Bosville court, 1. Devonshire street, Theobald’s row.† 2. Carey street, Lincoln’s Inn fields.†
Bostwick’s alley, Whitechapel.†
Bostwick’s street, Old Gravel lane.†
St. Botolph’s Aldersgate, so denominated from St. Botolph, a monk born in Cornwall, is situated at the south east corner of Little Britain, and tho’ the fire in 1666 did not reach this edifice, it from that time fell into decay, and was great part of it rebuilt in 1757. It is a plain brick edifice with a tower supported on a kind of arch work, and crowned with an open turret, and its fane. It is a curacy in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey; but is subject to the Bishop and Archdeacon of London, to whom it pays procuration.
St. Botolph’s Aldgate, situated on the east side of Houndsditch, fronting the Minories. The old church escaped the fire in 1666, and stood till the year 1741, when it was taken down, and the present edifice finished in 1744. It is built with brick, and is a plain, massy, and yet elegant structure. It consists of a body of a regular shape, and a lofty and well-proportioned steeple, formed of a tower and spire. Its greatest ornament is a bold rustic with which it is strengthened at the corners. This church is a curacy, and the impropriation is held in fee of the Crown. The Curate, besides other considerable advantages, receives 400l. a year by tithes. Newc. Rep. Eccles.
St. Botolph’s Billingsgate, a rectory, the church whereof formerly stood opposite to Botolph lane, in Thames street, in Billingsgate ward; but being destroyed by the fire of London, and not rebuilt, the parish was by act of parliament annexed to St. George’s Botolph lane.
St. Botolph’s Bishopsgate, opposite the north end of Houndsditch. The old church escaping the general conflagration in 1666, at length fell into decay, and the present structure was raised by act of parliament, at the expence of the parish. It is a massy and spacious edifice. The body is well built with brick, and well enlightened, and the roof hid by a handsome balustrade. On the inside the roof is arched, except over the galleries, and two rows of Corinthian columns support both the galleries and arch which extends over the body of the church, and is neatly adorned with fret work, from which hang several handsome gilt branches. The steeple, tho’ heavy, has an air of magnificence. In the center of the front is a large plain arched window, decorated at a distance with pilasters of the Doric order. Over this window is a festoon, and above that an angular pediment; on each side is a door crowned with windows, and over these others of the porthole kind; above these last rises a square tower crowned with a dome, whose base is circular, and surrounded by a balustrade in the same form; by the side of which, on the corners of the tower, are placed urns with flames. From this part rises a series of coupled Corinthian columns, supporting other urns like the former, and over them rises the orgive dome, crowned with a very large vase with flames. The Author of The Critical Review says, that he thinks this steeple more in taste than most about town; and that the parts of which it is composed are simple, beautiful and harmonious. The author of The English Architecture, however, observes, “That the placing of a window in the middle of the street, where the principal door should have been, is an error of the first magnitude. The most unlearned eye must perceive a strange imperfection in this, though without knowing what it is; and there is something in the highest degree disgustful, at being shut out by a dead wall at the proper and natural entrance.” But in justification of the architect, it may be alledged, that this being the east end, he might not be allowed to form a door in the center, where the altar is placed under a noble arch beneath the steeple; and that much greater improprieties than this are daily seen, from the idle custom which has generally prevailed of placing the altar to the east in spight of any inconveniences it may occasion, as in St. Clement’s in the Strand, St. Dunstan’s in Fleet street, and many others. This church is a rectory, the patronage of which is in the Bishop of London. The Rector, besides other considerable advantages, receives about 200l. a year by tithes,
Botolph lane, Little Eastcheap.†
Botolph’s alley, Botolph lane.†
Botolph’s court, Durham yard.