Snow Hill

City, Holborn Viaduct (EC1) On Snow Hill formerly stood one of the City conduits. Anciently on days of great rejoicing the City conduits were made to run with red and white wine. The last occasion on which the Snow Hill conduit thus flowed was on the anniversary of the coronation of George I, in 1727. At the sign of the "Star" on Snow Hill, then the residence of his friend Mr. Strudwick, a grocer, died John Bunyan, the illustrious author of The Pilgrim's Progress. The great painter Vandyke was one day passing down Snow Hill when his attention was attracted by a picture exposed for sale in a shop-window. Struck with its merits, he made enquiries respecting the artist, and was informed that he was then employed at his easel in a miserable apartment in the attics. Vandyke ascended the stairs; and thus took place his first introduction to William Dobson, then a young man unknown to fame, but whose celebrity as a portrait painter was second only in England to that of Vandyke. (Reference: Jesse's London, vol. III, p. 81)