Botolph (St.) - Boulogne (Honour of)

Botolph (St.)

In Bred stret Warde.

Included in list of Parish Churches in London in Fabyan's Chronicle (1520) (ed. 1811, p. 296).

Not identified.

Botolph (St.) Aldersgate

On the west side of Aldersgate Street, at the south-east corner of Little Britain, in Aldersgate Ward Without (P.O. Directory).

Earliest mention found in records : "St. Botulph without Aldredesgate," 43 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1493).

Other form : "Sancti Botulphi de Aldresgate," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 228).

In 1448 a grant of land was made for enlarging the church of St. Botolph without Aldrichgate, 27 H. VI. 1448 (Cal. L. Bk. K. p. 325).

Three fraternities in the Church, Holy Trinity, St. Katherine, and SS. Fabian and Sebastian (Staples, 17).

Church repaired 1627. Steeple decayed, pulled down and rebuilt (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 113).

Rebuilt 1754-7, repaired 1833 and 1851.

A Vicarage. Patrons : Dean of St Martin's le Grand, 30 Ed. I., later the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.

St. Botoph was a hermit-abbot of the 7th century, and founded a monastery at Ikanho, a little village in Suffolk. But beyond this, little is known of his life and work. It is interesting to note that of the four churches dedicated to him in London, three stand near to the sites of three of the principal gates of the City on the high roads leading north and east out of the City.

Botolph (St.) Aldgate

On the north side of Aldgate High Street, at the south-east corner of Houndsditch. In Portsoken Ward.

First mention found in records : 1125 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 220).

Included in the grant made in that year by the Knightenguild of their land to the Prior and Convent of Holy Trinity.

Rebuilt by the Prior of Holy Trinity before the dissolution of the monasteries temp. VIII. as noted by Stow in his Survey (ed. 1603, p. 128).

Present church erected 1725-40 on the site of the old one : architect, Dance.

A curacy. Patrons : Priors of Holy Trinity until temp. H. VIII, patronage afterwards vested in the Crown.

The church stood outside the City walls, and being dedicated to St. Botolph, the designation "without Alegate" was added to indicate its proximity to the City gate so called, and to distinguish it from the other City churches, dedicated to St. Botolph.

The parish, as at present constituted, lies partly within the Liberties of the City of London in the Ward of Portsoken, and partly outside the Liberties in Middlesex. The portion within the Liberties comprises the whole of the Portsoken Ward, sometimes called the upper end, or upper precinct ; the other portion includes the Lordship of East Smithfield, together with the parish or precinct of St. Katherine near the Tower of London, and also the parish of Holy Trinity Minories, reunited to St. Botolph's parish in 1899.

The parish has varied considerably in extent from time to time, and in early days included, as appears from old charters and documents, the extra parochial district known as the Tower Liberties.

At the date of the gift of the property of the Knightengild to the Prior and Convent of Holy Trinity in 1125, the parish was co-terminous with the ward of Portsoken, and included all the outlying districts above mentioned. How these came to be gradually alienated from the ward and from the parish is related in the account of Portsoken Ward (q.v.). But it will be seen from this account and from its present extent, that while the parish has been restored almost to its original dimensions, the ward has suffered considerable curtailment.

The bounds of the parish are set out in detail by A.M. in Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. Hatton, 1708 ; and in the Parish Clerks' Account of London, pub. 1732 ; and these descriptions are particularly interesting as showing in some instances the names and occupations of the residents in those houses, which were situated on the boundaries at various dates.

See Nicholas (St.) without Algate.

Called "St. Mary's Buttolphe" without Aldgate, 1613 (L.C.C. Deeds, Harben Bequest, 1600-1700, No. 142).

There is no other indication of a double dedication of the church, and there may be some confusion here with St. Mary Matfellon in Whitechapel.

Botolph (St.) Aldgate Charity School

In Victualling Office Square. On the east side of Little Tower Hill, west of and facing the Mint (Lockie, 1810).

Founded in 1673 for the parish of St. Botolph's. The first Protestant parochial charity school in London, and the first to adopt the national system of education. The freehold was purchased in 1792, and the school erected for 60 boys and 40 girls.

These buildings were occupied until 1901, when the children were moved to Sir John Cass' Institute (End. Ch. Rep. p. 45, St. Botolph Aldgate Parish), the site being required to make the Tower Bridge Northern Approach.

Botolph (St.) Aldgate Churchyard

See Aldgate Churchyard.

Botolph (St.) at Retheresgate

See Botolph (St.) Billingsgate.

Botolph (St.) Billingsgate

On the south side of Thames Street, between Botolph Wharf and Cock's key (Leake, 1666). In Billingsgate Ward.

Earliest mention found in records : "St. Botolph," Inquisition there 1181 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. App. p. 68).

Forms of name : "St. Botolph, Billingesgate," temp. John (Anc. Deeds, A. 1666). "S. Botolph towards Billingesgate," 1279-80 (Ct. H. W. I. 46). "S. Botolph without Billyngesgate" (ib. 115), 1294. "Sci Botulphi de Billingesgate," 1285 (MSS. D. and C. St Paul's, Lib. L. ff. 115-18). "S. Botolph at Retheresgate," 1296 (Ct. H.W. I. 129). "S. Botolph apud Billingesgate," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 228). "Sancti Botulphi super Thamisiam," 1325 (Cal. P.R. Ed. II. 1324-7, p. 132).

The existence of St. Botolph's gate on the Thames in the time of William the Conqueror suggests that the church may have been erected long before the earliest record given above, as it seems more probable, as Stow suggests, that the gate or wharf should be named from the church, than that the church should be named from the gate.\Repaired and beautified 1624. Destroyed in the Great Fire and was to be rebuilt. Part of the site was, however, required to be thrown into the passage leading to St. Botolph's Wharf and part for the widening of Thames Street, 1668, so that it was decided eventually not to rebuild the church (L. and P. Chas. II. 1667-8. p. 182), and the parish was united to St. George, Botolph Lane.\A vicarage. Patron : the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's.\The church seems to have come into the hands of the Dean and Chapter in the 12th century by the gift of Orgar the deacon, who gave them the churches of St. Martin and St. Botulf (H. MSS. Com. 9th Report, 16 and 63).\Site now covered by warehouses.

Botolph (St.) Billingsgate, Churchyard

East out of Botolph Lane, south of Botolph Alley. In Billingsgate Ward (Strype, 1720 and 1755, and Rocque, 1746).\Between Botolph Lane and Love Lane.\In 1392, 16 Rich. II., a cemetery was to be made for the burial of parishioners of St. Botolph by Billyngesgate (Cal. P.R. Rich. II. 1391-6, p. 141), but the patent does not say where it was situated.\Site now occupied by the Billingsgate Ward School, and Storay Steps Warehouse (End. Ch. 1903, p. 5).

Botolph (St.) Bishopsgate Churchyard

See Bishopsgate Churchyard.

Botolph (St.) in Thames Street

See Botolph (St.) Billingsgate.

Botolph (St.) without Aldersgate Churchyard

On the south side of St. Botolph's Church, between Aldersgate Street and King Edward Street (O.S.).

Converted into a garden, commonly called the "Postmen's Park," ornamented with arcade, the gift of G. F. Watts, and opened 1880.

Botolph (St.) without Bishopsgate

On the west side of Bishopsgate at No. 117 (P.O. Directory). In Bishopsgate Ward Without.

Stow says it stood on the bank of the Town Ditch.

Earliest mention : "Sci Botulfi exa Bissopeg," 1212-13 (Anc. Deeds, A. 1851, 1854).

Partly rebuilt 1617 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 90). Entirely rebuilt, 1728. Architect, Dance.

A Rectory. Patron : the Bishop of London.

Rectory adjoins the church (Strype, ed. 1755, I. 421-2).

There was an anchoress in the cemetery, 1 H. V. 1413 (Cal. P.R. H. V. 1413-15, p. 29).

Strype suggests that the Liberty of Norton Folgate or some portion of it was included in St. Botolph's parish (ed. 1720, I. ii. 94).

Botolph Alley

East out of Botolph Lane at No. 40 to No. 6 Love Lane (P.O. Directory). In Billingsgate Ward.

First mention : O. and M. 1677.

Also called "St. Botolph's Alley" (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 173).

Named after the church of St. Botolph Billingsgate (q.v.).

Botolph Wharf Gateway

Leading to Botolph Wharf (P.C. 1732).

Not named in the maps.

Botolph's Gate

See Botolph's Wharf.

Botolph's Lane

North from 112 Lower Thames Street to 14 Eastcheap (P.O. Directory). In Billingsgate Ward.

Earliest mention : "St. Botolph's Lane," temp. Ed. I. (Anc. Deeds, B. 2025).

It seems to have been first called "Botolph Lane" in 1313 (Ct. of H.W. I. 243), but it was more usually referred to as "St. Botolph's Lane" until the 16th century, when the name "Botolph Lane" came into general use. "Seynt botulfes lane," 1348-9 (ib. 539).

Named after the church, "because it riseth over against the Parrish Church of S. Buttolph" (S. 211).

Called "Bottle Lane" 1652 (L. and P. Commonwealth, D.S. IV. p. 330).

Botolph's Wharf

On the south side of Lower Thames Street at Nos. 12 to 14, to the west of Nicholson's Wharf (P.O. Directory). In Billingsgate Ward.

It seems to have been originally called "Botolph's Gate," and Stow says it was confirmed to the Monks of Westminster by William I. in 1067.

The charters containing the confirmation are in Cott. MS. Faust, A. III. f. 64, and in Cott Charter VI. 3. In these charters the name of the wharf is not given, only its description "ad caput pontis" and the name of the original donor, "Aluuoldus de porta sancti botulfi." The gift would appear to have been made in the time of King Edward, who is mentioned in the charter, but whether it actually relates to St. Botolph's Gate or not, the early mention of the name in these charters is of great interest, as evidence of the gate at that date.

If the wharf referred to in the charters was St. Botolph's Gate, then in later times it had, by some means or other, passed out of the possession of the abbey, for in the numerous entries relating to the wharf in later records, no mention is ever made of the ownership of the abbey, but it seems to have been at one time in the hands of the Crown and to have been restored to the Commonalty of London 26 Ed. I. 1297 (Cal. L. Bk. B. p. 243), at which time it is described as in a ruinous condition. There are frequent references to it in the Letter Books, showing that it was let out by the City to private persons for fixed periods at an annual rent.

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

It is difficult to determine whether the gate was in existence first and gave its name to the church, or whether it was named after the church. The latter view would seem to be the more natural, although there does not appear to be any record of the existence of the church prior to the 12th century.

There is an interesting record relating to the church and wharf in the will of William Stafford, who in 1480-1 left to the church of St. Botolph near Billyngesgate a piece of land, described as parcel of the said church, on which at one time stood a house, parcel of a wharf called "Botolphiswharf" (Ct. H.W. II. 581).

It may be noted in this connection that the gift of Aluuoldus mentioned above included "curiam suam dominicam cum domibus suis et unum wearf quod est ad capud pontis london."

The wharf has been rebuilt from time to time and is somewhat wider in extent than it appears to be in the maps of the 17th and 18th centuries. The removal of London Bridge further west has also altered the present position of the wharf in relation to the Bridge, so that it could no longer be described as at the head of the Bridge, although not very far to the eastward from it.

Bottle Alley, Bottle Yard, Bishopsgate

See Britannia Place.

Bottle Lane

See Botolph Lane.

Boulogne (Honour of)

Court of the honour held at St. Martin's le Grand, 2 Ed. I. (Ch. Inq. p.m. file 4 (10)).

See Bononiae (Honour of).