Stranica 244 [244]
OCR
tHE CITY AS SEs iJ iv ty the huge mass of the Law Courts, where formerly was a rookery of dilapidated, if picturesque, houses. Then where is Temple Bar? Where is the dingy front of Child’s Bank with its curious little room over the arch? Where, on the opposite side, are the familiar oyster shop and the old Cock? All are gone, and we might be better resigned to their loss if we could persuade ourselves that the. region still vaguely denominated Temple Bar had been improved in the process of alteration. | I have not heard any adequate reason advanced for the removal of the old archway. | Li Some people said it obstructed the highway ; 0 GHANCERY Lane to which the obvious answer was, ‘‘ Make the street wider and leave Temple Bar in the middle.” That is what they have done in Paris. If the road was obstructed, why was that funny Dragon set up? It will be well, however, in passing, to assert once more that Temple Bar was not a city gate. I regret its removal, because it was extremely beautiful in itself, and because it had many interesting associations. There has been a kind of crusade against Wren’s works of late years ; and Temple Bar was doomed from the first. The age that spared not the College of Physicians was not likely to respect Temple Bar, even if it had been what it was not, a city gate. As there was no boundary wall or fence between the ward DOORWAY IN TOOK'S COURT, CHANCERY LANE
