FOOTNOTES:
[89] I have been unable to find the Information, but another case in the same court, 38 Eliz., concerns the same property and the same tenants.
[90] See my article “Burbage’s Theatre,” “Fortnightly Review,” July 1909.
XIX
EARLY PICCADILLY
The exact locality of early Piccadilly, the date of the first appearance of the name, and its derivation from a “collar,” a “gaming-house,” or a “hill-peak,” have been frequently discussed by London topographers and by writers in “Notes and Queries.”[91] I do not pretend to be able to decide the third question, but I have collected some definite facts concerning the first and second which are worth preserving, as they may prevent futile discussions and may hereafter help to the elucidation of the derivation.
Many writers, stating that the name was first used by Gerard in his “Herbal,” assume that he did so in his first edition of 1597. This is an error. It first appears in the edition of 1633. I have, however, found the word used at least ten years earlier than that, not in connection with “Higgins the draper,” as Walford suggests (who really lived at “the Mearemaide”), but in connection with “Robert Baker, Gent., of Piccadilly Hall, St. Martin-in-the-Fields.” “Piccadilly,” like many other names and things, has travelled considerably westward in its day. There is no mention of the name in any book, nor, so far as has yet been discovered, in any manuscript, of Elizabeth’s reign. Having found Mr. Baker first associated with it, I worked back on his traces.
In Aggas’s map, which shows the appearance of the neighbourhood at the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth, there is a mass of building about the royal mews, facing St. Martin’s Church (on the present site of the National Gallery), and open fields stretching beyond to the country. The wall of Convent Garden formed the eastern boundary of St. Martin’s Lane, or, as it was then called, Church Lane. There were a few buildings about St. Giles’s, and one at the end of St. Martin’s Lane, commonly described as “over the Church Lane.” The district does not seem to have changed much in the early years of James’s reign. The churchwardens of St. Martin-in-the-Fields regularly entered receipts for the rent of “the house over Church Lane,” but the first sign of an enclosure of the Fields appears in the books of 1612, when they stated they had “received from Roger Haighton, steward of the Right Hon. Earl of Salisbury, Lord High Treasurer of England, on February 17th, 1611, 50s, for a yeares rent of five acres of ground in the Lammas Common, heretofore called Swanne Close, whereuppon the new buildings are erected to the west of St. Martin’s Lane.” In the following year, 1612-3, there is a similar entry and the record of a new tenant:
Item, receved of Robert Baker Tayler, for the Lammas ground which he built uppon neare the Windmill, for one year ended Lammas Day, 1612, 30s.
The next year similar rents are recorded, and a topographical entry:
Received of Francis Gilford, Inholder, towards the charges of throwing up the ditch, and amending the highway of the upper corner of St. James’s Fields, near the Windmill, 16s. 6d.
In 1614-5 the churchwardens admit a third encloser:
Received of Jeffrey Culsheth, gent., for one yeares rent of the Lammas ground, which he enclosed with a brick wall for a bowling alley, 10s.
Ten shillings appears to be the ground rent of an acre of ground in that neighbourhood then! The three rents reappear in the following account, with the exception that “for a bowling alley” is scratched out and is not repeated. Other temporary enclosures near the almshouses in 1616 seem to have been recalled later. In 1619 the Earl of Salisbury, Jeffrey Culsheth, and Robert Baker are still tenants, and the last is described as “gent.” In 1621 the name of Jeffrey Culsheth is omitted. In 1622-3 William Warden is allowed “the gravel pitts hitherto demised to Thomas Warden, 10l.” The Earl of Salisbury is still in possession, but
Receyved of the Executors of Robert Baker, gent., for the Lammas Common of certain grounds lyeing at the Causeway-head, near the Windmill, builded uppon by him, 30s., in lieu of the said Lammas Common, &c., 30s.
Here we may turn to another authority. The Overseers of the Poor of St. Martin’s acknowledge in the record of the same year 1622-3, “Landside ... Of Robert Baker, of Pickadilly Hall, given by him by will, 3l.” This then, is the first entry of the name that has yet been found, and it is important to note that the term “Hall” is used. This “Robert Baker, gent.,” made his will on 14 April 1623, and it was proved on 8 May of the same year. He left Samuel Baker sole executor, to sell all leases, pay all debts, and provide for the liberal education and endowment of his children and his wife. His daughters Judith and Mary were to have £600 each. His wife Mary to have the house where he then dwelt, with the garden and the cowhouse in St. Martin’s, and “2 houses in the High Street neere against Brittaine’s Burse.” To his son Samuel he left
a peece of ground divided into several parcels, and in part built upon, containing about 2 acres, situated behind the muse of St. Martin’s, which I lately enclosed with a brick wall, together with all walls, stables, howses and edifices thereupon.
He also provided for his son Robert, and an unborn child, who was to have “a close called Conduit Close” and the reversion of the mother’s houses. The name Piccadilly nowhere appears in the will, so it would seem not to have been a name selected by himself. As Samuel was to have two acres, doubtless the house and garden of Mr. Baker occupied the other acre, thirty shillings being regularly paid for the whole. With this will in memory, we may go back to the churchwardens’ accounts, and find in the following year, 1623-4:
Item, received of the executors of Samuel Baker, gent., deceased, who was executor of Robert Baker, deceased, the some of thirty shillings in lieu of the Lammas Common neare the Windmill, builded upon by him in his lifetime, and lately called Pick a dilly, 30s.
In 1624-5 the same entries continue, with only slight variations. The Earl of Salisbury,
for the Swanne Close upon which many faire dwelling houses have been erected, and gardens belonging to them taken out of it, 50s.
Of the heirs or executors of Robert Baker ... for certain ground near the Windmill at Causeway-head, and usually called Pick a dilly, 30s.
Item, received of John Johnson for a piece of ground heretofore enclosed by Jeffrey Kelsey and used for a Bowling Alley, 10s.
The entries of 1625-6 remain the same, but in 1626-7 “Mrs. Marie Baker, Widdowe,” pays for the ground
neare the Windmylne at the Causewayhead builded uppon in the lyfetime of Robert Baker, her late husband, deceased, and usually now called Pick a dillie, 30s.
No Johnson or representative was charged for the bowling alley. In 1628-9, other entries remaining the same, a new tenant was admitted:
The Hon. Sir William Howard, Knight, in lieu of the Lammas Common of a certayne piece of ground called the Swanne Close, whereuppon the same Sir William hath lately erected a faire dwelling house, with a garden thereunto adjoyning taken out of the same Close, and is the first yeares rent for the same, 10s.
In 1631-2 to this small list is added another encloser:
The Right Honble, the Earl of Leicester, for the Lammas Common of a piece of ground adjoyning to the military garden, newely enclosed with a brick wall, 30s.
In 1632-3 the entries remain the same, Mrs. Marie Baker’s lot being described as “usually nowe called Pickadilly.” To the Earl of Leicester’s entry is added “and faire buildings thereuppon erected,” and his rent raised to £3. In 1634-5 the Earl of Newport held the land built on by Sir William Howard, and an adjoining close. This small list of enclosers remains the same. In 1638 the churchwardens’ books cease to record the rents, a special book after that date being used for the Lammas lands.
Returning to the overseers’ books, we find Mrs. Mary Baker assessed 16s. 4d. in 1623-4, and 17s. in 1625-6. The following year the residents are classified by their addresses, and for the first time is mentioned “Pecadilly, Mrs. Mary Baker, widow, 11s., John Woode, 2s., Isabell Ridley, 3s. 4d.,” which entries imply subletting. In 1634-5 she was only charged 6s. 6d., but no streets were named. In 1636, under the wider address of “Brick hill, near Soho,” we find “Mrs. Mary Baker, 18s.,” and “Symon Osbalston, Esq., 4s.” which assessments in the following year are raised to 26s. and 34s. 8d. In 1637, under the heading “Brick Hill, near Soho,” is specified “Pickadilly,” which now contains nine names:
The Widow Camell, 2s. 2d., William Vaugh, 2s. 2d., Thomas Heylock, 2s. 2d., Mrs. Mary Baker, 3s. 6d., Sir Richard Grymes, Knight, 9s. 6d., William Larke, 3s. 4d., Widow Bedwell, 2s. 2d., Symme Osbaldston, 8s. 6d., Anthony Walter, 6d.
This certainly implies lodgers or subletting of houses on her own or her son’s property, as the ground rent is still paid in Mrs. Baker’s name. It is an important list, for it shows that “the gaming-house” must have been very near, or part and parcel of the Bakers’ lands.
In another book, entitled “An Abstract of Rents in St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields,” there are entries concerning the Earl of Salisbury and others which show that, though undated, it commences about 1633. Mrs. Mary Baker has to pay for “the Lammas common of the land neere Pick a dillie where his buildings are erected, 30s.” The next folio is dated 1635, where her ground is “usually now called Pick a dilly.” In that list appears “Of Symon Osbalston, Esq., for ground built upon sence, neere Pick a dilly, the some of 4l.” There is some reverse writing on p. 1 of this volume, which reads:
Item of Mr. Fox for the Bowling Greene and Bear in Swanne Close yearely 10l.
Rents due yearely from these undernamed for the ground rent of the ground added to the ends of their gardens out of Swanne Close, Mr. Dobbins, 1l., Mr. Boulton, 12s., Mr. Cooke, 4s., Mr. Temple, 1l., Mr. Plunkett, 15s., the Lady Vane, 1l., the Lady Armin, 2l., Mr. Bull, 6s.
A marginal reference adds, “The Earl of Leicester hath these now.”
On p. 4, also reversed and without date:
Of the owners of Pickadilly House and Bowling Greens, 4l. Of Mrs. Mary Baker, for the Lammas Common of grounds whereon she hath houses at Pickadilly, 1l.
These notices clearly show that the name was first applied to the Bakers’ property, and the title of “Pickadilly Hall” only applied to their house; that the neighbouring building of Simon Osbaldistone’s, which became the “gaming-house,” was built either partly on their ground or in close proximity to it (probably including the old bowling alley of Culsheth or Kelsey), and that it was therefore called “Pickadilly House.”
The earliest notice of the name in the State Papers occurs in “Dom. Ser. St. Pap. Car. I, 178 (43), 1630 (?),[92] note of priests and Jesuits now in England: ‘John Blundeston, a priest, son to Blundeston in Fetter Lane, is now much at Pecadily Hall at the Countess of Shrewsbury’s’”; and in the same series, S. P. D. C. Car. I, 195 (3), on 24 June 1634, Rich. Wainwright and others, writing to Secretary Dorchester, say:
This day at Lady Shrewsbury’s house at Piccadilly Hall, Parish of St. Martin’s, Mass was said by Captain George Popham, Priest. Richard Wainwright apprehended him, by the aid of Edward Corbett the Constable, and took him to Somerset House, whence he escaped, and was received by the Friars.
Evidently the countess at the time must have been renting Mrs. Baker’s “Hall.”
An important description is preserved in a letter written by the Rev. George Garrard, Master of the Charterhouse, to the Earl of Strafford:
Since the spring garden was put down (1634), we have, by a servant of the Lord Chamberlain’s, a new spring garden erected in the fields beyond the Mews, where is built a fair house and two bowling greens made to entertain gamesters and bowlers at an excessive rate, for I believe it hath cost him above 4,000l., a dear undertaking for a gentleman barber. My Lord Chamberlain much frequents that place, where they bowl great matches. June 24, 1635.
Garrard, writing to Edward, Viscount Conway, 30 May 1636, adds:
Simme Austbiston’s house is newly christened. It is called Shaver’s Hall, as other neighbouring places are named Tart Hall, Pickadell Hall. At first, no conceit there was of the building being a barber’s, but it came upon my Lord of Dunbarr’s loosing 3,000l. at one sitting, whereon they said a northerne Lord was shaved there; but now, putting both togeather, I feare it will be a nickname of the place, as Nicke and Frothe is at Petworth, so long as the house stands. My Lord Chamberlain knows not of it yett, but will chafe abominably when he comes to know it. My neighbours at Salisbury House are all gone to Hatfield.—Dom. Ser. St. Pap. Car. I, 323 (41).
The barber was Simon Osbaldistone, servant to Philip, Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Chamberlain of the Royal Household.
Clarendon, in “The History of the Rebellion,” mentions the place:
Mr. Hyde going to a House called Piccadilly, which was a fair house for entertainment and gaming, with handsome gravel walks with shade, and where is an upper and lower bowling green, whither many of the best quality resorted for exercise and recreation.
A description of the building is found in an estimate of 1650.
Mr. H. B. Wheatley in “Round about Piccadilly” gives a full account of the later fortunes of Piccadilly. “The house commonly called Pickadilly House” was assigned as soldiers’ quarters on 1 August 1650 (“Interregnum Order-Book”). Faithorne’s map (1658) shows it as “The Gaming House.” Evelyn mentions the locality in his “Diary” (1662) saying that “orders had been given to pave the way from St. James’s North, which was a Quagmire, and the Haymarket, and Piquadillo.” Colonel Thomas Panton seems to have purchased it in 1671, and petitioned for leave to build on it, which was granted.
All this throws very little light on the derivation of the name, except that it dissociates it from “the gallants of the gaming house,” which was not built until Piccadilloes were out of fashion. Among the annals of 1612 we find mention of “yellow starch, and great cut-work bands and piccadillies (things that hath since lost the name),” said to have been imported or contrived by the notorious Mrs. Turner (Kennet’s “England,” ii, 638). Barnabe Rich in his “Honesty of the Age,” 1614, satirizing the tailors and “body-makers,” says, “he that some forty or fifty years sithens should have asked after a Pickadilly, I wonder who, could have understood him, or could have told what a Pickadilly had been, either fish or flesh.” Ben Jonson, in undated lines in “Underwoods,” says:
And then leap mad on a neat Pickardill.
In 1615 the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge promulgated an injunction against excess in apparel and the use of “strange peccadillies”; and in that same year, “4th November, 1615, Mrs. Anne Turner, who was executed at Tyburne, for poysoning of Sir Thomas Overbury, Knight, was buried at St. Martin’s,” and the churchwardens received 17s. 8d. for her grave. An effort to discredit her invention was made by “hanging her in yellow ruffles,” and the piccadillies shortly went out of fashion too.
Butler in his “Hudibras” styles the collars of the pillory “Peccadilloes.” Cotgrave, 1611; Minsheu, 1627; Nares’s “Old Glossary,” Blunt’s “Glossographia,” 1656, explain the word as a stiff collar or hem round a garment.
Seeing that Robert Baker was originally a tailor, it is quite possible that his aristocratic neighbours threw scorn on his ambitious house by nicknaming it after his collars “Pickadilly Hall,” a possibility supported by Garrard’s letter. But there is another possibility which I may suggest. Seeing that it was in the immediate neighbourhood of “Swanne Close,” held by the Earl of Salisbury, and seeing that the district was marshy, full of ditches, and pools formed in old gravel pits, it is just possible that a breed of plebeian ducks throve there. Down to the present time children in East Essex, calling these to their meals, cry,
Dilly Dilly, cuddilly, cuddilly, cuddilly,
Cud, Cud, Cud, Pick a dilly, dilly, dilly,
which words are probably a survival of the old original of the mocking parody “Dilly Dilly, come and be killed.” It is also possible that some specimens of dill, or of daffodils, frequently called dillies, grew there abundantly. The churchwardens’ clerk of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, in early years, carefully dissociated the parts of the word as “Pick a dilly.” It remains at least a fact for us that the word as a place name first enters literature associated neither with collars, tailors, nor gaming-houses, but with the botanist John Gerard, who found the blue buglosse “growing in a dry Ditch at Pickadilla” some time before 1633.
“Athenæum,” July 27th, 1901.