“On this day of the year, long before you were born, this heap of decay,” stabbing with her crutched stick at the pile of cobwebs on the table but not touching it, “was brought here. It and I have worn away together. The mice have gnawed at it, and sharper teeth than teeth of mice have gnawed at me.”
Does this quote sound familiar? No? It’s OK, we’ll get there.
Jane Lewson, or Lady Lewson to some, was born in 1700, in Strand. She married a wealthy merchant, moved to Coldbath Square, and had a daughter. All was fine until her husband died when she was 26 years old. Although she allegedly had many suitors, she decided not to remarry. After the marriage of her daughter, her life took a weird turn.