JB/123/218/001

Click Here To Edit

1
Case relative to the Tothill Fields Bill.
Case. —
Stating the Grounds of the annexed Bill for appropriating
a part of Tothill Fields, to the reception of a Penitentiary
House, intended to be erected, under the Penitentiary
Contract Act, of the 7th July 1794. —

The Waste Spot, known by the name of Tothill —
Fields, contains at present in the Gross, about 58 Acres;
including the Scite of Rochester Row, and that of
the Old Pile of Buildings called the Five Chimnies,
used in the time of the Great Plague as a Pest House, (a)
and for this long time, and probably ever since that time, as a
Poor-House: (which two Scites together may occupy about two Acres
of the extent) and the space employed in Roads, which may
occupy about six or eight Acres. —

The Westminster Scholars, as stated in the Bill, make
use of the Waste as a Cricket Ground — A considerable part
of it, to the amount of several Acres, is in a swampy state,
both Summer and Winter: a much more considerable part, in
Winter: the whole of the Portion lying behind Rochester Row, amounting
to upwards of six Acres, is altogether unproductive,
being without a single blade of Grass upon it: and a considerable
part of the remainder, is equally bare of Herbage, the surface
being continually covered by fresh Loads of Rubbish, promiscuously
shot down upon it. —

The situation has been noticed, in popular Songs, as a
place of resort for disorderly and dishonest company: and, for the
purpose of seditious meetings and enterprizes, it could, so long as
it continues in its present state, afford at any time a spot but
too commodious: commodious, not only by reason of the magnitude
of its expanse, but on account of its being common land, that is,
a spot on which persons of all descriptions and designs have
as right, to place themselves, and in any numbers without being liable

(a) Stowes Survey of London by Strype. —

Identifier: | JB/123/218/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 123.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	123	Main Headings	panopticon
Folio number	218	Info in main headings field	case relative to the tothill fields bill
Image	001	Titles	case / stating the grounds of the annexed bill for appropriating a part of tothill fields, to the reception of a penitentiary house, intended to be erected, under the penitentiary contract act, of the 7th july 1794
Category	copy/fair copy sheet	Number of Pages	2
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f1 / f2
Penner		Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer	fr3
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1794
Notes public	see note 3 to letter 1392, vol. 6	ID Number	41644
Box Contents