An Illustrated Account of St. Bartholomew's Priory Church, Smithfield With a Sketch of Bartholomew Fair, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and the Prior's Country Seat, Canonbury Tower, Islington

The volume offers a vivid look at one of London’s oldest surviving churches, tracing its origins back to the early twelfth century. Detailed engravings, based on original sketches, bring the stone façade, the entrance gate, and the surrounding cloister to life, allowing listeners to picture the solid grandeur that endures despite centuries of change. Alongside architectural notes, the author weaves in anecdotes about the surrounding landscape—a once‑marshy field criss‑crossed by brooks that challenged the builders from the start.

The narrative turns to Rahere, a former royal minstrel whose sudden conversion led him to petition King Henry I for a priory on the edge of the city. His colourful life—filled with courtly intrigue, pilgrimages, and a near‑fatal illness in Rome—is presented with a clear, human tone that illuminates the spiritual zeal behind the foundation. Complementary sketches of the bustling Bartholomew Fair, the historic hospital, and the nearby Canonbury Tower enrich the portrait, giving a broader sense of the community that grew around the priory.