Of the heirs or executors of Robert Baker ... for certain ground near the Windmill at Causeway-head, and usually called Pick a dilly, 30s.
Item, received of John Johnson for a piece of ground heretofore enclosed by Jeffrey Kelsey and used for a Bowling Alley, 10s.
The entries of 1625-6 remain the same, but in 1626-7 “Mrs. Marie Baker, Widdowe,” pays for the ground
neare the Windmylne at the Causewayhead builded uppon in the lyfetime of Robert Baker, her late husband, deceased, and usually now called Pick a dillie, 30s.
No Johnson or representative was charged for the bowling alley. In 1628-9, other entries remaining the same, a new tenant was admitted:
The Hon. Sir William Howard, Knight, in lieu of the Lammas Common of a certayne piece of ground called the Swanne Close, whereuppon the same Sir William hath lately erected a faire dwelling house, with a garden thereunto adjoyning taken out of the same Close, and is the first yeares rent for the same, 10s.
In 1631-2 to this small list is added another encloser:
The Right Honble, the Earl of Leicester, for the Lammas Common of a piece of ground adjoyning to the military garden, newely enclosed with a brick wall, 30s.
In 1632-3 the entries remain the same, Mrs. Marie Baker’s lot being described as “usually nowe called Pickadilly.” To the Earl of Leicester’s entry is added “and faire buildings thereuppon erected,” and his rent raised to £3. In 1634-5 the Earl of Newport held the land built on by Sir William Howard, and an adjoining close. This small list of enclosers remains the same. In 1638 the churchwardens’ books cease to record the rents, a special book after that date being used for the Lammas lands.
Returning to the overseers’ books, we find Mrs. Mary Baker assessed 16s. 4d. in 1623-4, and 17s. in 1625-6. The following year the residents are classified by their addresses, and for the first time is mentioned “Pecadilly, Mrs. Mary Baker, widow, 11s., John Woode, 2s., Isabell Ridley, 3s. 4d.,” which entries imply subletting. In 1634-5 she was only charged 6s. 6d., but no streets were named. In 1636, under the wider address of “Brick hill, near Soho,” we find “Mrs. Mary Baker, 18s.,” and “Symon Osbalston, Esq., 4s.” which assessments in the following year are raised to 26s. and 34s. 8d. In 1637, under the heading “Brick Hill, near Soho,” is specified “Pickadilly,” which now contains nine names: