Diary references
Number of references in each month of the diary’s entries
Links to diary entries in which this place is mentioned
1660
1661
- Mar
1662
- Sep
1663
1665
1666
1667
1668
- Sep
5 Annotations
First Reading
Brian G McMullen • Link
The Rocque map reference is:
www.motco.com/Map/81002/SeriesSea…
Interestingly, the detail of the map does not put the stairs directly across from Old Swan Lane.
Geoff • Link
Another map, drawn 1658, with a boat waiting at Old Swan. www.oldlondonmaps.com/newcourtpag…
Second Reading
Bill • Link
Swan Stairs, or, The Old Swan, Upper Thames Street, a celebrated landing-place on the Middlesex side of the river Thames, a little "above bridge," where people used to land and walk to the other side of old London Bridge, rather than run the risk of what was called "shooting the bridge." In 1441, when the Duchess of Gloucester did penance at Christchurch by Aldgate, she landed at these stairs and walked the rest of the way.
---London, Past and Present. H.B. Wheatley, 1891.
Third Reading
Bill • Link
The Body of Mr. Preston, a Merchant, who was Drwoned last Christmas, as shooting the Bridge, was found the last Week near the Old Swan, having Boots on, and his Watch and Money in his Pocket, one of his Arms being off, 'tis believe'd he has stuck fast to one of the Arches ever since that time.—English Post 268, June 26–9, 1702.
19 Maps & Views of the Old Swan Stairs from 1553 to 1749: www.grubstreetproject.net/places/…
San Diego Sarah • Link
Bill, that's a post where I wish we had emojis -- (:-0) in this case.
Poor Mr. Preston -- and they're not even sure his body was caught on a starling for 6 months? Minus an arm! That's truly gruesome -- but no one even noticed the corpse -- for 6 months.
(Come to think about it, they probably couldn't do anything even if they had spotted the body. I wonder if they could climb down the pier onto the starling {the foundation in the river}? Even then, leaning over to free the body would be very dangerous.)