Statue of Magog in the Guildhall, 2011
Legendary giants Gog and Magog are part of London mythology. The 17th century versions seen by Elizabeth Chivers were destroyed in the Blitz. Image copyright Ian Visits, BY-NC.
The next morning our third day we commenced our walks about eleven, we began with viewing Covent garden market, Covent garden Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Bow St. public office, New Church Strand, Somerset House, St. Clements church, Temple Bar, Black Fryers bridge, St. Pauls, Bow church, Cheapside, Gild Hall, and the two giants Gog and Magog. We next saw the Mansion House, the Bank of England, and the Royal Exchange, called on Mr. Dawes Angel court, Throgmorton Street and on M… Bond’s change alley. We next saw the general post office, the Monument, London Bridge, Billingsgate fish Market, the ruins of the Custom house, the Tower, Tower hill and a house once the residence of our late Uncle Chivers in Tower Street, also the house the friend Finch lived in where my Father and Mother first became acquainted in Fenchurch St.
We saw Leadenhall market then came to Birches the pastry cook’s* where we eat a charming cheese cake in Cornhill, saw Mr Wilm. Chivers’s old house in Newgate Street, Newgate and the old Bailey sessions house, and Saracen’s head Snow Hill, Fleet Market, St Andrew’s church Holborn, where my Father and Mother were married, and a house my Uncle liv’d in when he resided in London in Holborn no: 307. Also a house of his no. 5 Featherston buildings. We took a view of Grey’s Inn, Greys Inn and Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and arrived at the Rainbow at half past four to dinner, had tea at seven in the evening, a hit of Back Gammon at eleven retired to rest.
*[Samuel Birch 1757-1841, politician, playwright and pastrycook. Son of Lucas Birch, who carried on the business of a pastrycook and confectioner at 15 Cornhill. Samuel Birch was Lord Mayor from 9 November 1814.]