Great Chart appears in Domesday as being in the possession of the Archbishop's monks, and was then called Certh; the Archbishop of Canterbury was the tenant in chief.
In Philipott's 'Villare Cantianum' (1659) is an interesting account of the manor and its owners from the days of King Cenulfe in 788, together with an account of the other manors in the parish.
In 1613 was published (4to)
"The Windie Yeare, shewing many strange accidents that happened, with a particular relation of what happened at Great Chart in Kent."
References can also be found in Kilburne's 'Topographie,' 1659, Beam's 'Weald of Kent,' Ireland's 'History of Kent,' Britten and Brayley, and, of course, Hasted's valuable work. There is a short letter by "Cantianium" on the Sidley family of Great Chart in The Gentleman's Magazine for April, 1795. Wm. Norman.
"The History of London illustrated by Views in London and Westminster. Engraved by John Woods from Original Drawings by Shepherd, Garland, Salmon, Topham, Clarke, Browne, Roberts, &c. Edited by William Gray Fearnside and (in continuation) by Thomas Harral. London, Orr & Co., Amen Corner, 1838."
It should be noted that the name of the engraver is Woods (not Wood, as often printed). Woods was living at Woodland Cottage, Pond Lane, Clapton. The book was printed by Macintosh of Great New Street. Fearnside wrote up to p. 144, and then died. Pp. 145-201 were written by Harral (not Harrel, as sometimes printed).
The plates are of the Monument (vignette title), King William Street, E.C., West India Dock, The Upper Pool, Cheapside, Custom House, High Street, Whitechapel; Billingsgate, Southwark, Westminster Hospital and Abbey, London Bridge, Fishmongers' Hall, Somerset House, St. Martin's Church, Cumberland Terrace, Interior of Westminster Abbey, Mansion House, Leadenhall Street, Post Office, Royal Exchange (2), City of London School. Quadrant, Buckingham Palace; St. James's Park, Horse Guards, Duke of York's Column, Coliseum, St. Katharine's Hospital (Regent's Park).
Britton's book was entitled:—
"Illustrations of the Public Buildings of London, with Historical and Descriptive Accounts of Each Edifice by J. Britton and A. Pugin, Architect, 2 vols., 8vo, 1823-8."
Britton and Pugin were friends, and Pugin and his pupils did the drawings. The undertaking was in equal shares between author, artist, and publisher (Joseph Taylor). The book was issued in parts. The first part was published April, 1823, at 5s. (small paper). The drawings are very carefully executed to scale, and in each case a ground plan is given. Historical and descriptive accounts accompany each illustration. In the two volumes there are 143 illustrations and 708 pages of literary matter. Charles Mathews (the actor), George Cattermole, and H. Shaw did some of the drawings. Decimus Burton and Joseph Gwilt also contributed. The plates were engraved by Le Keux and others. Brayley wrote a part of the letterpress, and Charles Dibdin did the accounts of the theatres. The illustrations include churches, theatres, bridges, Government offices, clubs, private houses (including Uxbridge House and Ashburnham House), also a number of the then newly erected houses in Regent's Park. In 1841 Nattali purchased the stock, plates, and copyright, which he afterwards transferred to Weale of Holborn, who brought out a new edition.
Great Chart.—I append the following notes:—
"The Windie Yeare, shewing many strange accidents that happened, with a particular elation of what happened at Great Chart in Kent," 4to, 1613.
'On the Sidley Family of Great Chart' (Gent. Mag., April, 1795).
Two local acts, both 7 Geo. III. (1767), one dealing with turnpikes, and the other with the estates of John Wicker, Esq.
The Court Rolls of Great Chart, from Henry IV. to Elizabeth, are in Lambeth Palace.
See also the two printed Indexes to the B.M. Charters and Rolls under 'Chart.' There is a Parliamentary Survey (Commonwealth period) in P.R.O. A. L. Humphreys.
'The Original Picture of London,' re-edited by J. Britton, F.S.A., &c. London, published by Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green, Paternoster Row (24th ed.). 'Dedication' to the Lord Mayor, &c.; dated 1826. Size, 5½ in. × 3½ in.; pp. xxxiv + 495. The book contains Table of Contents and full Index, several maps and illustrations.
Summary of Contents.
Preface; Introduction.
Chapter I. Outline; geography; present dimension; history and growth; population, climate, diseases.
Chapter II. History.
Chapter III. Municipal, civil, and military establishments.
