Our perambulation will commence from the spacious area in front of the County Hall, called the
MARKET SQUARE,
from the vegetable market being held there, and from whence may be seen several good specimens of the half-timbered houses of our forefathers, terminating with lofty gables.
Proceeding up High Street, anciently called “Bakers’ Row,” from the number of that occupation which located there: on the left of the turning towards Grope Lane is an old timbered house, now a grocer’s shop, but formerly used as
THE MERCERS’ HALL.
Several of the Incorporated Companies originally possessed Halls for holding their meetings and the celebration of their feasts: the former have of late years been held at the Town Hall, and the latter at some of the inns.
About the middle of the street, on the right, is the Unitarian Meeting House (p. [95]), where the poet Coleridge preached in 1798; [149] and a few yards further is the “Sextry” passage, or (as it is called in our provincialism) a “shut.” This originally communicated with St. Chad’s church-yard by a covered passage, and derived its name from the sacristy of the church, which is supposed to have stood within it. An old building, now the “Golden Cross,” appears to have been a tavern as early as the year 1495, for in the archives of the corporation is the charge of 13s. 2d. “for wine spent on the king’s gentlemen in the Sextrie.” Its gloomy and confined situation proves how little our unpolished ancestors regarded accommodation or prospect when they were enjoying the pleasure of a jovial carouse.
The ancient stone building at the extremity of the street was in times past occupied as the
SHEARMEN’S HALL;
since which it has been used as a theatre, a methodist chapel, an assembly room, and a temporary assize court; and although now modernised as a tea warehouse, the present remains convey much of the character of the “city halls” of other days, associated with the good cheer, inspirating feasts, and the social merriment of com-brethren in the olden time.