In 1614-5 the churchwardens admit a third encloser:
Received of Jeffrey Culsheth, gent., for one yeares rent of the Lammas ground, which he enclosed with a brick wall for a bowling alley, 10s.
Ten shillings appears to be the ground rent of an acre of ground in that neighbourhood then! The three rents reappear in the following account, with the exception that “for a bowling alley” is scratched out and is not repeated. Other temporary enclosures near the almshouses in 1616 seem to have been recalled later. In 1619 the Earl of Salisbury, Jeffrey Culsheth, and Robert Baker are still tenants, and the last is described as “gent.” In 1621 the name of Jeffrey Culsheth is omitted. In 1622-3 William Warden is allowed “the gravel pitts hitherto demised to Thomas Warden, 10l.” The Earl of Salisbury is still in possession, but
Receyved of the Executors of Robert Baker, gent., for the Lammas Common of certain grounds lyeing at the Causeway-head, near the Windmill, builded uppon by him, 30s., in lieu of the said Lammas Common, &c., 30s.
Here we may turn to another authority. The Overseers of the Poor of St. Martin’s acknowledge in the record of the same year 1622-3, “Landside ... Of Robert Baker, of Pickadilly Hall, given by him by will, 3l.” This then, is the first entry of the name that has yet been found, and it is important to note that the term “Hall” is used. This “Robert Baker, gent.,” made his will on 14 April 1623, and it was proved on 8 May of the same year. He left Samuel Baker sole executor, to sell all leases, pay all debts, and provide for the liberal education and endowment of his children and his wife. His daughters Judith and Mary were to have £600 each. His wife Mary to have the house where he then dwelt, with the garden and the cowhouse in St. Martin’s, and “2 houses in the High Street neere against Brittaine’s Burse.” To his son Samuel he left
a peece of ground divided into several parcels, and in part built upon, containing about 2 acres, situated behind the muse of St. Martin’s, which I lately enclosed with a brick wall, together with all walls, stables, howses and edifices thereupon.
He also provided for his son Robert, and an unborn child, who was to have “a close called Conduit Close” and the reversion of the mother’s houses. The name Piccadilly nowhere appears in the will, so it would seem not to have been a name selected by himself. As Samuel was to have two acres, doubtless the house and garden of Mr. Baker occupied the other acre, thirty shillings being regularly paid for the whole. With this will in memory, we may go back to the churchwardens’ accounts, and find in the following year, 1623-4:
Item, received of the executors of Samuel Baker, gent., deceased, who was executor of Robert Baker, deceased, the some of thirty shillings in lieu of the Lammas Common neare the Windmill, builded upon by him in his lifetime, and lately called Pick a dilly, 30s.
In 1624-5 the same entries continue, with only slight variations. The Earl of Salisbury,
for the Swanne Close upon which many faire dwelling houses have been erected, and gardens belonging to them taken out of it, 50s.