J.M.W.

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RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS.

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ANCIENT TOPOGRAPHY OF HOLBORN.

(For the _Mirror_.)


The name of Holborn is derived from an ancient village, built upon the
bank of the rivulet, or _bourne_, of the same name.--Stowe says,
"_Oldborne_, or _Hilborne_, was the water, breaking out about
the place where now the Barres doe stand; and it ranne downe the whole
street to _Oldborne Bridge_, and into the river of the _Wels_,
or _Turne-mill Brooke_. This _Boorne_ was long since stopped
up at the head, and other places, where the same hath broken out; but
yet till this day, the said street is there called high, _Oldborne_
hill, and both sides thereof, (together with all the grounds adjoining,
that lye betwixt it and the River of Thames,) remaine full of springs,
so that water is there found at hand, and hard to be stopped in every
house."