SAVOY, THE, on the Thames, in London, is the site where once stood the magnifi cent palace. built in 1215 by Peter, earl of Savoy and Richmond. A century later it became the property of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster. In this building the French king .Tenn was royally imprisoned. fr•:n his capture n the battle of Poictiers to his death in 1364. The palace was twice the object of popular violence. In the outbreak caused by the duke of Lancaster protecting 'Wycliffe it narrowly escapees destruction; and in Wat Tyler's insurrection it was burned and made a heap of ruins. After another hun dred years Henry VII., great-grandson of John of Gaunt, erected on these ruins a house for the temporary support of destitute, diseased, helpless, and homeless persons. This well-intended charity soon became a refuge for the dissolute and vicious, rather than for the worthy poor. It was therefore suppressed by Edward VI., but was restored by queen Mary, and profusely refurnished by the ladies of her court from their private resources. In the management of this establishment great abuses prevailed. Its offi
cials embezzled the fund, and the inmates continued to come from the degraded and crim inal classes. The combined hospital and poor-house maintained a nominal existence through successive reigns, a portion of the buildings being occupied by Charles IL as h home for disabled soldiers and sailors. and was finally discontinued by queen Anne. In building the Waterloo bridge in 1810, the deep foundations on which the ancient buildings had rested were all removed. Nothing remained but the chapel built alongside these ruins by Henry VII. This chapel was made a church by queen Elizabeth, and was one of the chapels royal, under the name of St. Mary-le-Savoy. It was burned down in 1884, but was rebuilt, though without aisles or chancel, and elegantly furnished for public worship by queen Victoria. The vaults beneath contain the remains of many persons of distinction.