The Paragraphs Below from
The limits were: "In a line beginning at the south-east
end of Bow Street, otherwise Thieving Lane … and going northwards along the
west side of King Street to the southeast angle of Brown's Alley, and then
going westward to the south-west angle of the said alley, including the whole
thereof; from thence proceeding northward along the west side of the party wall
dividing the freehold estate of John Wiseman, Esquire, from certain other
premises belonging to the Provost and Fellows of Eton College and Humphreys
Ram, now in the tenure of Joseph Waring, to Gardener's Lane; and then
proceeding westward along the south side of the said lane to the north-west
corner thereof next to Duke Street; then proceeding southward along the east
side of Duke Street and the east and south-east sides of Delahaye Street, as
far as the party wall dividing two houses situate at the north end of Long
Ditch; one whereof is now in the occupation of Richard Turner, apothecary, and
the other in the occupation of John Snow, bricklayer, not taking in the said
house now occupied by the said John Snow, or any part thereof; then proceeding
eastward 140 feet along the north side of the wall which parts the garden of
the said Richard Turner from the yard and garden of the said John Snow, and from
thence returning southward 50 feet to a break dividing the ground of … Duvall
from other land in the tenure or occupation of Henry Cheere Esquire; and then
going from the said break eastward 100 feet to the west side of Rose Alley,
situate on the north side of Bow Street, otherwise Thieving Lane, aforesaid;
then beginning at the south-west angle of Rose Alley aforesaid, and going
eastward along the north side of Bow Street … as far as the south-east angle
thereof next King Street; secondly, beginning at the south-east corner of
Prince's Court … and going northward along the east side of St. James's Park
wall 140 feet in length, then going eastward to Delahaye Street, along the
south side of the party wall of the house now in the tenure of … Streach Esquire,
but not including the same, then going southward along the west side of
Delahaye Street, as far as and unto the south-east corner of Prince's Court
aforesaid."
..................
In 1750 Westminster Bridge was completed and Bridge Street,
its new western approach, opened out into Parliament Street and King Street
directly in front of George Yard. The continuation of Bridge Street westwards
seemed a quite obvious improvement, but it was left to a private individual to
carry it out as a speculation. In 1752–3 James Mallors (the builder of Nos. 43
and 44 Parliament Street) obtained an Act of Parliament (fn. n36) authorising
him "to open a street from the west side of King Street "… to the
back part of the houses, gardens and yards on the west side of Delahaye
Street." The preamble states that the making of such a large, spacious and
publick new street … would be not only extremely conducive to the benefit of
the said parishes of Saint Margaret and St. John the Evangelist, but highly
advantageous and convenient to the publick in general, as well as a great
ornament to the antient City of Westminster, more especially if such houses
only as are fit for the habitation of persons of fortune and distinction, were
erected and built on each side of the said street."
Mallors, therefore, was empowered to acquire ground and
houses on a site bounded roughly by King Street, Gardener's Lane (western
portion), St. James's Park and Bow Street (Thieving Lane) (fn. n37) (see Plate
13) and was [Page 013] authorised to carry out exchanges of property with the
Dean and Chapter of Westminster, who owned portions of the site. Provision was
made for the new street to have a width of 60 feet at the least, and for
"good and substantial houses" to be built on each side of the street,
each with a frontage of not less than 25 feet. In place of the old Delahay
Street it was enacted that "a free and open street or passage, of the
breadth of 26 feet 6 inches at the least, shall be laid out, made, preserved
and kept open at all times for the use of the publick, and extending from that
part of the north end of a street called Long Ditch, which is opposite or near
to Princes Court, as far as and unto the south end of Duke Street."
On obtaining his parliamentary powers Mallors promptly
mortgaged them to Samuel Cox of the New Temple. (fn. n38) Subsequent financial
arrangements are too complicated to be detailed.
