retail ironmonger, are being rebuilt, and not a day too soon, for it has been a wonder that they stood so long. I cannot find out the age of these shops; but every one agrees that they were very old, and it is certain that the work of pulling down was not a work of much labour. The new Police Court has been completed, and is now in use. It is a substantial building; the approaches and waiting-rooms are spacious and handsome, all the former objectionable surroundings having been done away with, but the court itself is the same building which has been in use for many years. It has, however, been redecorated and refitted, and the oak benches and desks for the solicitors and the various officials give the place a decidedly neat and businesslike appearance. I am pleased to be able to state that the old-fashioned dock with its heavy lead flooring has been removed, and in its place there is a more modern-looking structure, answering to the true court of justice type. It is upon record that the old one was so strong that once, some years ago, it resisted "the outward pressure of the muscular arms of Samson, of Royal Aquarium fame." The old coat of arms, which adorned the bookcase standing behind the magistrate's chair, is still there, and, having been beautified, carries its age—over a hundred years—exceedingly well. The change here was thoroughly needed.
In Vauxhall Bridge Road Nos. 82 to 94 (even numbers) are empty, and are about to be rebuilt; while in Edward Street, adjoining, Nos. 2 to 10 (even numbers) are all empty, and seem to be included in the same scheme. No. 10, at the corner of Douglas Street, has a very frail, old-fashioned, semicircular iron balcony to the window in the angle on the first floor. No. 90, Vauxhall Bridge Road is also empty, with a view to rebuilding.
Wheeler Street, a short street in the same road, has been widened and levelled, an improvement of considerable use; and at Strutton Ground, Pear Street has been made into a thoroughfare for carriage traffic, a house having been pulled down and some posts removed to effect this; but the usefulness of the change is not very clear, as the street leads nowhere of any consequence.
In Elverton Street—the origin of the name of which still remains in obscurity—Brin's Oxygen Company have put up a building for offices, &c., which gives an entrance to their works. It is in no way ornamental.
In Rochester Street and Grey Coat Street all the small houses (some of which were of considerable age) have been done away with and the same thing has happened in Bell Street. At Millbank (or, as it is now called, Grosvenor Road) the Military Hospital buildings are being rapidly pushed forward, and the public garden at the rear of the Tate Gallery is railed in, and during the coming summer will be found a great boon by the residents at the new Millbank dwellings, owned by the London County Council.
My perambulation of St. John's parish is now at an end. In St. Margaret's the changes during the past year have not been so numerous; still those that have occurred are of some interest, and particulars of them are likely to be inquired for in the future. In the church itself some changes have been made. The electric lighting has been re-arranged, not altogether, as I think, to advantage; and the font set up by public subscription in Dr. Farrar's time, at a cost of 150l., has been removed from the west end, dismantled, and stowed away, and a much smaller one, which had not been used for many years, has been placed in the south-west corner of the church in its stead, and this arrangement must be deemed an improvement.
The aspect of Victoria Street has been much altered within the last two years, and changes are still taking place, most of them having been effected during the last twelve months. A great number of the ground-floor flats have been converted into shops; the exclusively residential character of the street having gone, trade has come in the wake of the Army and Navy Co-operative Society, which has been established here for something over thirty-two years. This spot has now quite a businesslike appearance, and certainly the most artistic-looking shop-front is that of the premises occupied by Messrs. Berkeley, the outfitters, which has been greatly admired. There is nothing finer anywhere in London trading quarters, even the noted front at Swan & Edgar's no longer retaining its pre-eminence. All the alterations are in good taste, and have done much to remove the dulness of the street, so long complained about, not without cause.
In the Sanctuary, close under the shadow of the Abbey towers, extensive alterations are in progress at Nos. 1, 2, and 3, which are the offices of the Clergy Mutual Assurance Society, in order to adapt what have always been looked upon as excellent specimens of Gothic dwelling-houses (designed many years ago by the late Sir G. Gilbert Scott, R.A.) to the increased requirements of their business. A frontage is being added in Dean's Yard, which the Precentor of Westminster Abbey, the Rev. H. G. Daniell-Bainbridge, says, and
