The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

228 THE GULLY-MOUTH.
was once a natural gully, or creek running into it. It is now converted into a
sewer and drain, and arched over to the river, the tide-water of which is kept
out by a pair of doors, although open to that tide until the middle of the sixteenth century, to which period it is probable that the boats of the fishermen
landed their cargoes near to the ancient Fish-stones. This Gully-mouth now
enters the river a little south of the bridge, although several houses and shops
stood between the Gully-mouth and the old bridge. The house represented
below was standing near the Gully-mouth in 1750, when it was rented to John
Ashley, stone-cutter, and was directed to be taken down and rebuilt, and the
tenant had leave " to build chambers over the Gully-mouth, to be joined to the
messuage lately rented to him;" and also to contract the present passage into the
Gully-mouth, "so as to leave it 8 feet in breadth, and the gates the same
height that they now are."l
C- L
Old House, Gully-mouth (taken down in 1750).
The following notices of the Gully-mouth are down to the haven south, the highway leading to
from the Corporation Records. The first mention is the bridge north, the highway east, and the haven
in 1562, when the " Gresyng " there is alluded to. west." Edward Britton then held the stone-house
" A gresyng" was a flight of steps. Hence an old (the one represented), by fee-farm rent of the manor
poem says,- of Hallgarth, and Britton Jeary, or Jer ry, in 1680.
" For truly one to suppose himselfe wyse, The Records also state that there was in 1640 a
Is unto folysshenes the very fyrste gryce," staythe running from Parker's staythe (now called
the Packhouse, or Packhorse, quay), to the Gullythat is, the first step. In 1607, a shop near the mouth; and in 1680, Jerry's house near the GullyGully-mouth is alluded to, and again in 1625, when mouth, is mentioned in connexion with Parker's
it is called Dandy's shop. In 1645, the house near quay; this shows that there was then an open
the Gully-mouth (probably the one represented staythe, or quay, from the Gully-mouth to the
above) was rented for 40s. the year, and a pound of Packhouse quay, The houses and shops near
sugar, and a fine of 61. 13s. 4d. In 1647, a lease Gully-mouth are mentioned again in 1720, 1742,
was granted of all the shops and houses between the and 1750. In 1772, the Corporation covered the
Gully-mouth and the bridge. In 1660, these houses Gully-mouth with the new buildings, and the erecwere ordered to be rebuilt. In 1640, seven shops tion of the Iron bridge in 1807 brought it in close
and other houses stood "between the Gully going proximity with that elegant structure.