182 



LONDON HOUSES AFTER THE FIRE 



FIG. 1 20. Ceiling in a House between Love and Botolph Lanes. 



quently but little, and houses of great size and finely treated 

 within, were built in streets and lanes which in the present day \ve 

 should regard as mere alleys, and which, indeed, would not be permitted 

 under any modern by-laws. London still preserves many of these old 

 houses (Fig. 117), although they are gradually being improved away. 

 They are generally built of brick, with very little relief to their fronts 

 save a good doorway and a good cornice, and perhaps a few touches in 

 some ironwork. The same general treatment prevailed for half a cen- 

 tury or more, with a tendency, however, to even greater simplicity ; the 

 result was that, although in the city where the narrow lanes were 

 crooked and had here and there unexpected projections, the effect was 



