Within a few years of the end of the 18th century two names were given to very small but new portions of the town, namely, "Poplar Place," and "Bunkers Hill Court, or Yard," each of which titles afterwards became well known from being applied to much larger areas or sections; especially the former. This will be found from the poll book in 1852, when a number of voters described their residences as being in "Poplar" (a London name), thus "elevating" the "Place" into a district of the town.

Respecting Bunker's Hill Court, or Yard, the name had doubtless been adopted from an early battle in the American War of Independence (1775), and was applied to a very small enclosure on the north side of Lower Parliament Street, against old "Parliament Row," and probably about sixty yards from Boot Lane (now Milton Street), the entrance being, as shown on the old plan, by a narrow passage. Afterwards, and close to the east of these premises, the "Bunker's Hill Tavern" was built, and from these causes the name of "Bunker's Hill" was gradually acquired by a large portion of Lower Parliament Street on that side, and most or all of the voters living there in 1852, when asked for the place of their residence, replied "Bunker's Hill."

Fifty years since, the mode adopted when numbering the houses, &c, in the town was very different to that adopted in more recent years, when each street or other roadway, as regards the buildings in it, is separately numbered, generally commencing from the end nearest to the centre of the town, otherwise the Market Place. The odd numbers are given to the houses, &c, on the left hand, and the even numbers to those on the right, which is simple and effective, and a great improvement on the previous method, for I believe that the buildings were then numbered consecutively along one side of each street, and so returned to the starting point on the opposite side.

In the still earlier period ending about sixty years ago, the mode adopted was, according to present day notions, most singular, and to myself inexplicable. I have a full recollection of seeing figures attached to buildings, which represented several thousands, the largest probably being in the Market Place, and according to my remembrance, on Smithy Row, exceeding five thousand. I have frequently thought the matter over, but cannot explain it. I will, however, give an extract from the Official Register of Nottingham voters, between the 30th day of November, 1843, and the 1st day of December, 1844. It is in reference to a freeholder claiming in St. Mary's parish, and as follows;—"Start William, Snenton road, Snenton; Freehold House, '1361' Union place." Undoubtedly this number is much less than some referred to above, but it is, I imagine greatly in excess of any at present to be found in Nottingham. In "R. Fleeman & Sons' Limited, Street Guide to Nottingham," we find "Union place, 18 Clare Street."

I now desire to make reference to High Pavement, and possibly to some of the thoroughfares close to, or connected with it. This district includes a most interesting part of old Nottingham, and, socially, has ranked above the average. High Pavement as a title, when compared with some others, has not been subjected to any great change, yet it is an old one, though there are a few which date still further back. One of the earliest references to it appears to be in the Borough Records, vol. i., p. 400, 1338, where a grant or sale is registered from "William de Spondon of Nottingham, and Emma his wife, to William de Amyas, of a rent of ten shillings, from their messuage in the high street which leads from the Daily Market (Weekday Cross) to St. Mary's Church," this, of course, being High Pavement.

There are various modes of spelling this name in olden times, to be seen in the Borough Records. In vol. i., P. 433, will be found "Alta Pavymenta, Hegthpament, and Heigthpament, while in vol. 2, p. 440, it is "Hey Pament" and "Hie Pament."

Many years since, and in my recollection, on High Pavement and Low Pavement specially, but also in St. Mary's Gate, Stoney Street, Short Hill, and Fletcher Gate, were some of the best private residences in Nottingham. In Weekday Cross I can remember a shop or two, one being a pawnbroker's, Mr. Wm. Gresham's. Another was Dale & Sons', druggists.

In middle Pavement were several shops, two of them being occupied by grocers, one, next to Postern Place, belonging to Mr. W. P. Tatham, was an old established business. The other was on the opposite side, and nearer to Weekday Cross than Bridlesmith Gate, the owner being Mr. Baker, In each case the old buildings have been demolished, and others erected on their sites. I was much interested at various times during the changes in looking at these old habitations, but particularly at that of Mr. Baker's, while being pulled down and cleared away, for in the sub-story I observed what undoubtedly had once been an excellent baker's oven. This proved how greatly circumstances during the last century had changed in that district.

I have previously mentioned the high rank at one time accorded to Bridlesmith Gate amongst the streets of the town, but it must not be forgotten that by way of Hollow Stone, High Pavement and Weekday Cross, it was in the remembrance of some living, the chief road into Nottingham for coaches from the south, and thence by Drury Hill for many foot passengers to and from Narrow Marsh. The many changes connected with the railways, have, however, necessitated much wider and easier ways of access on that side to the centre of the town, some of which have been formed more than sixty years, whereby the stream of traffic and passengers from the south has been thoroughly diverted, and the value of the old route for general business purposes is now, by shopkeepers, very differently estimated.

I am fortunate in possessing a very fine and large old engraving, by I. Kip, which, probably dates approximately from 1690. Various contingencies also strongly point to its being issued in that century. It is entitled "The Prospect of Nottingham From ye East." I do not see any date upon it, though the time of Kip's settlement in England lessens any difficulty. From what is shown, we are enabled to perceive the great change which has been made since 1690 at the part where the south end of Stoney Street and the east end of High Pavement are connected. Without this engraving this change would probably have remained unrecorded and unknown.

Stoney Street is shown as being, and people are walking, upon a level with St. Mary's Churchyard, to its southern side, where, as many of us are aware, the level is twelve or fourteen feet above "High Pavement," as was also the cliff once at the south end of Stoney Street. Under such conditions there could be no possibility of passing through with a conveyance, nor of getting out of Stoney Street with one from that part, at any point nearer than Barker Gate; for Plumptre Street was not formed for more than 100 years later, nor Broadway for 160 years. The end of the street is exhibited as projecting a few feet beyond the south wall of the churchyard, and where there is at present (at the Pavement corner) a gateway and steps, up which the church may be reached, a declivity from the street is shown close to the south wall, and by this declivity persons on foot could descend to, or ascend from High Pavement.

I am uncertain of the exact date when the cliff was lowered at the south end of Stoney Street, though on Badder and Peet's Map of Nottingham, first published about 1745, and afterwards used in Deering's History, it is termed "St. Mary's Hill." Therefore, I consider, that a moderate time must then have elapsed after the cliff was removed. On his map of the old town, Thoroton shews a house as standing at the south-eastern corner of the churchyard, where the gateway and steps are now fixed, and also shews, commencing against St. Mary's Gate, a number of houses which filled up a considerable portion of the remaining frontage on the south side of the graveyard.

According to Deering's Map the house at the southeast corner of the graveyard had been previously removed, and, from the increased width of the street, there can be no doubt that the ground it occupied was used to widen that part of High Pavement. On Deering's Map it will also be observed that there were still, commencing against St. Mary's Gate, a number of houses on the south side of the graveyard. The entrance gateway to the graveyard is shown in that old thoroughfare, a little higher than the back of the houses, which in 1677 and until 1792, appear to have projected a number of feet further into the Pavement than the old house at the opposite corner of St. Mary's Gate, once known as "Bugg Hall." This was an old wood-framed two-storey structure, which many of my aged fellow citizens will remember full sixty years since as "The Old Angel Inn," the site being now occupied by a warehouse.

At the eastern end of "these churchyard houses," according to Deering's Map, an additional entrance to the church from High Pavement had been made since Thoroton's plan of the town was published. It was nearly opposite to the opening which gives access to Long Stairs. A recess is shown of the same width as the steps, but proportionately much longer, and in this recess a turn was made to the right, for the steps ran eastwards. Most undoubtedly that part of High Pavement against the churchyard, three hundred years ago, must have been (in width) barely passable for vehicles, even when allowance is made for the fact that causeways were not then in use.

The Date Book, on page 183, informs us that "It was found necessary (1792) to improve the passage by the side of the (church) yard leading towards the County Hall, which could not be effected without taking down some houses, and the churchyard wall, which stood on the south side of the sacred edifice; and the better to widen the road it was also necessary to use a part of the churchyard. The ground being much higher there than the street ...."

Even with the addition of the land occupied by these houses, the width of the upper portion of High Pavement is still very moderate, and a few additional yards would greatly improve it, though it has made the graveyard wall in a line with the frontage of the buildings to the west of St. Mary Gate.

While remarking upon the north side of the Pavement in this immediate neighbourhood, I wish to say that there may probably be seen as fine a sample of brickwork as can be found in any other place in the British Isles, and from its exceptional quality of workmanship it is constantly being visited by those interested in such matters, who reside at considerable distances from Nottingham. This is in relation to the third property from St. Mary Gate, on its western side. It is four storeys in height, and was erected about ninety years since as a private house; and somewhat more than fifty years ago I remember it being occupied by Mr. Booth Eddison, surgeon, who died 1859, at Madeira, though it is questionable whether it has since his death, been again used as a residence.

Those examining the front of the house will observe that the three lower storeys are of a darker hue than the fourth or top storey. This is caused by every brick which is seen in that portion, having been rubbed on its face, and where the sides are worked they are also trued in their length and all of them are thicknessed. This was essential, otherwise the work could not have been carried out with such extreme accuracy of detail and finish. Many years since, I have heard it stated by those who could remember the erection of the house, that each front brick in its preparation cost fourpence, but that amount about the year 1818, would be equivalent to sevenpence, or even eightpence, for such work nowadays.

As a fact, I consider that the bricks used in the top storey, though differing in colour, are the same as those below, excepting only that their face has not been rubbed, nor are they trued in length and thickness. A sieve must have been used in preparing the mortar for the "trued" bricks, or it would have been quite impossible to have laid them with joints of one-eighth of an inch only. I advise those of my readers who are interested, and have not seen this matchless brickwork, to go and examine it.