Ogle street, Margaret’s street, Cavendish square.†
Ogilby’s court, Long ditch.†
Old Artillery ground, Steward street.
St. Olave’s Hart street, situated at the south side of Hart street in Tower street ward, is thus denominated from its dedication to St. Olave, or Olaus, King of Norway, who from his strong attachment to the Christian religion, took part in the disputes with the English and Danes; for this, together with his supporting Christianity in his own dominions, and his sufferings on that account, he stands sainted in the Roman calendar.
A church stood in the same place, dedicated to the same royal patron, before the year 1319. The present structure is of considerable antiquity, for it escaped the flames in 1666, and since that time has had several repairs and additions, among which last is the portico; this is no small ornament, though it is not well adapted to the edifice. This portico was added in the year 1674.
This is a mixed building, with respect to its materials, as well as its form, part being of square stone, part of irregular stone, and part of brick. The body, which is square, is fifty-four feet in length, and the same in breadth; the height of the roof is thirty feet, and that of the steeple sixty. The windows are large and gothic, and every thing plain except the portico, which is formed of Corinthian pilasters, with an arched pediment. The tower, which consists of a single stage above the roof, is also extremely plain, and the turret wherewith it is crowned is well proportioned.
The patronage of this rectory has all along been in private hands. The Incumbent, besides several annual donations, and other profits, receives 120l. a year in tithes.
Mr. Weaver in his funeral monuments, mentions the following very whimsical one in this church, for Dame Anne, the wife of Sir John Ratcliff, Knt. which is to be read both downwards and upwards,
| Qu | A | D | T | D | P |
| os | nguis | irus | risti | ulcedine | avit. |
| H | Sa | M | Ch | M | L |
Mr. Munday, in his edition of Stow’s survey, mentions another here, which though of a different kind, appears equally extraordinary.