Lambeth Palace.
S. Wale delin. J. Fougeron sculp.
Lambeth, a village in Surry, situated on the Thames, between Southwark and Battersea, and near the south end of London bridge; is particularly famous for its containing, for several ages, the palace of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This structure was originally formed by Baldwin, Archbishop of that see, in the year 1188; who first intended to have raised a superb structure at Hackington, near this place; but the Monks, with whom he was at variance, obtained the Pope’s mandate against it; when, taking down what he had erected, he removed the bell of the materials to Lambeth, with which he built the palace, a college and church, having before purchased the ground of the Bishop and Convent of Rochester, by a fair exchange.
In the year 1250, Boniface, Archbishop of Canterbury, having, by his arrogance, rendered himself hateful to the citizens of London, retired, for the security of his person, to this palace; and finding it in a ruinous condition, within the space of three years rebuilt the whole north side, the archi-episcopal apartments, the library and cloisters, the guard-chamber, the chapel, and Lollards tower.
From that time this palace became the residence of the greatest persons of the church, and was soon enlarged by many additional buildings: Cardinal Pool built the gate, which, for that time, is a noble structure. The Lollards tower, which is thus named from a room in it prepared for the imprisonment of the followers of Wickliff, the first British reformer, who were called Lollards, was finished by Chichely, and remains a lasting memorial of his cruelty, and antichristian spirit. It is a small room, twelve feet broad and nine long, planked with elm, and there still remain eight rings and staples, to which Christians were chained, for presuming to differ in opinion from that prelate. The spacious hall was erected by Juxton, and the brick edifice between the gate and this hall was begun by Archbishop Sancroft, and finished by the immortal Tillotson.
From the present structure being thus erected at different periods, it is not at all surprizing that it has but little appearance of uniformity; but the edifice, tho’ old, is in most parts strong; the corners are faced with rustic, and the top surrounded with battlements; but the principal apartments are well proportioned, and well enlightened: the Gothic work about it is irregularly disposed, and it is in itself irregular. Some of the inner rooms are too close and confined; but there are many others open and pleasant in themselves, with the advantage of being convenient, and of affording very agreeable prospects. For as this palace is situated on the bank of the Thames, it affords a fine view up and down the river, and, from the higher apartments, a prospect of the country each way.
The palace, with the rows of trees before it, and the church of Lambeth adjoining, when viewed from the Thames, make a very pretty picturesque appearance, and this is the view which is here given.
In this palace is a very fine library, founded in the year 1610, by Archbishop Sancroft, who left by will all his books, for the use of his successors in the archi-episcopal see of Canterbury. This library has been greatly increased by the benefactions of the Archbishops Abbot, Sheldon, and Tennyson, and consists of 617 volumes in manuscript, and above 14,500 printed books.
The church, which stands by the palace, is a very antique structure, dedicated to St. Mary. It has a square tower, and both that and the body of the church are crowned with battlements. In this parish are eight precincts, denominated the Archbishop’s, the Prince’s, Vauxhall, Kennington, the Marsh, the Wall, Stockwell, and the Dean’s precinct. It is remarkable, that at Lambeth Wall is a spot of ground, containing an acre and nineteen poles, named Pedlar’s acre, which has belonged to the parish from time immemorial, and is said to have been given by a pedlar, upon condition that his picture, with that of his dog, be perpetually preserved in painted glass in one of the windows of the church; which the parishioners carefully performed in the south east window of the middle isle. Maitland.
Lambeth Butts, Lambeth.
Lambeth Marsh, between Lambeth and Spring Gardens.