3-021-147 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Forlorn condition of Temple-Bar, [City of London], 1868. 'The great operation of demolishing the houses and clearing all the ground between the Strand and Carey-street, and between Clement's-lane and Bell-yard, for the site of the new Courts of Law and Equity, now seems to be approaching its termination. Very few fragments of the Strand frontages remain, and the ruinous shells of building appear not loth to depart; for one of those houses...being probably an invalid building of frail constitution, fell down of its own accord...Fortunately, the police were on the alert, having perceived a crack in the wall; and, as it bulged outwards, threatening to fall into the street, the traffic was stopped...The forlorn position of Temple Bar, now deprived of the adjacent buildings on the north side of the street, is so remarkable that we have [engraved it]...It has, indeed, seen many great changes since it was erected, from Sir Christopher Wren's design, in the reign of Charles II., whose statue, in the costume of a Roman warrior, with those of his royal father and grandfather...is perched aloft in the façade of this famous City portal...Shire-lane now marks the progress of demolition, which will not stop here, but will extend to Bell-yard'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.