Old Artillery Ground

Old Artillery Ground

Extends from Middlesex Street south to Spital Square north, east of Bishopsgate Street, outside the eastern boundary of Bishopsgate Ward Without (O.S. 1880).

The bounds are set out in Letters Patent, Jas. II., transcribed in Bayley's History of the Tower, II. App. p. cxxi., and in O. and M. map, 1677, it is shown as an open space called "Old Artillery Garden" and included within the City boundary.

Stow says that it was used by the Gunners of the Tower every week for artillery practice (S. Ed. 1603, 167–8), and Strype tells us that the ground was let out for this purpose on a long lease by William, the last Prior of St. Mary Spital (Ed. 1720, I. ii. 96).

According to Stow it was formerly called Tasell close and Tasels planted there for the use of Clothworkers, but afterwards used for archery practice (S. 167–8).

Archers were forbidden to shoot there 1677 (L. and P. Chas. II. Dom. S. XVIII. p. 533).

The site is now covered with streets and courts.

[Old Artillery Garden.] Then is there a large Close, called Tasell Close, sometime, for that there were Tasells planted for the use of Clothworkers: Since letten to the Cross-bow Makers, wherein they used to shoot for Games at the Popingey. Now the same being inclosed with a Brick Wall, serveth to be an Artillery Yard, [or Garden] whereunto the Gunners of the Tower weekly do repair; namely, every Thursday, and there levelling certain Brass Pieces of great Artillery against a Butt of Earth, made for that Purpose, they discharged them for their Exercise. [Present use is made thereof, by divers worthy Citizens, Gentlemen and Captains, using Martial Discipline, and where they meet (well near) weekly, to their great Commendation in so worthy an Exercise.	Tasel Close. Artillery Yard.
William, the last Prior of St. Mary Spittal, with his Convent, granted over this Artillery Garden for thrice 99 Years, for the Use and Practice of great and small Artillery.	J. S.
There was a Charter granted to the Fraternity of Artillery in great and small Ordinance by the famous Prince Henry VIII. And the Piece of Ground, called the Artillery Garden, mentioned before, by his Grace's Means was appointed for the Exercise of the same Fraternity; as by the Lease thereof appeared, granted to the same Fraternity. Which Lease was put into the Hands of Sir William Pelham, Lieutenant of the Ordinance. And the same Charter since was delivered to the Lord Burghley, Lord Treasurer under Queen Elizabeth.	A Charter for the Fraternity of Artillery.	J. S.
Now for the farther Improvement of this Fraternity, and to make it useful to the Kingdom, one William Thomas, Master Gunner of the Queen's Ship the Victory, in the Year 1584. moved the Lords of her Council, that the same Charter might be confirmed, and new established, with other needful Additions thereto: And chiefly, for the increasing of Good Gunners for the Queen's Navy and Forts, viz. That some of their Honours, with the Earl of Warwick (who was Master of the Ordonance) should be chief Masters or Governors of the said Fraternity. That there might by the chief Masters or Governors be chosen four of the chiefest of her Majesty's Gunners to be Under-masters. Who, with the Master Gunner of England, might have the teaching of all the Scholars, and the proving of all such Men, as should take upon them the Charge of a Gunner in any of her Majesty's Ships, Forts or Castles, or should have any Gunners Fee: and to make report to the chief Masters of their Knowledge, before they should be admitted to any Service. That no Ship or Vessel, having Ordonance in her, should cross the Seas, without the same had in her such number of Gunners, as followeth, viz. That every Ship of the Burthen of 60 Tun, have three Gunners; whereof the Chief or Master Gunner to be such an one, as should be tried, allowed and licensed by such as should be for that Purpose appointed. And every Ship of 80 Tuns, four Gunners, to be tried, as aforeasaid. And so for every 20 Tun, one Gunner more. That the chief Officers in the Havens, Towns, Ports and Places, where Shipping is used, should take the Names of all Persons in the same Towns, Ports and Places, which took Charge or served as Gunners in any Ship or Vessel; and the same to register in a Book for that Purpose. And in every Easter Term to send up the same Names, and their Dwelling-places to the Master Gunner and his four Associates. By which it might be known, where to have skilful Gunners, to serve her Majesty, when Opportunity required. That all such Ships as should be freighted within the River of Thames with Merchandizes or Goods, should for the Safe guard thereof, have, for every two Pieces, one such Sea-faring Man, as should be a Scholar, to be taught and instructed in the Science of shooting in great and small Ordonance, according to the Intent of her Majesty's Allowance for the same Purpose. That there might be, by the chief Masters, such strait Commandment given to the four Under-masters and the Master Gunner, that that Powder and other her Majesty's Allowances, for teaching and instructing of Scholars in the Science or Mystery of Shooting in great and small Ordonance, be by them justly and truly expended about the same Purpose that it was allowed for, and not otherwise, upon some Pain and Penalty. That the four Associates or Under-masters, with the Master Gunner, for the better Service of her Majesty, might have the Proof of all such Saltpetre, Coal, Sulphur, Powder, Match, Ordonance, Carriages, Wheels, Stocks and Iron-work, as should be for her Majesty's Service and Store: and that none should be received, but that which they should find to be good and fit for Service; and that upon a Penalty to be appointed by their Honours. Lastly, that there might be set down such a perfect Government in every of her Majesty's Ships by their Honours, both for their own Safe-guards, and for a Terror to the Enemy, as heretofore was never put in practice by any.	The Art of Gunnery to be taught in this Fraternity.
And all this, this Thomas the rather offered at this Time, since the Queen had now gotten a puissant Navy of Ships for Defence, and the Nobility at their own Charges, had furnished it with great and terrible Ordonance, for the Terror of her Enemies; but there was a great want of skilful Men to supply the room of Gunners: So that, if Proof were made, he asserted, there would not be found skilful Gunners sufficient for four of her Men of War. But this Motion I think came to Nothing.]
There was also afterwards, for the laying up and preserving of the Arms, an Armoury built. The Foundation of this Armoury of that remarkable Nursery of Military Discipline, called The Artillery Garden, London, was begun to be erected the first Day of May, An. Dom. 1622. and was finished the last of November then next following, Colonel Hugh Hamersley being then President, Edward Pierse Treasurer, Henry Petowe Marshal, and John Bingham Esq; Captain, and one of the Council of War for this Kingdom.	The Foundation of the Armoury there. R.

Artillery Ground. The Old Artillery Ground was a little north east of what is now Devonshire square in Bishopsgate street. This was originally a spacious field called Tassel Close, from its being planted with tassels for the use of the clothworkers. It was afterwards let to the cross-bow makers, who used to shoot there; but being at lenth inclosed with a brick wall, served as an artillery ground, to which the gunners of the Tower repaired every Thursday, when they levelled brass pieces of large artillery against a butt of earth raised for that purpose. The last Prior of St. Mary Spital granted to the gunners of the Tower this artillery ground for thrice ninety nine years, for the use and practice of great and small artillery; and King Henry VIII. gave the company a charter. Hence this artillery ground became subject to the Tower; the streets, &c. compose one of the Tower hamlets, and the inhabitants are still summoned on juries belonging to the courts held on Tower hill.

In the year 1585, the city being put to great trouble and expence by the continual musters and training of soldiers, some brave and active citizens, who had obtained experience both at home and abroad, voluntarily exercised themselves, and trained up others in the use of arms, so that within two years there were almost three hundred merchants, and other persons of distinction, qualified to teach the common soldiers the management of their guns, pikes, and halberts, as well as to march and countermarch. These met every Thursday, each person by turns bearing office from the corporal to the captain, and some of these gentlemen had the honour of having a body of forces under their command at the great camp of Tilbury, in the year 1588, when the Spaniards sent against us their pretended invincible Armada, and these commanders were generally called the Captains of the Artillery Garden.

These noble exercises became afterwards discontinued for a long time, but was renewed in the year 1610, when several gentlemen having obtained the permission of King James I. undertook at their private expence a weekly exercise in the same artillery ground, and in the year 1662, erected an armoury, in which they placed 500 sets of arms, of extraordinary beauty and workmanship. The Artillery company now greatly increased, and the people resorted to the artillery ground to learn to defend themselves and their country; and even many gentlemen from every county went thither to learn martial exercises, in order to teach them to the militia, in the distant parts of the kingdom.

At length this company being so much increased that this artillery ground was scarcely able to contain them, for they amounted to about 6000: they removed to the New Artillery Ground near the upper end of Moorfields, where they still continue to assemble.