Danvers yard, Seething lane.†
Darby court, 1. Canon row.† 2. Channel row, Westminster.† 3. Piccadilly.†
Dark entry, 1. Great St. Anne’s lane. 2. Shoemaker row, Aldgate.
Darkhouse lane, Thames street.
Darking, a town in Surry, situated on a branch of the Mole, a little before it runs under ground. This town, which is very ancient, is 24 miles from London. It was destroyed by the Danes, but was rebuilt either by Canute or the Normans; and the great Roman causeway called Stony Street passes through the church yard. This place is famous for its meal trade, and its market for poultry, particularly for the largest geese and the fattest capons, which are brought hither from Horsham in Sussex; and the whole business of the people for many miles, consists in breeding and fattening them. Its market is on Thursdays, and its fair on Holy Thursday is the greatest in England for lambs. It is remarkable, that according to a custom of the manor, the youngest son or youngest brother of a customary tenant, is heir of the customary estate of the tenant dying intestate. Near the town is a heath, called the Cottman Dean, (i. e. the heath of poor cottages) on which stands their almshouse; and that heath, in the opinion of some learned physicians, has the best air in England.
Near this town stands Mr. Howard’s house and gardens called Deepden, situated in a small valley on every side surrounded with hills. The level ground about the house was laid out into pleasant walks and gardens, planted with a great variety of exotic trees and plants, and the hills planted with trees, except on the south aspect, which was covered with vines. But both the gardens and vineyard, though the latter has produced good wine, have been neglected, and many of the exotic trees have been destroyed. On the top of the hill, above the vineyard, is a summer house, from which, in a clear day, the sea may be discerned over the south downs.
Dartford, a town in Kent, sixteen miles from London, is more properly called Darentford, from its being situated on the river Darent, which runs through it, and at a small distance falls into the Thames. The town has a harbour for barges, and is finely watered by two or three good springs. King Edward III. had a general tournament performed here by his nobles, and also here founded a convent, whose abbess and nuns were, for the most part, of the noblest families in the kingdom; and this convent King Henry VIII. turned into a palace. Henry VI. founded an almshouse here in honour of the Trinity, to which the church is dedicated, for five poor decrepid men, to be governed by the Vicar and Wardens, who were constituted a body corporate, with a common seal, and a power to assign lands and rents to the hospital, to the value of 20l. per annum. On this river the first paper mill in England was erected by Sir John Spilman, who obtained a patent and 200l. a year from King Charles I. to enable him to carry on that manufacture: and on this river was also the first mill for slitting iron bars for making wire. The town is full of inns and other public houses, on account of its being a great thoroughfare to Canterbury and Dover. The market, which is on Saturdays, is chiefly for corn, and the town has the honour of giving the title of Viscount to the Earl of Jersey.
Dartmouth street, Tothill street.
Dart’s alley, Whitechapel.†
Dart’s rents, Long alley, Moorfields.†