PANCRAS (ST.), a parish in the Holborn division
of the hundred of OSSULSTONE, county of MIDDLESEX,
a suburb to London, containing 71,838 inhabitants.
This parish exhibits, in an extraordinary degree,
the vast increase which within the last half century,
and particularly within the last ten years, has taken
place in the numerous districts bordering upon the
metropolis. In the year 1765, it was a remote and
isolated spot, consisting of a few scattered dwellings,
and containing only sixty inhabitants, and its ancient
church, of diminutive size, suited to the smallness of
the population, formed a romantic feature in the landscape.
Since that period, large tracts of meadow land
have been covered with buildings, and it is now one of
the most extensive and populous parishes in the vicinity
of London; Kentish-Town, Camden-Town, Somers-Town, and
Battle-Bridge, each a thickly-inhabited district,
forming only chapelries and hamlets within its
limits. Among the principal additions are, the numerous
spacious and regularly formed streets, leading from
the north side of Holborn to the New-road, intersected
by various handsome streets from Gray's-Inn-lane, and
Regent, Mecklenburgh, Brunswick, Tavistock, Gordon,
and Fitzroy squares, handsome ranges of modern houses,
the areas of which are tastefully laid out; the numerous
continuous lines of respectable buildings on both
sides of the New-road, extending from Battle-Bridge to
Albany-street; Cumberland market, an extensive quadrangular
area, surrounded with neat brick houses, or
which the centre will be appropriated to the hay market
now about to be removed from St. James'; Clarence market,
the continuation of Tottenham Court-road to Primrose-
hill, Chalk-farm, and Haverstoke-hill, on the Hamp-
stead road, comprising Mornington-crescent, and numerous
handsome villas and pleasant cottages; and the
eastern ranges of building in the Regent's Park, including
part of the Zoological gardens. The streets are well
paved, and lighted with gas, and the inhabitants are supplied
with water by the West Middlesex and New Paver
companies, the latter of which has a large reservoir in
the Hampstead-road. Of the principal buildings on
the south side of the New-road, the London University
is the most conspicuous; it occupies an area of seven
acres at the upper end of Gower-street, and was founded
in 1827, for the purpose of affording to the youth of
the metropolis, and to such as might object to the religious
conformity required at the Universities of Oxford
and Cambridge, a liberal course of instruction, calculated
to qualify them for professional pursuits. The
institution is governed by a council of twenty-four, who
appoint a warden, and the several professors in the
various departments of literature, to whom a regular
stipend is paid till the fees of the students form an income
sufficient for their remuneration. According to
the statutes, the funds of the institution are not to be
less than £150,000, nor more than £300,000, advanced
on shares of £100 each, every proprietor receiving a
dividend of £4 per cent., and having the privilege of
appointing one pupil. The course of studies comprehends
the ancient, modern, and oriental languages and
literature, the mathematics, natural, moral, and experimental
philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, ancient and
modern history, logic, political economy, botany, chemistry,
medicine, and surgery. The buildings, of which
the first stone was laid by the Duke of Sussex, in 1827,
are not yet completed; the principal range has, in the
centre, a lofty portico of ten Corinthian pillars, supporting
a cornice and triangular pediment, surmounted by
a handsome elliptical dome, and on each side a noble
facade of the Doric order; it contains the lecture-rooms,
libraries, the museum, and offices for the present use of
the professors and students, projecting behind which
are the different theatres, laboratory, &c.: the entire
plan is intended to include two projecting wings in
front also, of corresponding character with the central
range, having in the centre of each a tetrastyle portico
of the Corinthian order, surmounted by a pediment and
dome, facing the interior of the quadrangle, and having
the end fronts decorated with four Doric pilasters, supporting
a cornice and triangular pediment.
The Colosseum, in the Regent's Park, erected in 1824,
fbr the exhibition of the grand panoramic view of London,
and of the environs for ten miles round, taken by
Mr. Horuer, from the cross of St. Paul's Cathedral, is
a structure very much resembling the Pantheon at Rome,
a stately polygonal building of stone, four hundred feet
ia circumference, with a massive and boldly projecting
portico of six columns, of the Grecian Doric style, supporting
a cornice and triangular pediment; from the
main building rises a spacious and well-proportioned
dome, crowned with a parapet, forming a circular gallery,
from which an extensive and pleasing view of the
surrounding country is obtained. A flight of steps
leading from the entrance affords a descent to the saloon
cn the right hand, a circular apartment, fitted up as a
tent, with festooned and flowing draperies, and containing
a beautiful  assemblage of statuary, sculptures, alto
relievos, bronzes, verds antiqtie, and numerous specimens
of beautiful design and exquisite art: in this interesting
collection of marbles are full-length statues and busts
of the principal public characters, the muses, personifications
of the passions and virtues, and some composition
pieces of striking beauty, several subjects from the
pagan mythology, a fine sculpture in marble of Christ
on the Cross, in alto relievo, by Sievier, various models
of buildings, and many objects of interest and attraction;
among which is preserved the only perfect copy of
the only three in Europe of the sacred' code of the Burmese
laws, from the collection of Lieut. Brand, R. N.,
taken from a niche in a pagoda by the brother of that
gentleman, at the storming of Syriam, in 18125, only
a few minutes before the destruction of the fort. In
the central part of the saloon, exclusively of a spiral
staircase on the outside, is a circular enclosure, containing
a coved chamber, capable of holding twenty
persons, which by machinery is raised to the platform
of the gallery from which the panorama is viewed. The
view of London is arranged in the interior of the dome,
well lighted by a circular sky-light, which surro\\nds
the upper section, and by which also the interior of
the building is lighted: the view, extending over so
wide a field, embraces an almost inconceivable multitude
of objects, represented with complete effect, and
with the utmost accuracy and precision, and which,
from the truth of their relative proportions, the accuracy
of the linear and aerial perspective, and the just
distribution of light and shade, are powerfully delusive
in their effect upon the sight; and those in the distance,
which are almost undistinguishable by the eye, are, with
the aid of the prospect-glass, brought into view in all
the fulness of minute and faithful detail. The conservatories,
abounding with choice specimens of exotic
plants, and ornamented with jets d'eau, fountains, and
grotto-work, afford a delightful promenade; and the
Swiss cottage, containing several apartments, with windows
in recesses, affording miniature views of the beautiful
and romantic scenery peculiar to that country, are
objects of high interest; a veranda surrounds the front
of the building, which appears to be on an island in a
lake, in which fish of various kinds are seen gliding in
every direction, and numerous waterfowls sailing along
the surface, or seated on the points of rock which rise
above it j the distant view is a mass of rugged rocks, in
the fissures of which are various waterfalls, and on the
higher crags, which are interspersed with trees and
mountain plants, are seen the eagle and other birds of
prey. The whole of the apartments, promenades, galleries,
and conservatories, are warmed to the temperature
of summer, by hot water, conveyed in tubes by
means of an excellent apparatus. The exterior of the
building forms a grand and interesting object in the
scenery of the Regent's Park, from many parts of which
it is seen with beautiful effect, and the noble dome appears
with striking grandeur from many of the higher
grounds in various parts of the town.
Beyond the Colosseum, on that side of the Regent's
Park which is in this parish are Cambridge-place, a
range of plain substantial,houses, undistinguished by
any architectural features; Chester-terrace, an elegant
pile of buildings, consisting of a centre decorated
with a range of eight Corinthian pillars supporting
an entablature and cornice, with similar arrangements
of four columns at each extremity, and two hand-
some wings projecting at right angles, and connected by
lofty arched portals with the main building; Cumberland-
terrace, consisting of a centre and two continuous
wings of the Ionic order, connected by arched portals;
the tympana of the central pediment and of those in
each wing being enriched with alto relievos, and surmounted
on the apex and at each end with finely-sculptured
statues; and Gloucester-terrace, a handsome range
of building, having in the centre six Ionic pillars supporting
a cornice surmounted by an open balustrade, and a
similar arrangement of four pillars at each end.
At the north-western extremity of the park, are the
gardens of the Zoological Society, recently laid out in
walks and shrubberies, and divided into compartments,
in which various buildings have been erected, for the
reception and classification of animals of every description,
from every part of the globe, of which there
is a beautiful and extensive collection, consisting of
more than six hundred species of mammalia, including
fera and pecora, four hundred birds, one thousand reptiles,
one thousand testacea and Crustacea, and thirty
thousand insects, classed according to their respective
genera, and secured within enclosures accommodated to
their several habits, and well adapted to their complete
exhibition. The entrance to the south garden is through
a rustic lodge, leading to a broad terrace, at the extremity
of which, on the right hand, is the bear pit, containing
six varieties of that animal, with a rugged pole
in the centre, on which they climb for exercise. Below
the terrace, on the north side, is an enclosed lawn, with
a piece of water for aquatic birds, among which are,
the cormorant, the sea-pheasant, the gull, several black
swans, and other varieties of water-fowl: nearly opposite
is an aviary, in which are the Balearic, or crowned,
the Numidian, or Demoiselle, and the African, or gigantic,
crane; white and black storks; the tiger bittern;
two white spoon-bills; and several varieties of the curassow,
and the heron; to the west is an enclosure, in
which are two pair of white pelicans. At the foot of
the terrace is an octagonal cage, containing beautiful
specimens of the red and yellow, blue and yellow, and
red and blue, maccaw, and of the sulphur-crested
cockatoo; and opposite to this is the lama-house and
paddock, in which are several red and black specimens
of that beautiful animal: in the roof of this building is
a collection of pigeons. To the south, is a court-yard,
in which are mastiffs from Cuba, wolf-dogs from Italy
and Hungary; in a shed is a fine dromedary; in others
are several varieties of deer; and in a den, a large sloth
bear. On one side is a building, containing dens for
feline quadrupeds, among which are, an African lion,
a lioness, tigers, panthers, leopards, a jaguar, a puma,
and chittahs, or hunting leopards; and on the opposite
side, a range of building, in which are, American fallow
deer, a gnu, zebras, two American tapirs, antelopes,
nylghaus, two gazelles, a nine-banded armadillo, and
some of the more delicate birds, among which is the
scarlet ibis. In the adjoining grounds are aviaries,
containing elegant varieties of the hybrid, gold, silver,
and ring-necked Chinese pheasants; and near them is
an enclosure with a pond, for the white, or polar bear.
In this part of the gardens are aviaries for eagles, vultures,
falcons, kites, and other birds of prey, with a variety
of owls of every species; and enclosures for seals,
otters, beavers, and land tortoises. To the north of
these is a house for monkeys and baboons, of which
there is an extensive variety from every part of the
world. In the western division of the cattle sheds are
two zebras, the zebus, the Brahmin bull, the bison, or
American buffaloe, and several other buffaloes. AQ
archway, ornamented on the south side of the entrance
with a greyhound and a buffaloe, well sculptured in
stone, and surmounted by a balustrade, behind which is
a handsome range of four Doric pillars, supporting a
triangular pediment, leads under the road surrounding
the park, from the south into the north garden, which
has more recently been added, and is similarly laid
out; and in which are various ranges of building, the
principal of them containing several'striped and spotted
hyeenas, leopards, a jaguar, several ocelets, civet cats,
racoons, jackalls, coati mondi, agoutis, a harpy eagle,
eagles from Africa and Chili, vultures, condors, and
other birds. Adjoining this building is a kennel, in
which are several dogs from different countries, and an
Esquimaux dog of great beauty, brought over by Capt.
Sir Edward Parry; and to the west of it area shed and
paddock, in which are four specimens of the ostrich
of remarkably fine growth. Nearly adjoining is the
kangaroo hut, beyond which is a large building, not yet
completed, for the reception of the Wapiti deer, from
North America given, by the king, who has also prejsented
to the society the collection of birds and beasts
of his late Majesty, George IV. At the farthest extremity
of the garden are some sties, in which are a
wild boar, and several species of the peccary. The cavalry
barracks in Albany-road- are neatly built of brick,
and occupy an area of eight acres and a half: the build:
ings comprise accommodation for four hundred men;
with stabling for their horses, a riding-school, infirmary,
magazine, and requisite offices for the establishment,
and include an extensive ground for exercise. The city
light-horse barracks, in Gray's-Inn-lane, are a neat
range of substantial brick building, with a gateway entrance
ornamented with sculpture. King's Cross, at
Battle-Bridge, is a handsome pile of freestone building,
having a square basement, and at each angle a projecting
group of two Doric pillars, designed to support pedestals,
on which it is intended to erect the statues of
George I., II., III., and IV.; above this stage are to be
four illuminated dials surmounted by a pedestal, on
which is to be placed a statue of his present Majesty,
King William IV. The Tottenham-street theatre is a
plain building: the interior comprises a pit, two tiers of
boxes, and a gallery, and is well arranged for the reception
of about eight hundred persons: performances take
place regularly during the season. The Panarmonion is
a handsome small theatre, opened by Signior Lanza as
a dramatic school: the exterior consists of a plain and
neat facade, with a niche over the entrance, containing a
statue -, the interior is elegantly decorated and conveni*-
ently arranged. The bazaar, in Liverpool-street, to which
the principal entrance is from Gray's-Inn-lane, is a handsome
quadrangular building of stone, originally intended
solely as a repository for horses, but lately adapted also
to the purposes of a general bazaar; around the quadrangle
are stabling and boxes for horses, above which
are extensive galleries for carriages; the public room, of
large dimensions, is appropriated to the sale of trinkets,
millinery, perfumery, toys, aud other similar wares.
Bagnigge wells, noted for its chalybeate water, and still
a place of resort as a tea-garden, St. Chadd's wells, and
Pancras wells, are in this parish. Brookes' menagerie,
in the New-road, has long been celebrated for an extensive
collection of foreign birds, constantly on sale. Croggon's
manufactory and shew-rooms of artificial stone,
which, by a process of fire, is rendered proof against the
injuries of the atmosphere, contains an elegant assortment
of fonts, shrines, and statuary, with many beautiful
devices in bas and alto relievo, Scagliola marbles, and
busts. On the line of the New-road are numerous statuaries
and masons, and shew-rooms for ornamental
marble chimney-pieces; there are also several organbuilders
and piano-forte manufacturers, but there is no
particular branch of trade peculiar to the parish: the
Regent's canal passes through it, and there are several
wharfs in various parts. In addition to the newlyformed
Cumberland market, which is intended for hay,
there is an extensive general market for butchers' meat
and provisions, in a part of Somers-Town, called the
Brill. The parish is within the jurisdiction of the
stipendiary magistrates of the metropolis, and within
the limits of the new police act: the jurisdiction of
the county court, in Kingsgate - street, Holborn, for
the recovery of debts under 40s., also extends to this
parish.
The living is a vicarage, in the peculiar jurisdiction
and patronage of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's,
rated in the king's books at £9. 5. The old parish
church, now a chapel of ease, has undergone so many
alterations and repairs, that it retains few vestiges
of its original character: it is of great antiquity, and
the churchyard has been long the burial-place of Roman
Catholics; of many eminent foreigners, among
whom were the Archbishop of Narbonne, and seven
bishops expelled from France; General Paoli; several
of the French marshals; the Chevalier D'Eon; and of
the following distinguished persons; viz., Mary Wollstonecroft
Godwin; John Walker, author of a treatise
on Elocution, and compiler of the Pronouncing Dictionary;
Tiberius Cavallo, a philosophical writer; Woollet,
an eminent engraver; Webbe, the glee composer; Dr. J.
E. Grabe, a learned divine; and Jeremiah Collier, a celebrated
nonconformist preacher. The new parochial
church in Euston-square is a splendid structure, begun
in May 1819, and consecrated May 7th, 1822, having
been built and furnished at an expense of upwards of
£76,600: it is after the model of the temple of Erectheus
at Athens, with a lofty tower of three stages, resembling
the Temple of the Winds; at the west entrance is
a stately portico of six fluted Ionic columns, supporting
an entablature and cornice, surmounted by a triangular
pediment; at the east end are two projecting
wings forming the vestry and registry, the roofs of
which, on the facia, are supported on caryatides; the
interior is chastely decorated, and the altar-piece is ornamented
with six verd antique columns of Scagliola
marble. A new church, in Regent-square, was erected
by grant of the parliamentary commissioners in 1824,
at an expense of £16,025.10. C2., and contains one thousand
eight hundred and. thirty-two sittings, of which
seven hundred and seventy-four are free; it is a handsome
edifice, in the Grecian style of architecture, with
a portico of the Ionic order,, and an octagonal tower of
two stages. The living is a district incumbency, in the
patronage of the Vicar. Churches have been built also
at Camden-Town and Somers-Town, by parliamentary
grant, and a chapel by subscription at Kentish-Town, in
this parish, which are severally described in the account
of those places. Fitzroy proprietary episcopal chapel is
a neat building of brick. A chapel to the church of St.
James', Piccadilly, with an extensive cemetery in Hampstead-
road; the chapel and cemetery belonging to St.
Giles' in the Fields; the burial-grounds of St. Andrew's,
Holborn, St. George's, Bloomsbury, St. George's the
Martyr, and St. Martin's in the Fields, are in this parish.
There are places of worship for Baptists, Huntingtonians,
Independents, and Calvinistic, Wesleyan,
and other Methodists, a Scottish church, and a Roman
Catholic chapel. Of these the Scotch church in Regent-
square is an elegant structure in the later style of
English architecture, with two lofty towers at the western
entrance. The St. Pancras female charity school,
in Hampstead-road, is supported by funds arising from
donations, and by annual subscriptions: the premises
are neatly built of brick, and accommodated to the reception
of sixty-five girls, who are maintained, clothed,
and instructed till fourteen years of age, when
they are placed out to service. A National school,
in which are more than four hundred children, is
supported by subscription; and there is a school in
connexion with the Roman Catholic chapel, for the
maintenance, clothing, and instruction of Catholic
children.
The Foundling hospital, situated on the north side
of Guildford-street, between Brunswick and Mecklenburgh
squares, was founded by charter of George II. in
1739, "for the maintenance and instruction of deserted
infants, who are put under the care of nurses in the
country till of a proper age to receive instruction: there
are generally about four hundred children in the institution,
who, after having received a suitable education,
are placed out apprentices, or put to service, and, at the
discretion of the committee, are supplied with money,
clothes, or other necessaries, to the amount of £ 10 each.
The income is about £ 14,000 per annum, arising from
funded property, the produce of sums given for admission
to the chapel, the children's work, and subscriptions.
The premises consist of a spacious and elegant chapel,
which'occupies the centre, and two wings for the dormitories,
schools, offices, and apartments for the conductors
of the establishment. The chapel is decorated with a
fine altar-piece, painted by West, and the organ was
presented by Handel, who devoted to the use of the
charity the profits arising from the performance of his
oratorio of the Messiah. The Welch charity school,
in Gray's-Inn-lane, was established in 1714, for the
maintenance, clothing, and education of children, born
of Welch parents resident in or near London. The
premises, occupying three sides of a quadrangle, are
handsomely built of brick, and contain school-rooms
and dormitories for the children, and apartments for the
master and mistress; in this institution are several
interesting manuscripts illustrative of the history of
the ancient Britons. St. Katherine's hospital was originally
founded by Matilda, wife of Stephen, in 1148,
and the endowment was augmented by Eleanor, queen
dowager of Henry III., for a master, three clerical
brethren, three sisters, ten bedeswomen, and six poor
clerks: the institution was subsequently patronised by
succeeding queens of England, and takes its name from
Katherine, consort of Henry VIII. On the construction
of St. Katherine's docks, near the Tower, the old
buildings were taken down, in 1826, and the establishment
removed to the Regent's Park, where the present
buildings were erected. The premises, handsomely
built of white brick, comprise two ranges, consisting of
three separate houses, in the Elizabethan style, with an
oriel window at the end front, for the residence of the
brethren and sisters, between which is the chapel, an
elegant structure in the later style of English architecture,
with two angular turrets at the west end, crowned
with bold pinnacles; the west front is ornamented with
sculptures, and the entrance doorway and window
above it are of elegant design; the windows of the chapel
are of lofty dimensions and enriched with tracery, and
the large east window is embellished with painted glass:
adjoining the chapel is the school, in which twenty-five
boys and twelve girls are instructed and clothed from
the funds of the establishment. Opposite to the hospital,
in the area of the park, is the elegant villa of Sir
Herbert Taylor, who is master of the hospital. The
small-pox hospital at Battle-Bridge was instituted by
subscription, in 1746, and the present building erected
in 1767; it consists of a centre and two wings, handsomely
built of brick, and surmounted by a central cupola
and dome: since the introduction of vaccination,
the practice of inoculation has been abandoned, and not
less than one hundred thousand patients have been
vaccinated in this institution. Near the building is a
fever hospital, of later erection, for the reception of
patients afflicted with typhus and scarlet fever, and
other contagious diseases.