Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for CHRISTCHURCH-NEWGATE-STREET

CHRISTCHURCH-NEWGATE-STREET, a parish in London city; in the north-western vicinity of St. Paul's. Acres, 124/5. Rated property, with St. Leonard, £17, 117. Pop., 1, 975. Houses, 180. The living is a vicarage, united with the rectory of St. Leonard, in the diocese of London. Value, £442. Patrons, alternately the Dean and Chapter of Westminster and Bartholomew's Hospital. The church was rebuilt in 1704, after designs by Wren; has a lofty column or steeple; and contains the ashes of Richard Baxter. Christ's Hospital here, popularly called the blue-coat school, was founded, on the site of a Grey Friars' monastery, in 1553, by Edward VI., for "poor fatherless children;" underwent enlargements a enrichments, with elevation of object, at various periods; gives maintenance and education to about 1, 200 boys, of from 7 to 15 years of age; trains some of them into fitness for transition into the universities; has an income of about £52, 000 a year; and is governed by the lord mayor, the aldermen, twelve common councilmen, and a numerous body of gentlemen each qualified by a donation of £500. A branch of it is at Hertford, founded in 1683; and receives the junior scholars, to the number of about 400, prior to their reception at London. The buildings at Newgate-street occupy about 4½ acres, and include a grand hall, which was built in 1825-9, and contains pictures of Edward VI., said to be by Holbein, James II. and Charles II. by Verris, and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by Grant. The scholars wear a dress of the same kind which was in use at the time when the hospital was founded. Some among many who have been distinguished are Joshua Barnes, the editor of Greek classics; Jeremiah Markland, the eminent critic; Samuel Coleridge, the poet; William Camden, the antiquary; Bishop Stillingfleet; Samuel Richardson, the novelist; Charles Lamb, the poet; Thomas Mitchell, the translator of " Aristophanes; " Bishop Middleton; Leigh Hunt; and Peter Cunningham.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a parish"   (ADL Feature Type: "countries, 4th order divisions")
Administrative units: Christ Church Newgate Street CP/AP       London AncC

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