A detestable crime-
Before the Great Fire there were many complaints over the centuries about how Old St Paul's cathedral had become overtaken by the populace as a place to stand and gossip (as you can see from the gallery), and even do business due to the close proximity of the City merchants. The commerce was of every nature, and increasingly, complaints were made about the prostitutes who plied their trade in the many shadows of the church. By the Great Fire, it had become commonplace for suitably inclined apprentices to spend their Sunday afternoons there, where they might be propositioned by an interested gentleman, and make a little money to add to their wages. Needless to say, the authorities were less than happy with the situation, but it was so well-established there wasn't that much they could do about it, besides moan. When the new cathedral was built, the traders were banished to the Royal Exchange and the prostitutes chased out by wardens. However, it remained a place to make new friends, paid or unpaid.
On the 4th of December, 1730 the Old Bailey trial records contain the following case:
William Hollywell and William Huggins, were indicted, the former for an Assault, with an Intent to commit the detestable Crime of Buggery upon the latter, and he for consenting and submitting to the same.
John Rowden depos'd, That it had been for many Years his Business to show the upper part of the Cathedral of St. Paul's; that the 19th of November , betwixt 12 and 1 o'Clock, he was going to Dinner, and having heard the old Man's Door shut, he afterwards heard some Persons that seem'd to be coming up softly, he hearken'd, but heard no Voices, that suspecting something more than usual, he look'd through the Light of the Newel Stairs, he being about 30 or 40 Steps from the Prisoners, and did discover the Prisoners in very indecent Postures, whereupon he made haste to them, and surpriz'd them in the following Posture; Huggins's Breeches were down, he stooping very low, so that he could not see his Head, his Shirt was turn'd up on his Back, and his Back-side was bare; Hollywell was standing close by, with his fore Parts to the other's Posteriors, and his Body in Motion, but his fore Parts he could not then see, his Back being towards him, this Evidence: That having thus surpriz'd them, Huggins was busy'd in putting up his Breeches, and Hollywell struggled with him to have got from him, and to have gone off, and tore his Turnover, but he having disengag'd himself, Hollywell got to the Church Door, but could not get out, it being Lock'd, and he having the Key in his Pocket, so he Lock'd them into the Side-Isle , and went to get the Clerk of the Works to go with him to acquaint the Dean with the Matter; that when he came again, Hollywell was got out of the Place where he left him, and could not be found for a considerable time, but at last was found hidden in a Gallery adjoining to the Organ-Loft ; and when they were before the Justice, Hollywell's Shirt was examin'd , and there appear'd plain Tokens of Emission.
The Prisoner Huggins call'd a great many of his Neighbours, who gave him the Character of an industrious Man in his Calling (which was that of a Waterman) of a loving Husband to his Wife, of a tender Father to his Children, of an honest Man in his Dealings , and of a religious Man that kept to his Church constantly on Sundays, and one of the last Men they should have suspected as to such Practices, and should more readily have credited his Familiarity with Women, he commonly associating himself with Women more than Men, but this Character did not avail him against positive and credible Evidence; and Hollywell not calling one single Evidence to his Character, and the Fact being plainly prov'd, the Jury found them both Guilty of the Indictment.
Gay subculture in Georgian London has been explored very thoroughly (no pun intended) by various writers, although often their reading is from a 20thC point of view and too keen to see both homosexuality and homophobia lurking in every shady corner. There are plenty of records that lend themselves to the study of what appears to be a flourishing and diverse set of people, from the cross-dressing, effeminate 'mollys', to the 'rough trade' cruising Moorfields (the term 'rough trade' comes from the fact that many of these men were from the rougher trades, such as blacksmithing, the watermen, etc). Apprentices occasionally complained to their guilds about being used in a fashion not mentioned in their contracts, but the matter was always sorted out privately. There are records of homosexuals, particularly aristocrats living openly. Exclusive homosexuality seems to have been relatively rare, and many men who had long term male lovers were also married and had children. At the end of the 17thC, the Society for the Reformation of Manners (as in morals) got underway to root out sodomitical practices. Quite why they thought this was necessary is a bit bizarre, and they used attractive young men to entrap the 'sodomites', which is unfair to say the least. In rare cases, the punishment was hanging. The delight court recorders took in detailing the minutiae of the clothing and 'fore Parts' and so on is extraordinary for a crime so 'detestable'.
This case is exceptional, not just for the location: they were clearly guilty and had entrapped themselves. Furthermore it is indicative of a culture of casual sex between consenting male adults, rather than the exploitative relationships between younger boys and older men made so much of in the recent studies of the subject. Huggins attempted to have his punishment lessened by demonstrating good character (or rank hypocrisy), but Hollywell didn't bother. It is also worth noting that Huggins got a worse punishment that Hollywell, as he was the receiver, rather than the giver, which carried a greater stigma. Both men were pilloried, then imprisoned. Being pilloried was no joke. I have included an image in the gallery of the Charing Cross pillory to give an idea. It was typical to stand for no more than an hour, but an account of your crimes was posted up next to you and St Pauls was a well-known place for sodomites to be exhibited. During the hour, whatever happened to you was bad luck, although in theory, no one was allowed on the raised platform along with you. Kickings and beatings are recorded, but more usual was to be pelted with refuse, excrement and even dead cats and dogs. No doubt the unfortunate Mrs Huggins was at the very front of the crowd for this one, with a big handful of something truly disgusting.
