Edward Saunders, 'Jean Montigny, a Master Smith'
Edward Saunders, ‘Jean Montigny, a Master Smith’, The Georgian Group Jounal, Vol. IX, 1999, pp. 33–43 TEXT © THE AUTHORS 1999 JEAN MONTIGNY, A MASTER SMITH EDWARD SAUNDERS iccadilly, the world-famous London thorough The rate books for the outward of the parish of Pfare, was not always known by that name. Before St. Martin in the Fields shows this very clearly.4 In the West End was developed it was called the Reading 1710 the properties were written up in the order of Road, and after the Restoration, Portugal Street, in progression along the road, with the rateable value honour of the new Queen, Catherine of Braganza. next to each property. So in Bolton Street we find That name survived until the late eighteenth centu John Mountain, i.e.Jean Montigny. At thejunction ry in the collection of mason’s yards and smithies on of what is now Piccadilly we read, ‘round the cor the north side called Portugal Row. It was here, in ner, Portugal Row,’ followed by; Tissue, £20, Legar, 1705, that Jean Tijou set up his shop, shortly to be £18, Andrew Carpenter, £18. Lefevre, £18, Dolman, joined by the London smiths of the next generation: £18, Thomas Robinson, £10, Anthony Redland Thomas Robinson, Richard Booth, Thomas Goff, £20, Elizabeth Gilbert, £30, Richard Farmer, £10. and Jean, or John as he preferred, Montigny, the Ralph Gretrix, £15, Wid. Maurice, £10, David subject of this piece. Cornwall £7, J ohn Lemon, £7, Wid. Winstanley, It is not known when Montigny first arrived in £10. This is followed by Brick Street.
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