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14
THE CITY AND LIBERTIES OF WESTMINSTER,*
of which the Parish of St. James forms a part, cover an area
of 2,518 statute acres, and date their origin from the seventh
century, when (according to tradition) a Monastery or Abbey
was founded in 610 by Sebert, King of the East Saxons, and
dedicated to St. Peter. The name " Westminster" was
probably given some time subsequently to distinguish the
Abbey from the Church of St. Paul in the City of London,
which had been founded by the same monarch seven years
previously.
Before the establishment of the Abbey, the land which wasselected
as its site comprised a marshy island, separated from
the shore by a short branch of the river Thames, long since
converted into a sewer. In the year 785 the island had
acquired the name of Thorny Island, apparently in consequence
of a thick growth of thorns and briers. According to
the prevailing custom, the Abbey attracted a small colony of
settlers in its immediate locality, partly no doubt for the sake of
the protection and security afforded by the growing wealth and
power of the religious corporations, as well as for the benefit of
spiritual ministrations, and at an early period the houses
erected round the Abbey had grown into the "town of
Westminster."
As time went on, Westminster received many marks of
royal favour. One of the most frequently used residences of
the Kings was erected in Westminster, and, being naturally
followed by the building of houses for occupation by the
nobility, had no small share in contributing to the early prosperity
and importance of the place. It is, indeed, surmised
that the Court party did not regard with unmixed satisfaction
* Reprinted, with some alterations, from the Report of the Vestry, for
the year 1882-3.