Vauxhall court, Little Chapel street.

Vauxhall stairs, Vauxhall.

Vauxhall Stairs lane, leading from the above stairs toward the garden.

Vauxhall walk, Bull street, Lambeth.

St. Vedast’s, situated on the east side of Foster lane, in the Ward of Farringdon within. A church has stood for many centuries in the place where this is situated; but not under the same tutelage: the first building was dedicated to St. Foster, and from that the lane in which it stands was called Foster lane: but afterwards the church being rebuilt, was put under the patronage of St. Vedast, Bishop of Arras, in France, who died in the year 550.

This church was so far destroyed by the fire of London in 1666, that nothing was left standing but the steeple and the walls; but these being repaired, continued till the year 1694, when they were taken down, and the present edifice was finished in 1697. It is built entirely of stone, and the body is sixty-nine feet in length, fifty-one broad, and thirty-six feet high. It is well enlightened by a range of windows placed so high that the doors open under them. The tower is plain, and the spire which is short rises from a double base. English architecture.

The author of The Critical Review of the public buildings, mentioning this steeple says, “It is not a glaring pile that strikes the eye at the first view with an idea of grandeur and magnificence; but then the beautiful pyramid it forms, and the just and well proportioned simplicity of all its parts, satisfy the mind so effectually, that nothing seems to be wanting, and nothing can be spared.”

The patronage of this church was anciently in the prior and convent of Canterbury, till coming to the archbishop of that see in the year 1352 it has been in him and his successors ever since, and is one of the thirteen peculiars in the city belonging to the archiepiscopal see. To this church the parish of St. Michael Quern is united, and the rector receives 160l. a year in lieu of tithes. Maitland.

Vere street, 1. Beer street: 2. Brook’s street, Ratcliff: 3. Clare Market: 4. Oxford street. Thus named from the Lady of the late Earl of Oxford.

Victualling Office, on the upper part of Little Tower Hill near the end of King street; is separated from Tower Hill by a wall and gates, and contains some houses for the officers, with store rooms, slaughter houses, a brewhouse, for salting, barrelling, &c. of provisions.

This office is under the direction of seven commissioners, each of whom has his separate department, as in the Navy Office, and a salary of 400l. per annum, as the first commissioner and comptroller, the commissioner of the bakehouse, another of the cutting house, another of the brewhouse; another of the accounts; another of the cooperage; and another who is hoytaker.

Under these commissioners is a secretary who has 200l. per annum, and five clerks; a cash accomptant who has 120l. per annum, and four clerks, besides an extra-clerk; an accomptant for stores, who has 100l. per annum, and five clerks, besides an extra-clerk; the clerk of the bakehouse and master baker, who has 130l. a year, and two clerks, besides an extra-clerk, a clerk of the cutting house who has 110l. a year, a clerk and extra-clerk. Besides these there are a storekeeper of the brewhouse, who has 60l. a year; a master cooper; a muster master of the workmen; a master butcher; a surveyor of oxen and hogs; clerks to keep charge on pursers, a clerk for stating a purser’s accounts, a short allowance clerk, and a clerk to bring up accounts of stores in arrears, most of these have clerks under them: and there are also a few other officers and servants.

Vigo lane, 1. Burlington Gardens: 2. Swallow street.

Villar’s court, 1. Huggen lane: 2. St. James’s street.

Villar’s street, in the Strand, so called from its being built on the ground where the house of Villars Duke of Buckingham formerly stood. See York Buildings.

Vincent’s court, Silver street.†

Vine court, 1. Bishopsgate street without.* 2. Brook’s street.* 3. Chequer alley.* 4. Golden lane.* 5. Gravel lane.* 6. Harp alley, Shoe lane.* 7. Lamb street, Spitalfields.* 8. Moor lane.* 9. Narrow street, Limehouse.* 10. Onslow street, Vine street.* 11. Shoemaker row, Aldgate.* 12. Three Crane lane, Thames street.* 13. Vine street, in the Minories.* 14. Vine yard, Horsely down lane.* 15. Vineyard, St. Olave’s street.* 16. Whitechapel.*

Vine street, 1. Fore street, Limehouse.* 2. St. Giles’s.* 3. Hatton Wall.* 4. Lamb street.* 5. Maiden lane, Deadman’s place.* 6. Millbank.* 7. in the Minories.* 8. Narrow Wall, Lambeth.* 9. Chandois street.* 10. Warwick street.

Vine yard, 1. Old Horselydown lane.* 2. Pickax street, Aldersgate street.* 3. Ratcliff.* 4. Redcross street.* 5. Tooley street, Southwark.*

Vinegar yard, 1. Barnaby street, Southwark: 2. Blue Anchor, alley: 3. Bowl alley, St. Giles’s: 4. Dirty lane, Blackman street, Southwark: 5. Drury lane: 6. George street, in the Mint: 7. St. John’s lane, Smithfield: 8. Sun yard, Nightingale lane.

Vintner alley, Thames street.

Vintners, one of the twelve principal companies, were anciently denominated Merchant wine tunners of Gascoyne, and were of two sorts, the Veneatrii, who imported the wine, and the Tabernarii who sold it by retail, either kept taverns or wine cellars. They were however incorporated by letters patent granted by King Henry VI. in the year 1437, by the name of the master, wardens, freemen and commonalty of the mystery of Vintners of the city of London; but without the power of making by-laws.

They are governed by a master, three wardens, twenty-eight assistants, with a livery of 194 members, who, upon their admission, pay a fine of 31l. 13s. 4d. They are possessed of a very considerable estate, out of which is paid to charitable uses about 600l. a year, and have a handsome hall in Thames street, where was formelry the house of Sir John Stody, who gave it the company: it was called in antient records the place of Stody, or the manor of the Vintry.

The buildings enclose a square court, and in the north front next the street is a large and handsome gate, with columns wreathed with grapes and supporting a Bacchus on three tons. Behind the hall is a garden through which is a passage to the Thames.

Vintners Almshouse, at Mile-end, was founded by the company of Vintners, for the use of twelve widows of deceased members, each of whom receives 3s. a week, and every year a chaldron of coals, and about 40s. given at certain times. Maitland.

Vintry Ward, takes its name from the Vintry, situated where the Vintners hall now stands, and where the antient vintners or wine merchants, who lived on the banks of the Thames, landed their wines, which they were obliged to sell in forty days, till Edward I. granted them longer time, and certain privileges. This ward is bounded on the north by Cordwainers wards; on the east, by Walbrook and Dowgate wards; on the south by the Thames, and on the west by Queenhithe ward. The principal streets are a part of Thames street, from Little Elbow lane in the east, to Townsend lane, in the west; a part of Queen street, Great St. Thomas Apostles, Garlick hill, Great and Little Elbow lane, &c. and the most remarkable buildings are the parish churches of St. Michael’s Royal, St. Martin’s Vintry, and St. James Garlickhithe; Vintners hall, Cutlers hall, Plumbers hall, and Fruiterers hall.

The government of this ward is by an alderman, and nine common councilmen, under whom are four scavengers, fourteen wardmote inquest men, and a beadle. The jurymen returned by the wardmote inquest for this ward are to serve in the several courts held in Guildhall in the month of April. Stow. Maitland.

Virginia court, 1. Artichoke lane: 2. Butcher Row, East Smithfield.

Virginia Planters hill, Upper Shadwell.

Virginia row, 1. Greyhound lane, Limehouse: 2. Shoreditch.

Virginia street, Ratcliff Highway.

Underwood’s Almshouse, was at first erected at the west end of the rectory house of St. Botolph’s Bishopsgate, by one Mr. Underwood, for the accommodation of sixteen poor old women; but on the rebuilding of Petty France, when it changed its name to that of Broad street, &c. this almshouse, with that of Alleyn’s adjoining, were in the year 1730, forced to make way for the new passage leading into Bishopsgate street; and a new building was erected in Lamb Alley, in the same parish, for these poor women, each of whom is allowed 2s. 6d. per month.

Unicorn alley, 1. Blackman street, Southwark.* 2. Fore street, Cripplegate.* 3. Holiwell street.* 4. Kent street, Southwark.* 5. in the Minories.* 6. Wheeler street.*

Unicorn court, 1. in the Haymarket.* 2. Kent street.* 3. Redcross street.*

Unicorn yard, 1. Blackman street Southwark.* 2. Butcher Row, East Smithfield.* 3. St. Olave’s street, Southwark.* 4. Old street, Horselydown.* 5. Tooly street, Southwark.*

Union bridge, Old Horselydown, Southwark.

Union court, 1. a well built court in Broad street, London Wall, extending into Wormwood street: 2. Scroop’s court, Holbourn: 3. Throgmorton street, Lothbury.

Union Fire Office, is a very handsome building, erected for that purpose in Maiden lane, near Cheapside, where goods and merchandize, but not houses, are insured from loss by fire, by a mutual contribution.

This office, like that of the Hand-in-Hand Fire Office, was erected by a considerable number of persons, who mutually agreeing to insure one another’s goods and merchandize from loss by fire by an amicable contribution, entered into a deed of settlement for that purpose, on the 16th of February, 1714–15, and had it inrolled in chancery on the 3d of July following, and this deed being signed by all persons desirous of becoming members, they are thereby admitted to an equal share in the profit and loss, in proportion to their respective policies.

This office insures for all merchants, traders, housekeepers, and others in the cities of London and Westminster and within ten miles round, merchandize, goods, wares, utensils in trade, houshold furniture, and wearing apparel; except plate, pictures, glass and china ware not in trade; except also ready money, jewels, books of account, tallies, writings, barns, ricks and stacks of corn, hay, straw and horses. The term of insurance to be seven years, or less if desired.

The terms and methods of insurance are as follows

I. For the policy and mark are paid 8s. 6d. over and above all other expences.

II. Every person designing to insure, shall before surveying the goods, pay 10s. earnest money, to go towards the charge of insuring, if agreed to, and the policy be taken up within three months after, otherwise the said 10s. is sunk to the society: but if the directors do not agree to such insurance, the earnest money to be returned. Also old policies directed to be renewed, and not taken away within three months are also to be cancelled, and the charge of the policies and stamps of such renewals deducted out of the deposit-money of such insurers.

III. For every 100l. insured on goods inclosed within brick or stone, 2s. premium, and 10s. deposit; and on goods not so inclosed, 3s. premium, and 15s. deposit. And so in proportion within part brick part timber.

IV. For insurances deemed hazardous, as to situation, or kind of goods, each 100l. inclosed in brick or stone, 4s. premium, and 1l. deposit; in timber, 6s. premium, and 1l. 10s. deposit. Hazardous Insurances both by situation and kind of goods, if inclosed in brick or stone, 6s. premium, and 1l. 10s. deposit; in timber 9s. premium, and 2l. 5s. deposit. And so in proportion within part brick part timber.

V. Those who insure above 1000l. not exceeding 2000l. in one policy, to pay double the premium that others do, but the same deposit; and from 2000l. to 3000l. on the following terms, viz. For every 100l. insured on goods inclosed in brick or stone, 6s. premium and 10s. deposit, and on goods not so inclosed, 9s. premium, and 15s. deposit. Insurances deemed hazardous, as to situation or kind of goods, each 100l. inclosed in brick or stone, 12s. premium, and 1l. deposit; in timber 18s. premium, and 1l. 10s. deposit. Hazardous insurances, both by situation and kind of goods, if inclosed in brick or stone, 18s. premium, and 1l. 10s. deposit; in timber 1l. 7s. premium, and 2l. 5s. deposit; and so in proportion within part brick part timber. Since the 15th of November 1738, the society have enlarged their insurances to 4000l. on the following terms, viz. For every 100l. insured on goods inclosed in brick or stone, 6s. premium, and 10s. deposit; and on goods not so inclosed, 9s. premium, and 15s. deposit; and the hazardous insurances in the same proportion as the 3000l. insurances; and so in proportion within part brick part timber, and since to 5000l.

VI. If more than twenty pounds weight of gunpowder is kept on the premises insur’d, the policy is to be void.

VII. All insurances beyond the bills of mortality pay 3s. to the surveyor for his charges, &c.

VIII. Every member to have a policy under the hands and seals of three of the trustees, and the society’s mark (being a double Hand-in-Hand) affix’d upon his house, &c. The insurance to be good from the time the charge is paid, and the deed of settlement subscribed by the person insuring. The policy, on expiration (after accounting for the deposit-money and mean profits) to be returned to the Office, as also the mark.

IX. So much of the deposit-money is to be returned at the expiration of the policy, as has not been applied to the making good of losses, and the payment of necessary charges, together with a proportionable dividend of profits. And beyond the deposit, no one to be answerable for above 10s. per cent. on brick, and proportionably for part brick and timber, to any one loss.

X. Every member transferring his policy, and the executors or administrators of every member dying, shall within three months at farthest, give notice thereof to the directors or their clerk, and bring the policy to the office, to have such transfer, or death, indorsed, and enter’d in the books, and in default thereof the benefit of the insurance to be lost. Every of which indorsements to be sign’d by two trustees at least, and 6d. for every 100l. on each removal insured to be paid for the same. Provided, that if the directors do not allow of such executor, administrator or assignee to be a member, or do not admit of any such indorsement of any such transfer, or death, (all questions thereabouts to be decided by balloting) then such executor, administrator or assignee, or person, shall only have what shall be due to their respective policies, and all farther demands on the said policies shall henceforth cease, any forfeitures or disabilities incurred by the breach of this article, where no loss has happened, may be relieved by the directors, if from the nature and circumstances of the case they think it reasonable.

XI. Any members of this society removing their goods from the places where they were assured, shall have no benefit of such assurance, or be paid for any loss that may happen, till such removal be allowed by the directors for the time being; and if notice be not given of such removal within three kalendar months after the time of such removal, the policy to be void.

XII. The insurance of any goods, &c. in this society, which shall be insured in any other office at the same time, to be void: And yet such insurer shall be liable to his covenants. Nevertheless a liberty is given to insure in any other office, so as such other insurance is indorsed on this society’s policy, and subscribed by two of the trustees, for which 6d. per cent. is to be paid; and in which case a proportionable part of any loss is to be paid by this society.

XIII. All members sustaining any loss, shall give immediate notice of it to the directors, or clerk, in order to a view, and shall make out their loss by the oaths on affirmations of themselves, or by their domesticks or servants, or by their books or vouchers, or the Certificates of the minister, churchwardens, constables, or other neighbouring inhabitants, not concern’d in such loss, or by such other method as the directors shall reasonably require; and in case of fraud or perjury, such pretended sufferers to lose all benefits of the insurance. In case of any violent suspicion of fraud or clandestine practices, (though the same for want of evidence may not be fully proved) it shall be lawful for the directors to declare such member’s policy void, and exclude him the society; and he is never afterwards to be capable of insuring in this office. All questions relating thereunto to be decided among the directors by balloting.

XIV. The directors, shall on all alarms of fire meet together at their office to determine upon the methods most conducive to the safety of the office, and service of the public.

XV. The directors with all convenient expedition, after any loss, shall settle a rate of contribution, and set it up in the office, and publish it in the Gazette, and otherwise as they think fit. And when such loss amounts to 50l. or upwards, such rate shall be settled by a majority of the directors at two successive weekly-meetings at the least; and if any five members, insuring to the value of 5000l. think themselves agrieved, they may within fourteen days after such publication, inspect all the office accounts, &c. and offer their exceptions to the directors; and not being there agreed, it shall stand referred to the next general meeting. Nevertheless when such rates shall exceed the deposit-money, every member shall pay into the office his proportion, within thirty days after such publication; and all defaulters may by the directors be excluded the benefit of their insurances, and yet be liable to the payment of the said rates, pursuant to these articles.

Other offices of insurance on goods either deduct at least 3 per cent. out of each claim for defraying charges, &c. or oblige the sufferers to agree to an average; which this office is so far from doing, that no person is put to any charge but that of an affidavit to prove his loss. And though it is objected against this office, that the members are liable to farther contributions, upon extraordinary losses, which is not the case in any other office that insures goods; yet this is certainly so far from being an objection against the Union Office, and a recommendation of those other offices, with such as reason justly, that this single confederation proves the excellency of the Union establishment, in making such provision for answering losses, as it is presumed, cannot be exceeded by any human contrivance. This office has paid since its first establishment in 1715 to the end of the year 1757, to sufferers by fire, the sum of 62,538l. 18s. 11d. ½ besides which, there have paid to porters and other necessary charges occasioned by fires upwards of 5600l.

This office is under the management of twenty-four directors, elected by a majority of the members out of their own body, by balloting, at a general meeting in the month of September; at which time the oldest eight of the twenty-four go out, and eight others are elected in their stead in a way of constant rotation. These appoint all the other officers, and meet every Wednesday in the afternoon between the hours of three and seven, to dispatch business, and in March to ascertain the dividends and contributions for the preceding year. The directors annually chuse out of their own body by balloting, a treasurer, and two assistant treasurers; also six trustees, three of whom sign all policies; and five auditors, to examine and pass the accounts; but as this office is solely calculated for the public good, none of the directors have any advantage above the rest of the members.

There are porters and watermen, &c. provided by the office, who assist in removing of goods; these wearing the societies livery and badge, and having given security for their fidelity, may be trusted in case of danger. Extracted from a copy of the proposals, and an abstract of the deed of settlement received at the office in October 1758.

Union square, in the Minories.

Union stairs, Wapping.

Union street, 1. King street, Westminster: 2. New Bond street.

Upholders, or Upholsterers, a fraternity incorporated by letters patent granted by King Charles I. in the year 1627. They are governed by a master, two wardens, and twenty-eight assistants with a livery of an hundred and thirty-one members; who upon their admission, pay a fine of 4l. 10s. but they have no hall.

Upper Brook street, Grosvenor square.†

Upper East Smithfield, near Tower Hill.

Upper Ground street, near the Falcon, Southwark.

Upper Gun-alley, Wapping.*

Upper Middle-row, Broad St. Giles’s.§

Upper Moorfields, near St. Luke’s hospital.

Upper Millbank, Horseferry.

Upper Moorfields-row, Upper Moorfields.

Upper Shadwell street, Shadwell.

Upper street, Islington, the street and row on the west side of Islington.

Upper Turn-stile, High Holbourn.?

Upper Well-alley, Wapping.

Gentleman, Ushers, an order of officers under the Lord Chamberlain, of which there are several classes, as the gentlemen ushers of the privy chamber; those of the presence chamber daily-waiters; and those who are quarter-waiters in ordinary.

The gentlemen ushers of the privy-chamber are four in number, and have the power of commanding all officers under them in the privy-lodgings, the bed-chamber excepted, and when there is a Queen, have the honour of leading her, in the absence of the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain. The salary of each is 400l. a year.

The gentlemen ushers of the presence chamber, are also four, who are daily-waiters in ordinary, the first of whom has the considerable office of black rod. This gentleman in time of parliament attends every day the house of Lords, and is also usher of the most noble order of the Garter. See BLACK ROD. These gentlemen ushers wait in the presence chamber, where they attend next the King’s person; these under the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain order all affairs, and all the under officers above stairs obey them. They have each 150l. per annum. There is also an assistant gentleman usher whose salary is 66l. 13s. 4d. a year.

The gentlemen ushers quarterly-waiters in ordinary, are eight in number. These also wait in the presence chamber, and give directions in the absence of the gentlemen ushers daily-waiters, to whom they are subordinate. Their salary is only 50l. a year. Chamberlain’s present state.

Usher’s court, Seething lane, Tower street.†

Uxbridge, a town in Middlesex, in the road from London to Oxford, from the first of which it is distant eighteen miles and a half. Though it is entirely independent, and is governed by two bailiffs, two constables, and four headboroughs, it is only a hamlet to Great Hillington. The river Coln runs through it in two streams, full of trout, eels, and other fish, and over the main stream is a stone bridge that leads into Buckinghamshire. The church, or rather chapel, was built in the reign of Henry VI. This town has many good inns, and is particularly distinguished by the whiteness of the bread, particularly their rolls. There are many corn-mills at a small distance, and a considerable number of waggon loads of meal are carried from thence every week to London. Uxbridge gives the title of Earl to the noble family of Paget.

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