Avery farm, Chelsea.
Avery row, by May-fair.
Augmentation Office in Dean’s yard, Westminster. This office belongs to a corporation, established by an act passed in the second and third years of the reign of Queen Anne, for the better maintenance of the poor Clergy, by the augmentation of small livings. This body corporate consists of the Lords of the Privy Council, the Lords Lieutenants and Custos Rotulorum, the Archbishops, Bishops, and Deans of cathedrals, the Judges, the King’s Serjeants at law, the Attorney, Sollicitor, and Advocate General, the Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of the Universities, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, and the Mayors of all other cities within the kingdom; seven of whom may compose a court, provided three of that number be a Privy Counsellor, a Bishop, a Judge, or one of the King’s Council, and this court may appoint committees of Governors, and invest them with such powers as they think proper.
The business of the Governors is to find out the value of every benefice under 80l. a Year, with the distance of each from London, &c. and to lay the state thereof before his Majesty, with the value of the tenths, first-fruits, &c. in order that the royal bounty may be applied to support those of the clergy, who are in the greatest distress: and this corporation has actually augmented a great number of small livings.
Austin Friars, near Broad street, was a priory founded for the Friars Eremites, of the order of St. Augustine, in the year 1253, by Humphrey Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex, The Friars of this priory were Mendicants, and continued in the possession of this place till its dissolution by King Henry VIII. since which time the greatest part has been pulled down, and many handsome houses built; but a part of the old church belonging to the priory is still standing. King Edward VI. granted all the church, except the choir, to a congregation of Germans, and other strangers, who fled hither for the sake of religion, ordering it to be called the Temple of the Lord Jesus, and several successive Princes have confirmed it to the Dutch, by whom it is still used as a place of divine worship. It is a large and spacious Gothic edifice, supported by two rows of stone pillars. At the east end are several steps, which lead to a large platform, on which is placed a long table with seats against the wall, and forms round, for the use of the Holy Communion, and the windows on one side have painted on them in several places, the words Jesus Temple. On the west end over the screen is a library, thus inscribed, Ecclesiæ Londino-Belgicæ Bibliotheca, extructa sumptibus Mariæ Dubois 1659. It contains several valuable manuscripts, among which are the letters of Calvin, Peter Martyr, and other foreign reformers.
St. Austin’s Church, at the north west corner of Watling street, in the ward of Faringdon within, was dedicated to St. Austin the monk, the English Apostle. The old church having suffered in the dreadful conflagration in 1666, has been rebuilt, and the parish of St. Faith united to it. It is a rectory, and the advowson is in the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s. The Rector receives 172l. per annum in lieu of tithes.
Austin street, in Castle street, near Shoreditch.
Ax alley, Leadenhall street.*
Ax yard. 1. King’s street, Westminster.* 2. Norfolk street in the Strand.* 3. Little Britain.* 4. Blackman street.* 5. King’s street, Blackman street.*
Ax and Bottle yard, St. Margaret’s hill.*