Interior looking south (photograph).
Interior looking north (photograph).
Fanlight under stairs (photograph).
Staircase (photograph).
Lantern light over staircase (photograph).
Loculi in crypt (photograph).
Two silver chalices dated MDCIIIC, originally presented for use in West Street Chapel (photograph).
XLI.—SITE OF WELD HOUSE.
The history of that part of Aldwych Close lying within the angle formed by Great Queen Street and Wild Street has already been traced[[455]] up to the division of the greater portion of it between Sir Edward Stradling and Sir Kenelm Digby in 1629. Eleven years previously, Henry Holford had leased to John Ittery the extreme southern portion, reaching 100 feet northwards from Sardinia Street, and a trench had been dug separating Ittery’s portion from that lying to the north. On the transfer of the latter to Sir W. Calley and Geo. Strode in trust for Stradling and Digby, Ittery’s portion was included, and added to Stradling’s share. Stradling without delay began the erection on his portion of “a faire mansion house with stables and other outhouses.”[[456]] On 12th December, 1632, the ground, with the mansion, etc., was sold by Calley and Strode to Stradling, and was then described as extending south from the partition wall[[457]] between Digby’s and Stradling’s portions “together with that parte formerly demised to the said John Ittery, and then enclosed together with the same, at the end next Drewry Lane by a square lyne 300 foote, and at the other end next Lincolne’s Inne Feildes 296 foote.” By 1632 Stradling had also divided his portion into two by a brick wall, “beginninge at the west end towards Drewry Lane and extendinge itselfe eastwards towards Lincolne’s Inne Feildes 144 foote, and then towards the north in length 132 foote, and then again eastwards towards Lincolne’s Inne Feildes 132 foote, and standinge distant at the west end thereof from the fore-mentioned partition wall 157 foote, and at the other end next Lincolne’s Inne Feildes 31 foote.”[[458]]
On 20th December, 1632, Stradling sold that part lying to the north of this second partition wall, including the house, etc., to George Gage. The house had not yet been completed, but a provision was subsequently made that Strode was to finish, before Easter, 1634, “the dwelling house and buildings now erected or begun to be erected, within and without ... in all respects, fitt and necessary for one or more dwelling house or houses.”[[459]]