DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1212#0106
COVENT GAB.»EN. 71
extending to the river. They are built upon the plot of
ground once covered by Salisbury House, the mansion of
Sir Robert Cecil, the second son of Lord Burleigh. On
the other side of the Strand is Southampton-street, which,
in its name, perpetuates Lady Rachel, the estimable wife
of Lord William Russell, and daughter of the last liarl
of Southampton. On the eastern side, Tavistock-street,
already named, communicates with York-street; and, on
the western side, is Maiden-lane, a narrow avenue (with no
thoroughfare for carriages), extending into Bedford-street.
This lane, we read in the " Curiosities of Literature/'
took its name from an image of the Virgin, which once
gave a holy reputation to a locality since intimately iden-
tified with theatrical affairs and convivial meetings. When
Voltaire visited England, in 1727, he lodged at a house,
called the White Peruke, in this lane. Here the Cyder
Cellar, a nocturnal elysium of song and sapper, is situate,
where the gratification of the demands of appetite is
rendered doubly agreeable by its association with sweet
sounds. Classical reminiscences, however, attach to the
Cyder Cellar, which, Mr. Jesse tells us, was once the
favourite resort of those great scholars, Porson and Parr.
Southampton-street conducts to the extensive district of
COVENT GAHDEN.
Convent Garden was the original name of this interest-
ing locality, it having formerly been an immense garden,
attached to the Convent of the Abbots of Westminster.
L'pon the dissolution of religious houses, the estate was
bestowed upon the Protector Somerset, and, when he was
attainted of high treason, its ownership was transferred to
John, Duke of Bedford, a most valuable property, which
has descended to his posterity, and whose names and titles
are commemorated in Bedford-street, Eussell-street, Tavis-
tock-street, and Bedfordburj\ In 1634, Francis, fourth
Earl of Bedford, prepared the ground for the large square
enclosing Covent-garden Market, and engaged Inigo Jones
to build the handsome Piazzas on its north and east
extending to the river. They are built upon the plot of
ground once covered by Salisbury House, the mansion of
Sir Robert Cecil, the second son of Lord Burleigh. On
the other side of the Strand is Southampton-street, which,
in its name, perpetuates Lady Rachel, the estimable wife
of Lord William Russell, and daughter of the last liarl
of Southampton. On the eastern side, Tavistock-street,
already named, communicates with York-street; and, on
the western side, is Maiden-lane, a narrow avenue (with no
thoroughfare for carriages), extending into Bedford-street.
This lane, we read in the " Curiosities of Literature/'
took its name from an image of the Virgin, which once
gave a holy reputation to a locality since intimately iden-
tified with theatrical affairs and convivial meetings. When
Voltaire visited England, in 1727, he lodged at a house,
called the White Peruke, in this lane. Here the Cyder
Cellar, a nocturnal elysium of song and sapper, is situate,
where the gratification of the demands of appetite is
rendered doubly agreeable by its association with sweet
sounds. Classical reminiscences, however, attach to the
Cyder Cellar, which, Mr. Jesse tells us, was once the
favourite resort of those great scholars, Porson and Parr.
Southampton-street conducts to the extensive district of
COVENT GAHDEN.
Convent Garden was the original name of this interest-
ing locality, it having formerly been an immense garden,
attached to the Convent of the Abbots of Westminster.
L'pon the dissolution of religious houses, the estate was
bestowed upon the Protector Somerset, and, when he was
attainted of high treason, its ownership was transferred to
John, Duke of Bedford, a most valuable property, which
has descended to his posterity, and whose names and titles
are commemorated in Bedford-street, Eussell-street, Tavis-
tock-street, and Bedfordburj\ In 1634, Francis, fourth
Earl of Bedford, prepared the ground for the large square
enclosing Covent-garden Market, and engaged Inigo Jones
to build the handsome Piazzas on its north and east