Clement's Inn - Garden House, 1885

From: Henry Dixon & Son

RA Collection: Art

"Clement's Inn was so named, according to Stow, "because it standeth near to St Clement's Church, but nearer to the fair fountain called Clement's Well" (page 166). According to Fitzstephen, Clement's Well (fons Sancti Clementis), Holy Well, and Clerks' Well were the most famous of the springs near the City, "frequented by scholars and youths of the City on Summer evenings when they walk forth to take the air." Even in Stow's time the Well was "fair curbed square with hard stone, kept clean for common use, and always full" (p.7); and Cunningham ("Handbook," ed.1850) says that "the well supplies a pump." "I was once of Clement's Inn," says, in Shakespeare's " Henry IV.," Justice Shallow-the most notable student of whom the Inn can boast.

The photograph shows the well-known Garden House, with the trim lawn before and the sun-dial, sold in 1884 by the Ancients for twenty guineas. The background on the right shows a portion of New Inn, where the great Sir Thomas More studied. The Doric Pilasters and the cornices of the ground and first floors of Garden House seem to show that it is generally of an earlier date than would be inferred from the windows and balconies. The second storey is also a much later addition. The figure of the Moor supporting the sun-dial was presented to the Inn by Holles, Lord Clare, who brought it from Italy. Howel speaks with enthusiam of the residence of this family in the neighbourhood, which is now a very poor quarter:-"Then is there toward Drewry Lane, a new Market, called Clare Market; then is there a Street and Palace of the same name, built by the Earl of Clare, who lives there in a princely manner, having a House, a Street, and a Market, both for flesh and fish, all bearing his name." ( Londinopolis, p.345)."

The above description, by Alfred Marks, was taken from the letterpress which accompanies the photographs.