Bertram Waldrom Matz

“ That which still exists is often made pretty in summer with flowers, as may be seen from one of our illustrations. The parts of the inn not devoted to important business are mostly occupied by people who frequent the very bustling Borough Market close at hand. But, alas, like the rest, the glory of the inn is departing! ”

“ In 30th George II., an Act of Parliament was passed for vesting the settled estates of Lillie Smith, Esq., and Valentina, his wife in trustees, to be sold. And in 1785, "The George Inn," with considerable other property, was sold and conveyed to Lillie Smith Aynescomb, Esq., of Thames Street, London, merchant; and within a few years past, it has been purchased by the trustees of Guy's Hospital, to which it adjoins. ”

“ A return is made by the Warden to the Earl of Arundel, that the George Inn, or tenements within it, was built of brick and timber in 1622. The landlord is presented in 1634, and doubtless often besides on other occasions, because he allowed drinking during Divine service. 1637 Taylor, the Water Poet, tells us of the carriers who came from various parts of Surrey and Sussex to lodge at the George. In 1656, some angry poetaster had been served with bad sack at the George, and thus he vents his wrath:—
"The Devil would abhorre such posset-drink. ”

“ Our poet-apes, that do so much impute
Unto the grape's inspirement."
In the year 1670, "The George Inn" was, in great part, burnt and demolished by a violent fire which then happened in the Borough, and it was totally burnt down in the great fire of Southwark, in 1676, which I have mentioned in speaking of the "Tabard," and of which I promised to give a further account in the history of "The George." ”

“ Wayland rebuilt it, and had his rent reduced to £80 and a sugar-loaf. Wayland, in 1670, had a lease of Nicholas Andrewes. [5] In the great fire of the year 1676, the inn was totally destroyed, and rebuilt by the tenant; accordingly an extension of lease and a reduction of rent are granted, the old lease of thirty-nine years yet to run, and nineteen in addition, at a rent of £50 a year and a
THE REAR OF THE INN AND COACH YARD AS THEY WERE IN 1889 ”

“ His Majesty, accompanied by his Royal Highness the Duke of York, in a tender sense of the calamity, being pleased himself to go down to the bridge in his barge, to give such orders His Majesty found fit for putting a stop to it, which, through the mercy of God, was finally effected, after about 600 houses had been burnt or blown up. ”