Almshouses, Mincing Lane - Anabaptist Meeting House

Almshouses, Mincing Lane

In two alleys in Mincing Lane, given by Wm. Sevenoke to St. Dunstan's parish in the East (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 47).

The alleys were called Harp Alley and Lilley Alley in 1656, and consisted of 22 small tenements, while two other tenements in Mincing Lane made up the 24 tenements forming the almshouses. When the annuity was originally given by Wm. Sevenoak in 1426, the property consisted of three tenements in Mincing Lane, and these were subsequently acquired by the parish for the almshouses. After the removal of the two alleys, the almshouses were not rebuilt, but money payments were granted to the poor in place of the habitations pulled down (End. Ch. Rep. 1902).

Alnager

Measurer of cloth by the " aulne " (Latin "ulna") or ell for the purpose of collecting the " aulnage " (or duty per ell) paid to the King on all cloths sold, 1315 (Cal. L. Bk. E. p. 53). Office abolished 11 and 12 Wm. III.

Alphage (St.) Churchyard

On the north side of London Wall, opposite the present church of St. Alphage. Enclosed by iron railings, showing remains of the old Wall of London. In Cripplegate Ward Within. Shown in O. and M. 1677.

Alphage (St.) London Wall

On the south side of London Wall at No. 13. In Cripplegate Ward Within.

The church stood originally on the north side, adjoining the Wall of London.

Earliest mention found in records : " St. Elfego," c. 1108-25 (Anc. Deeds, A. 7309).

The church is said to have been built prior to the charter of William I. to the foundation of St. Martin's le Grand in 1068, and to have been included in the gifts of churches, etc., mentioned therein. It is not mentioned by name in the charter.

Other forms : " St. Alfego," 1189-98 (Anc. Deeds, A. 7926). " St. Alphegi," 1189-98 (ib. A. 11,858). "Sce Aliphegi sone day," 1241-59 (Fulk Basset's Register in D. and C. St. Paul's MSS. W.D. fo. 49). " St. Elfegi beside Crepelgate," 1275 (Anc. Deeds, A. 11,859). " St. Alphege de Cripelgate," 1279-80 (Ct. H.W. I. 43). " St. Alfige within Cripelgate," 1283-4 (ib. 68). " St. AElphege de Wodestrate," 1291 (ib. 102). " St. Alphege near Crepelgate," 1304 (ib. 165). "Alphey within Crepilgate " (Arnold, 1500-21, p.247).

In 1328 mention is made in a will of the parish of " St. Alphage within Bisshopesgate " (Ct. H.W. I. 339). There does not appear ever to have been any other church in London dedicated to St. Alphage and the passage may probably refer to the church of St. Alphage within Cripplegate.

Stow tells us that at the suppression of the Priory of Elsing Spital, temp. H. VIII., part of the priory church on the south side of London Wall was converted into a parish church for St. Alphage and the old parish church, which stood on the north side near the wall of the City by Cripplegate, being ruinous was pulled down and the plot made a carpenter's yard. The old churchyard, containing remains of the old Wall of London, is enclosed by an iron railing on the north side of London Wall Street.

Repaired 1624 and again 1682, 1701 and 1774-7. It was one of the few churches that escaped the Fire of London, 1666. North porch erected 1914.

A Rectory. Patrons : Dean of St. Martin's le Grand (Lib. Cust. I. 235), until the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when the patronage fell to the Crown and was given by Queen Mary to the Bishop of London (Newcourt, I. 259).

St. Alphage, to whom the church is dedicated, was Archbishop of Canterbury, and died 1012. He was buried in St. Paul's, but removed to Canterbury 1023.

The tower is fourteenth-century work of the old church of Elsing Spital, and it contains a fine doorway and arch.

It is proposed to unite this parish to St. Mary Aldermanbury.

Alphege (St.) Within Bishopsgate

See Alphage (St.) London Wall.

Alphey Within Crepilgate

See Alphage (St.), London Wall.

Alsies Lane

See Alfies Lane.

Alulph (St.)

See Olave (St.), Hart Street.

Amand (St.)

St. Vedast, Foster Lane, is sometimes referred to as SS. Vedast and Amand. See Vedast (St.), Foster Lane.

Amandus (St.)

See Vedast (St.), Foster Lane.

Ambrose Thurstan's Key

Made a general place for lading and discharging goods by Act of Parliament, 1559 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 49).

No further reference.

Amelia Place

South-west out of Seven Step Alley between Hutchison's Avenue and Gun Square, Houndsditch. In Portsoken Ward (O.S. 1848-51-O.S. 1880).

In the earlier edition the southern portion of the square is called by another name, which looks like " Berners Place," but is nearly obliterated. Removed for the extension of the Metropolitan Railway, c. 1884.

Perhaps named after the consort of William IV.

Amen Corner

West out of Paternoster Row at No. 36 to Amen Court (P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Within.

First mention : (O. and M. 1677).

Former name : " Amen lane " (S. 315).

The college of Physicians was in the lane before the Fire, but was burnt down, and a Canon's house erected in its place (Strype, ed.1720, I. iii. 194).

Formerly comprised what is now known as Amen Court, containing the Canon's houses, etc.

Amen Court

West and north from Amen Corner and west out of Warwick Lane at No.12. In Farringdon Ward Within (P.O. Directory).

It is shut in from the adjacent streets by a high wall and contains the houses belonging to the Canons and some other officials of St. Paul's Cathedral.

First mention : O.S. 1875.

Formerly called " Amen Corner " (q.v.) (O. and M. 1677). In Rocque, 1746 : " Resident of St. Paul's Houses."

Name said to be taken from the text illuminators living near the Cathedral (N. and Q. 9th S. IV. p. 134).

It has been suggested that this name together with Paternoster Row, Ave Maria Lane and Creed Lane mark stages in the processions of the Cathedral clergy-the Lord's Prayer in Latin being said in Paternoster Row, the Amen at the corner, which was at the bottom of the Row, the " Hail Mary " in Ave Maria Lane, while crossing Ludgate, the chanting of the Credo took place (N. and Q. 9th S. IV. pp. 190-1).

Amen House

Mentioned 1641 (L. and P. Chas. I. XVIII. p. 164).

Not further identified.

Amen Lane

Added to Creed Lane, betwixt the south end of Warwicke Lane and the north end of Ave Mary Lane (S. 340).

See Amen Corner.

America Square

On the south side of John Street, Minories. In Portsoken Ward (P.O. Directory).

First mention : Horwood, 1799.

A brew house stood on the site in 1746 and 1763 in Rocque's maps. The Square must have been erected between 1761 and 1774, as a letter written to Lord Dartmouth in August, 1774, is dated from this square (H. MSS. Com. 14, Rep. 223).

Behind the south-west corner of America Square below the natural gravel was found a Roman wall, 7 ft. 6 in. thick, parallel to the line of the Minories (Arch. XL. 296). The base of the wall was at a depth of about 20 feet. Traces of the City Ditch have also been found here.

Amicable Assurance Society

In Serjeant's Inn, Fleet Street.

Incorporated 1706, as an Assurance office (Dodsley, 1761). The Society purchased the Hall from the Serjeants.

Anabaptist Meeting House

See Pinners' Hall.

Anabaptist Meeting House

On the east side of Maidenhead Court, north of Great Eastcheap. In Candlewick Ward (Rocque, 1746).

The site was cleared in the early part of the 19th century for the enlargement of the roadway.