Volume 2

The history and antiquities of London / [Thomas Pennant].

  • Pennant, Thomas, 1726-1798
Date:
1813
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history and antiquities of London / [Thomas Pennant]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/372 (page 10)
    10 PLAYHOUSE IN GOODMAN'S FIELDS. ‘The theatre in Goodman’s Fields, will al- ways be remembered by my cotemporaries, as the stage where Garrick first showed those powers, which, for such a number of years, astonished and charmed the public: his first appearance was on October 19th, 1741. Qne Odel founded the playhouse in this square, in 1728. As sir John Hawkins expresses it, a halo of brothels* soon incircled that, as it does all theatres; and drove away the industrious inhabitants. This theatre was re-built, in an expensive manner, by Henry Giffard, in 1737; but was suppressed by the excellent act for the licensing of places of dramatical entertainment. Yetit was supported a few years by an evasion, during which time, Mr. Garrick entered him- self of the company. He drew an audience of nobility and gentry, whose carriages filled the whole space from Temple-bar to White- chapel f. On the west side of this baited of the walls, stood the house of the Crutched, or Crossed Friars, or Fratres sancte Crucis. The order was instituted, or at least reformed, about the year 1169, by Gerard, prior of St. Mary de