FETCHAM, a village near Leatherhead, where is the seat of Thomas Revel, Esq; on which no cost has been spared to render a most beautiful situation by nature, more delightful by art.
FETTER _lane_, Fleet street, in old writings called Feuter lane; it was then what Drury lane is now.
FIGTREE _court_, 1. Barbican.‡ 2. Inner Temple.‡
FINCHLEY, a village in Middlesex between Hendon and Coneyhatch, is seven miles north of London.
FINSBURY, Moorfields, formerly called Fensbury, from a neighbouring fen or moor. _Maitland._
FINSBURY COURTS, in this place the steward of the manor holds a court leet and court baron, in which are transacted the business peculiar to each court.
FIRE OFFICE. See the particular names by which they are distinguished, as HAND IN HAND, SUN FIRE OFFICE, UNION, &c.
FIREBALL _court_, 1. Houndsditch. 2. First Postern, London Wall.
FIRST FRUITS OFFICE, in the Middle Temple, is under the Remembrancer of the first fruits, under whom is a Deputy and senior clerk, a Receiver, and a Deputy Receiver of the first fruits; a Receiver of the tenths, and his clerk, and a Comptroller of the first fruits and tenths.
FISH _yard_, 1. St. Margaret’s lane. 2. Pudding lane.
FISHERMEN, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King James II. in the year 1687, by the name of _The_ _free Fishermen of London_; but it does not appear that they have either livery or arms: They have however a hall in Thames street.
FISHER’S _alley_, 1. Hide street, Bloomsbury.† 2. Rosemary lane.† 3. Water lane, Fleet street.†
FISHER’S _Almshouse_, in the Dog row, near Mile end, was erected by Capt. Fisher, in the year 1711, for the widows of six masters of ships, for whose support he settled upon it an estate of 40_l._ a year; and committed the trust of it to the fraternity of the Trinity House.
To this edifice are since added two additional rooms, the ground for which was purchased by Sir Charles Wager, and these rooms built by Sir William Ogborne in the year 1728. The two widows who live in these, have each an allowance of 16_s._ a month, and 20_s._ _per annum_ for coals.
FISHER’S _court_, Eagle street, Holborn.†
FISHER’S _rents_, Broad street, Old Gravel lane.†
FISHMONGERS. These as well as the other persons concerned in furnishing the city with provisions, were anciently under the immediate direction of the court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and these magistrates had this power confirmed by an act of parliament in the seventh of Richard II. in the year 1384. At that time the dealers in fish consisted of two communities, viz. the salt-fish, and stock-fishmongers, though they were not incorporated till afterwards, the former in 1433, and the latter in 1509. But this division proving prejudicial to the profession in general, they united, and were incorporated by letters patent, granted by Henry VIII. in the year 1536.