CHANGING LONDON.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5159, 1 August 1927, Page 4

CHANGING LONDON.

FATE OF HISTORIC CHURCHES.

CURIOUS USES FOR BUILDINGS

Curious indeed are the fates that have overtaken many' of the churches of London. Perhaps the strangest of all was what befell the Chapel of St. Ethelreda, in Ely Place. Originally the Chapel of Ely House, the London residence of the Bishops of Ely, it was built towards tlie end of the thirteenth century’ (says “ T.P.’s and Cassell’s Weekly.”) About three hundred years, later, Sir Christopher Hatton, having obtained a lease of part of Ely Place, it was complained tliat “even part of the vault and bury ing place under the chapel is made- use of as a public cellar—to sell drink in—there having been frequently revellings heard during divine service.” However, the crypt has since been reconsecrated and is to-day used for certain cervices as well as the main chapel.

Another curious case of metamorphosis is the' building in West Halkin Street now known as “ The Belfry.” Formerly a Presbyterian chepel. it has recently been converted into a private residence. The main architectural features of the structure have been left intact, but the building has been divided into storied, and living rooms and bedrooms constructed. The erstwhile church is at present in use as a dwelling place. Of more historic intreest is the case, of tlie Priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem, close to Bishopgate. On the extinction of the Order the Priory became a home for madmen, and was the original Bethlehem Hospital or “Bedlam,” later to be moved across the river.

Even as long ago as the reign of Henry XIII. we hear of the little Chapel of St. Mary, in Conyhope Lane (now Grocers’ Hall Court), being turned into a warehouse : and such changes are common in more recent times.

As a final example there is the old burial-ground off the Bayswater Road in \\hich was the tomb of Lawrence Sterne. When Mrs Russell Gurney acquired the site, about thirty years ago, and erected the new Chapel of East beside the old Mortuary Chapel, most of the tombstones were removed and stacker! round the walls of the cemetery’.

- The ground was then converted into a public garden of repose, After the war the site was used for allotments, and also for a time was used as a practice ground by the wontien’si archery club. More recently hard tennis courts have been constructed in tlie northern half of the ground, and the nymphs of Bayswater can be seen any fine day vigorously playing tennis upon the tombs.