Pylle Street (now St. Stephen Street)
there was no nearer way than down Small Street and through St. Giles's
Gate. The existence of gardens in the 15th and 16th centuries at the
backs of the Houses in Small Street is evidenced by the wills of old
Bristolians. In that of William Hoton, merchant, of St. Werburgh's
parish, who died in 1475, is mentioned "the garden of Sir Henry
Hungerford, Knight," near the cemetery of St. Leonard's Church, and John
Easterfield, merchant, of St. Werburgh's parish, who died in 1504,
bequeathed to his wife his dwelling-house in Small-Strete, and also "the
garden in St. Leonard's Lane, as long as she dwelleth in the said
house."

[Illustration: ELTON MANSION, SMALL STREET, BRISTOL.]

In this historic Small Street, and just within the old city walls, have
for two or three hundred years stood certain premises, in olden times
divided into three separate holdings, the freehold of which was
purchased in 1903 from the Bristol Water Works Company by the Post
Office, for much-needed extensions to its already large building. The
facts respecting these three edifices have been culled from ancient
parchments which would fill a large wheelbarrow. The premises are not of
very ornate exterior now. They are interesting, however, as denoting an
old style of architecture; but the exteriors have, no doubt, been so
altered and pulled about to meet the requirements of successive
occupiers as to be not quite like what they were originally. The
structures appear to have been erected in the middle of the 17th
century, probably at the end of the reign of King Charles I. (1649). The
plan of Brightstowe, published in 1581 by Hofnagle, shows that the
Church of St. Werburgh and its churchyard occupied one-third of the
frontage of the street, on the west, or Post Office, side, and that
there were only five other separate buildings, which were each detached,
and covered the remainder of the length of the street. Millerd's "Exact
Delineations of the famous Cittie of Bristoll," published in 1673, does
not so clearly illustrate the houses standing in Small Street on its
west or Post Office side as could be desired. The deeds hereafter
alluded to indicate, however, that of the three premises under
consideration, the Elton Mansion, at least, was standing before 1680, as
Richard Streamer, who died in that year, is named as having formerly
dwelt therein. There is no earlier record, and as Streamer only came to
fame as council