MARYLEBONE AND ST. PANCRAS: THEIR HISTORY, CELEBRITIES, BUILDINGS, AND (Of the Department of Printed Books, British Museum), Author of "Bloomsbury & St. Giles's," &c. TRUSLOVE & SHIRLEY, 143, OXFORD STREET, W. 1890. DA 685 M2 C6 PRINTED BY TRUSLOVE AND BRAY, KNIGHT'S HILL ROAD, S.E. PRINTED IN ENGLAND 01-12-49E Director PREFACE. HE wide area occupied by the districts of Marylebone and St. Pancras contains rich and extensive materials for a book of local history. Indeed it would be impossible to put a detailed and exhaustive history of these most interesting places in a volume of the size which is now before the reader. Such a work would require, not one, but many such volumes. To tell the truth, the author has not attempted anything of the nature of an exhaustive history. He has endeavoured to make a selection from the large mass of material at his disposal, using such parts of it as seemed likely to be generally and permanently acceptable to his readers; and, while no important branch of the subject has been omitted intentionally, many branches have been treated with brevity in consequence of the obvious limitations of space in a volume of this scope and size, and some, upon which one would desire to linger awhile, have, for the same reason, been condensed and modified. It may be explained be explained here that only the southern portion of St. Pancras has been included in this book, the great historical interest which centres in and immediately around the old church, demanding too much space to allow of any account of the more northern portions. The accounts of the Royal Toxophilite Society and the Foundling Hospital are, to some extent, based upon accounts which have recently appeared in "Bloomsbury and St. Giles's," by the present writer. It is a frequent complaint that life is not long enough to allow of as much reading as one would like, or, rather, that so much is crowded into one's life as to leave time only for limited literary recreation. I is for this reason that the present writer hesitates to occupy as much of his readers' time and attention as the subject might seem to demand; and, in attempting to meet this popular wish for a summarized account, he humbly begs the indulgence of those who may have expected a more elaborate and comprehensive book upon two most important and influential metropolitan districts. In attempting to shape his book to this end, the author has received the greatest and most valuable help (especially in the pictorial part) from his friend, Mr. A. Bernard Sykes, several of whose sketches, specially executed for the purpose from old water colour drawings in the Crace Collection, British Museum, are used in the illustration of the volume. The author cannot allow the present opportunity to pass without expressing his sincere thanks to those kind friends who have afforded him information and useful hints; and, without singling out for mention any particular name, he feels that it would be unpardonable were he not to record his deep thanks and hearty appreciation of the many kindnesses he has received. in this way. It would be equally ungracious were he to omit a brief reference to the authorities he has made use of in the compilation of this work. Stow, Lysons, Cunningham, Thomas Smith (Topographical and Historical Account of Marylebone), and a valuable collection of drawings, cuttings, and documents relating to the parish of St. Pancras, gathered together by Mr. R. Percival, and now preserved in the British Museum Library-these, and many other sources, have provided material which is indispensable for such a book as that with which the author has essayed to amuse or instruct his readers. |