Sion College, London Wall., ca.1881

From: Henry Dixon & Son

RA Collection: Art

"Sion College stands on the site of Elsing Spital, a priory founded in 1332 by William Elsing, mercer of London. At the dissolution of religious houses it was granted to the Master of the King's Jewels.The house was burnt down in 1541, and no doubt rebuilt soon after. In 1623 it was purchased as a college for the clergy, and almshouses for twenty poor men and women under the provisions of the will of Dr Thomas White, Vicar of St Dunstan's in the West. The library was founded at the sole expense of the Rev. John Simson, one of Dr White's executors. The greater part of the building was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666, and the whole is usually said to been rebuilt at different times later; but there are clear traces of Tudor work in the entrance, shown in the photograph. On the opposite side of the street, seen through the gateway, is the old burying ground of St Alphage, the site of the former parish church, bound on the north side by a portion of the city wall."

The above description, by Alfred Marks, was taken from the letterpress which accompanies the photographs. According to a notice relating to the Tenth Year Issue, Sion College was partially or wholly demolished by April 1884.