In 1786 the house on this corner was in ruins, and George Kelaway, a poor labourer, was sent to fill in its cellar. He noticed three rotten wooden chests, probed them, and found a mass of gold and silver coins. He filled his pockets and slunk away to his lodgings, but a maid looking out of the window of a nearby house had seen. She spread the word, crowds rushed to fight for the treasure, and George made the mistake of returning for more; he was knocked unconscious, and when he got back to his lodgings he found his takings had been taken, by a tinker named Roe.