoted board-room hung portraits of King Charles I. by
Vandyck, and King Charles II. by Lely.
The name of Artillery Row is connected with the artillery practice at
the butts, which stood near here in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. At the
end, if we turn to the left, we come into Old Rochester Row, and so to
Greycoat Place, in which stands the Greycoat Hospital. This building,
one of the few old ones left in the parish, has a red-tiled roof and
dormer windows, projecting eaves and heavy window-frames. Two
wings enclose a courtyard, which is below the level of the road. Above
the central porch, in niches, are the figures of a boy and girl in the
old-fashioned Greycoat garb. In the centre are the Royal arms of Queen
Anne, and a turret with clock and vane surmounts the roof.
This hospital was founded in 1698 for the education of seventy poor
boys and forty poor girls. In 1706, by letters patent of Queen Anne, the
trustees were constituted a body 'politic and corporate.' In this year also
the school was established in the present quaint building, which had
been a workhouse, perhaps that referred to in the vestry reports of 1664
as the "new workhouse in Tuttle ffields."
The boys then wore a long gray skirt and girdle, something similar to
the Christ's Hospital uniform, and the girls a dress of gray. The hospital
originated in the charity of the parishioners. Various additions have
since been made to the building, and class-rooms have been added. The
older class-rooms and board-room are wainscoted. In the latter are
oil-paintings of Queen Anne, Bishops Compton and Smalridge (of
Bristol), and various governors. The corporate seal represents two male
figures tending a young sapling, a reference to 1 Cor. vii. 8. An old
organ, contemporary with the date of the establishment, and a massive
Bible and Prayer-Book, are among the most interesting relics. The
latter, dated 1706, contains the "Prayer for the Healing" at the King's
touch.
The hospital is a very wealthy foundation, and is able to support the
strain of its immense expenses without difficulty. The governors have
recently erected a row of red-brick flats to the west of the garden,

which will further augment the income. The garden is charming with
flower-beds and grass plots, while the vine and the ampelopsis climb
over the old building.
Rochester Row owes its name to the connection of the See of Rochester
with the Deanery of Westminster, which continued through nine
successive incumbencies. The row was considered by the Dean and
Chapter as a private thoroughfare until the beginning of the present
century, but they had no reason to be proud of it. A filthy ditch caused
much complaint; even in 1837 the state of the row was described as
"shameful and dangerous." At the north-east end stood the parish
pound-house. St. Stephen's Church and Schools are handsome, in a
decorated Gothic style, and were built in 1847 by Ferrey, at the cost of
the Baroness Burdett-Coutts. The spire rises to a height of 200 feet.
Immediately opposite, two neat rows of almshouses, in red brick, face
one another; on the exterior wall of each wing is the half-length effigy
of a man in a niche. Beneath that on the northern wing is the inscription:
"Mr. Emery Hill, late of the parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster,
founded these almshouses Anno Domini 1708. Christian Reader, in
Hopes of thy Assistance." On each side similar inscriptions
commemorate donations.
On the southern wing the slab beneath the figure bears the words: "Rev.
James