22. PORTSOKEN WARD.
Portsoken Ward consists of the parish of St.
Botolph Aldgate, except that portion now in the
Borough of Stepney.
Ecclesiastical
(1) Parish Church of St. Botolph stands at
the E. corner of Whitechapel High Street and
Houndsditch and was re-built in 1741–44, partly
on the site of the original church, which was,
unlike the present structure, properly orientated.
The church contains, from the former building,
the following:—
Fittings—Communion Table: probably reconstructed but incorporating late 17th-century
turned and twisted legs. Monuments: In W. aisle
—on N. wall, (1) to Capt. Robert Silk, 1701–2, and
Martha his wife, 1689, white marble tablet with
drapery, cherub-head, cartouche and vase; on S.
wall, (2) to Sir Edward Darcy, 1612, small brown
marble tablet with ornamental strap-work border;
(3) to Robert Tailor of Silverdale, 1577, small
brown marble tablet, incomplete. In W. gallery—
on W. wall, (4) to Thomas, Lord Darcy of the North,
K.G. [executed 1537], Sir Nicholas Carew, K.G.
[executed 1539] and other members of the same
families, brown marble tablet with Corinthian
columns at sides, cornice, emaciated recumbent
figure and three coats-of-arms, probably erected
c. 1560. In E. aisle—on E. wall, (5) to William,
1678–9, John, 1682, Charles, 1684, sons of William
Pouldon, and to Katherine Pouldon, 1687, his
daughter, marble tablet with shield-of-arms. In
E. gallery—on E. wall, (6) to Robert Dow, 1612,
marble wall-monument with coloured bust in niche
and two shields-of-arms, repaired 1675. Organ and
Organ-case: In S. gallery—instrument by Renatus
Harris, 1676, with additions and restored in 1897.
Case with three 'towers' of pipes, pierced and
carved frieze below, with cherub-head corbels
supporting side-towers and acanthus-corbel under
middle tower; towers finished with scroll-work and
entablatures; panels between towers with pierced
and carved bands and cornices ramped up to
middle tower and supporting cherubs playing
musical instruments; re-fixed on front of gallery,
carved cartouche (Plate 17) inscribed—" This
organ is ye gift of Mr. Thomas Whiting to the
hole parish 1676"; larger cartouche with arms of
Whiting above. Plate (Plate 31): includes cup
of 1559 with mediæval stem and gilt band on bowl
inscribed with text; tazza-paten (Plate 29) of 1589
with elaborately enriched stem, incised ornament
inside bowl with embossed head of bearded man
wearing a helmet, in the centre, inscribed and dated
1625; cup of 1594 with incised ornament on bowl,
stem and foot, inscribed and dated 1606; tall cup
(Plate 29) of 1609 with embossed ornament on
bowl, free enrichment of bracket form on stem and
incised ornament with bands of enrichment on foot;
two large flagons with inscriptions and achievements-of-arms, one of 1613 given in 1614, the other
of 1622 and given the same year; inscribed cup
and paten, both of 1635, and engraved with scene
depicting sacrifice of Isaac; inscribed spoon of
1665, given the same year; inscribed flagon of
1669, given the same year; large inscribed flagon
of 1675; and an inscribed stand-paten of 1697.
Also the following plate from the church of Holy
Trinity, Minories—two inscribed flagons of 1668,
given the following year, and an inscribed ewer
of 1683 given the same year. Miscellanea: In
W. aisle—fragments of carved stonework including
defaced angel-corbel and shield with the arms of
old France quartering England, in a cusped
panel, 14th-century. In vestry—in glass case,
severed human head in mummified state, and said
to be that of Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, executed
1554; it was formerly preserved in Holy Trinity,
Minories.
Condition—Rebuilt.
Secular
(2) Hoop and Grapes, on the S. side of Aldgate
High Street, 30 yards W. of Mansell Street, is of
three storeys with attics; the walls are timber-framed and plastered and the roofs are tiled. It
was built probably in the 17th century and has a
square projecting bay in front, starting at the first-floor level and carried up to a dormer with a hipped
roof. The main roof has a wooden eaves-cornice.
Two old rainwater-pipes and heads remain in position. The back elevation is weather-boarded and
much altered. The interior has been completely
gutted. In front and in advance of the building
are two heavy timber posts with sunk panels
carved with vine-leaves and grapes.
Condition—Fairly good.