MONOUX A MAN OF WEALTH.
It must not be thought that Monoux was not a good citizen of London. Assuredly he was; for if we measure his services only by his many offices, and the long period over which they ranged, we shall feel that London owed much to him. At one time he gave his brewhouse, near Bridge House, Southwark, to the Corporation, and in his will he left some tenements to the City for the repair of London Bridge. Monoux was not only a wealthy City merchant, but he was also a large landowner. Besides his City property he was possessed of manors and estates in several counties, especially in Norfolk, Hertford, and Essex, and we know from his own Ledger Book how carefully he conducted his business as a landlord.
MONOUX AND A CAUSEWAY OVER THE MARSHES.
Having considered the part Monoux played in the City and in Parliament, let us return to his life as a resident in Walthamstow, which, we may conjecture, he reached through Hackney and Clapton, over Lea Bridge, and thence along Markhouse Lane and Blackhorse Lane to his seat at "Moones" in Billet Lane. There is no doubt that in driving home from the City his progress was often impeded by the roadway through the Marshes being flooded. So, we are told by Strype, in 1694, that "he made a Causeway over Walthamstow Marsh to Lock Bridge over the River Lee for the conveniency of Travellers from those Parts to London, and left wherewith to continue and keep it in Repair ; but that also is lost and the Ruins now only to be seen.'' Besides constructing this causeway, Monoux built two bridges called the " three arches" and the "eight arches," which carried the flow of water beneath the Lea Bridge Road. It is interesting to note that an ancient ferry, known as Jeremy's, existed on the south side of the present Lea Bridge, which was first built in 1757. In order to keep the bridge in repair, a toll was taken for horses and carriages throughout the week, and for passengers on Sundays only. At the end of the eighteenth century this road and bridge were considered among the greatest improvements that had been made near; London; and it was remarked that "when the passage was over a ferry it was disagreeable and dangerous, whereas now it is one of the best roads near London."