File:Pen and Pencil (newspaper), 10 March 1855 page 13.jpg

Illustrations (signed) from Pen and Pencil (an illustrated Family Newspaper).

(Remains Of Old London, Near Ludgate Hill)

REMAINS OF BLACK FRIARS MONASTERY. Since the discovery of the remains... given in our paper of last week... a large arch has been brought to light... The span of the arch is about twelve feet. It can not have been one of the fout gates which gave entrance to the friary, as the natural level of the gravel which here composes the soil is above the spring of the arch, consequently, it is to be concluded that the arch had covered a subterranean passage—perhaps a water-course or an ancient sewer, probably the latter. This supposition is corroborated by discoveries made in an excavation for a stoke room at the office of the Times, where a large mass of the ancient halt was laid bare, upon which remains of the monastery appeared as they had been founded upon the wall, and by the side ot the wall was found an ancient sewer running in the direction of the Thames. It seems very probable that the arch above mentioned has been a portion of the same sewer, and from the style of its construction it appears to have been turned about the time of Edward 1., contemporaneously with the monastery of the Black Friars. The fragment of London wall remains in situ under the Times office, its demolition having been found too laborious an undertaking. The vestiges of the Monastery consist of the bases of columns, probably belonging to a door of the edifice, and largo stones inserted in the wall, which latter is evidently of Roman construction. As the excavation proceeds articles of antiquarian interest continue to be turned up. Among these are a medieval vessel, fragments of Roman pottery, ancient glass, tusks of boars, horns of goats, and a quantity of bones; these are represented in the accompanying cut. There have, likewise, been found several Roman coins, and a remarkable Abbey token, which by the badge it bears—the Agnus Dei—appears to have been a token of the house of the knights of St. John of Clerkenwell. REMAINS OF BLACK FRIARS MONASTERY.

Roman Potteries

Abbey Tokens

New Street Post for letters corner of Fleet Street and Farringdon Street

Pen and Pencil, an Illustrated Family Newspaper. 1855. London. Published by Joseph Clayton, jr. 265 Strand. reference Printed by Joseph Clayton, jun., at the printing office of Joseph Clayton, Sen., and published by Joseph Clayton, jun., at the offices of Pen and Pencil, 10 Crane Court, Fleet Street, 265 Strand, and 223 Piccadilly.