DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1213#0083
CHAPTER IV.
BLACKFRIARS-ROAD ----- MAGDALEN HOSPITAL ----- WATERLOO-
ROAD ------WESTMINSTER-ROAD — STANGATE ■— PEDLAr's
ACRE, ETC.
The roads converging to St. George's-circus from several
of the bridges, as great thoroughfares from Middlesex into
Surrey demand some notice. Of these the Blackfriars-
road is the longest. It obviously owes its name to the
ancient and royal precinct of Blackfriars, but has no part
in the associations of that monastic and courtly spot,
being of comparatively recent formation, and owing its
existence to Blackfriars' Bridge, to which it forms a noble
approach. It is nearly a mile in length, and was origi-
nally called the Great Surrey-road. Entering the road
on St. George's-circus, and passing the Surrey Theatre
on the west side, we reach that estimable institution
the Magdalen Hospital, first founded in 1758 by the Rev.
Dr. Dingley, and then kept in Prescot-street, Goodman's-
fields, whence the institution was removed about 1760
to its present situation. Here thousands of young women
who have strayed from the paths of virtue have found a
secure asylum, whence the great majority have departed
to be restored to their friends or to be placed in respectable
situations. No female is discharged from this hospital
except at her own desire, or for misconduct, until means
have been provided for enabling her to earn a creditable
subsistence. The hospital consists of four brick buildings
enclosing a quadrangle, with a garden in the centre. The
chapel is octangular in form, and is open on Sundays
to the public, who are expected to contribute to the main-
tenance. In conjunction with Dr. Dingley, Henry
Fielding and the unfortunate Dr. Dodd were the original
promoters of this charity, where Dodd was the first
to fill the office of evening lecturer. Almost the earliest
BLACKFRIARS-ROAD ----- MAGDALEN HOSPITAL ----- WATERLOO-
ROAD ------WESTMINSTER-ROAD — STANGATE ■— PEDLAr's
ACRE, ETC.
The roads converging to St. George's-circus from several
of the bridges, as great thoroughfares from Middlesex into
Surrey demand some notice. Of these the Blackfriars-
road is the longest. It obviously owes its name to the
ancient and royal precinct of Blackfriars, but has no part
in the associations of that monastic and courtly spot,
being of comparatively recent formation, and owing its
existence to Blackfriars' Bridge, to which it forms a noble
approach. It is nearly a mile in length, and was origi-
nally called the Great Surrey-road. Entering the road
on St. George's-circus, and passing the Surrey Theatre
on the west side, we reach that estimable institution
the Magdalen Hospital, first founded in 1758 by the Rev.
Dr. Dingley, and then kept in Prescot-street, Goodman's-
fields, whence the institution was removed about 1760
to its present situation. Here thousands of young women
who have strayed from the paths of virtue have found a
secure asylum, whence the great majority have departed
to be restored to their friends or to be placed in respectable
situations. No female is discharged from this hospital
except at her own desire, or for misconduct, until means
have been provided for enabling her to earn a creditable
subsistence. The hospital consists of four brick buildings
enclosing a quadrangle, with a garden in the centre. The
chapel is octangular in form, and is open on Sundays
to the public, who are expected to contribute to the main-
tenance. In conjunction with Dr. Dingley, Henry
Fielding and the unfortunate Dr. Dodd were the original
promoters of this charity, where Dodd was the first
to fill the office of evening lecturer. Almost the earliest