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101
Street, and a very conspicuous object seen from London
Bridge or from the Borough High Street, then called Wellington
Street (The Charing Cross railway bridge did not then
exist to obstruct the view). Over tho clock and beneath the
spire a space was reserved which was intended for a figure of
the Duke, but this was never tenanted. The foundation used
for the purpose of the tower was laid when London Bridge
was built, and still remains beneath the arches of the viaduct
forming the approach to the bridge. This foundation was
intended for the equestrian statue of the Duke, originally
designed for Southwark, but which was set up in front of the
Royal Exchange instead. The lower portion of the tower was
let by the Board to the London District Telegraph Company
and used as a telegraph station. In the year 1858 a memorial,
signed by the then proprietor of the Bridge House Hotel, the
London & Westminster Bank, the late Mr. E. Dresser Rogers
and others was received expressing an opinion that the
structure was more ornamental than useful, that it was an
obstruction to the traffic and that it ought to be removed.
Much difference of opinion prevailed on this latter point, as
well as in regard to its utility, but, after a great deal of contention
and angry controversy extending over several years,
a resolution was passed to take it down. Even after
this an effort was made to retain it. As a last resort the
Commissioner of Metropolitan Police was appealed to, and he
condemned it as being, in his opiuion, an unwarrantable
obstruction to the traffic. This determined its fate; the
materials were advertised for sale and certain small offers
received, Messrs. John Mowlem & Co., the well-known contractors,
offering to take it down gratuitously and pave the
site at their own cost. The Board, not being satisfied with
the offers, wrote to the Metropolitan Board of Works offering
the materials to them gratuitously for re-erection in Southwark
Park, then lately formed, and they accepted the gift, but
shortly afterwards repudiated it, alleging that the cost of
re-erection would have been greater than the original cost.
Thereupon the Board fell back upon the offer of Messrs. John
Mowlem & Co. At the end of 1860 or beginning of 1867, the
building was carefully taken down by that firm, the stones
numbered and packed, and the whole consigned to a place at
Swanage. I am indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. Mowlem
for the information that it was presented by their firm to
Mr. Thomas Docwra, who then resided at the Grove,
Swauage ; that it was erected in a corner of the grounds of