Bridewell Bridge - Bridgewater House

Bridewell Bridge

Bridge over the Fleet opposite Bridewell at the end of Paved Alley, built of timber before the Fire, but afterwards on two stone arches (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 194, 280).

Shown in O. and M. 1677, but not named.

Bridewell Ditch

A name given to the mouth of the Fleet and mentioned as the western boundary of the Blackfriars 1560 (Lond. I. p.m. I. 193).

Bridewell Dock

At the south end of the Fleet, where it emptied itself into the Thames (Leake, 1666).

In 1670 application was made for a warrant for grant of approbation of a model of the channel of Bridewell Dock from the Channel of the Thames to Holborn Bridge (L. and P. Chas. II. 1660-70, p. 190).

Occupied the portion of New Bridge Street extending from Tudor Street to Chatham Place.

See Fleet Ditch.

Bridewell Hospital

See Bridewell.

Bridewell Place

West out of New Bridge Street at No. 12 (P.O. Directory) and south to Tudor Street. In Farringdon Ward Without, in precinct of Bridewell.

Erected 1878, on part of site of Old Bridewell Palace and Hospital.

Bridewell Precinct

Extended south from Bride Lane to the Thames and west from New Bridge Street to the City of London Gas Works. Extra parochial. In Farringdon Ward Without.

Certain privileges appertained to it, as comprising the site of the old Royal Palace of Bridewell, and continued to be exercised by the inhabitants until they were abolished in 1697.

The chapel of Bridewell served for the inhabitants of the precinct.

Bridewell Steps

A tradesman's token was issued at the Sunn Tavern upon Bridewell Steps in 1649-72 (Burn, p. 31).

Perhaps led to Bridewell Dock.

Bridge Gate

Said to be one of the four original gates of the City. On London Bridge (S. 42).

New made when the bridge was built of stone.

First mentioned in records : "Gate of London Bridge," 1287 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 228). In ordinances for guarding the City gates.

Fell down 1436. Burned 1471, by Faucon-bridge (ib.).

So called of the Bridge (ib.).

Bridge House

A dwelling-house attached to St. Thomas' Chapel on London Bridge, and quite distinct from the Bridge House at the Southwark end. John de Levesham, bailif of the manor of Levesham, was one of the Brethren of the Bridge House, 26 Ed. I. 1298 (Cal. L. Bk. B. p. 216).

The Bridge House Estate comprises property held by the City and set apart for the repair and upkeep of London Bridge.

Rents from the manor of Lewisham still form part of the estate (Chronicles London Bridge, p. 253-4).

There was a messuage called "le Briggehouse" in parish of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate, 12 Ed. III. 1338 (Cal. L. Bk. G. 132), and another in parish of St. Martin Ludgate (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1338-40, p. 1).

Another "Briggehous" near the Palace of the Bishop of London, opposite the great gate of the hostel of the Countess of Pembroke, near St. Paul's 1361 (Cal. L. Bk. G. p. 132).

These were probably houses, whose rents were devoted to the repair and upkeep of London Bridge.

See Briggehuthe (la).

Some houses described as "tenements belonging to the Bridge House" are shown on the north side of Newgate Market in a "plat of the Greyfriars" in Trans. L. and M. Arch Soc. V. 421.

Bridge House Court

West out of Gracechurch Street, at No. 37, opposite Talbot Court (Lockie, 1816).

Shown in Horwood, but not named.

Bridge House Rents

On the north side of Newgate Street, opposite Warwick Lane, in 1546 and 1617, shown in a "plat of the Greyfriars" in Trans. L. and M. Arch. Soc. V. 421.

Probably belonged to the Bridge House (q.v.).

Bridge Street

South from Easteheap to Old London Bridge. Now Fish Street Hill.

Earliest mention found in records : "Brygestrate," 10-11 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1893).

Other forms of names : Street of London Bridge, 1241-52 (ib. A. 7296). "Brigestret," 36H. III. 1252 (Cal. P.R. H. III. 1247-58, p. 148). "Bruggestrate," 1273-4 (Ct. H.W. I. 16). "Bregestrate," 1281 (Cal. L. Bk. A. 152). "Breggestrate," 1291 (Ct. H.W. I. 96). "In vico pontis Lond." 3 Ed. II. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1615). "Briggestrete," 1303 (Ct. H.W. I. 160). "Breggestre," 5 Ed. II. (Cal. L. Bk. D. 316). "Brugestret," 1335 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1334-8, p. 96). "Briggstret," 1361 (Ct. H.W. II. 63). "Bridgestrete," 3 Ed. III. (Anc. Deeds, C. 2390). "Bridgestreete," alias "Newfishstrete" (q.v.), 1572 (End. Ch. St. Michael, Crooked Lane, Rep. 1903, p. 12).

See Bruestrete, and Fish Street Hill.

Bridge Ward School

In Old Swan Lane, on the west side (Lockie, 1810).

Not named in the maps.

Bridge Ward Within

One of the twenty-six wards of the City, known as Bridge Ward Within, in contradistinction to Southwark, which is known as Bridge Ward Without.

Bridge Ward Within extends along the river front from Billingsgate Ward east to Dowgate Ward west, and is so named as containing London Bridge, the first and for many-years the only bridge across the river within the City boundary.

In 1375 it was claimed that the ward extended as far as the gutter near "le Stulpes" at the further end of London Bridge, and that the property was liable to lot and scot of the City. But this claim was disputed in favour of the Borough of Southwark, and it was alleged that it had only been appropriated to the City within the last ten years (Cal. L. Bk. H. p. 93). Nevertheless the claim was maintained in Stow's time, although the boundary now seems to be about the middle of the river.

Earliest mention : "Ward of Bridge," 1285 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 209).

Also called : "Bruggestreteward," 4 H. V. 1416 (Cal. P.R. H. V. 1416-22, p. 30). "Ward of John Horn," mentioned 1275, is identified with Bridge Ward (Riley's Mem. 3).

Contained four parish churches in Stow's time : St. Magnus ; St. Margaret, Fish Street Hill ; St. Leonard, Eastcheap ; St. Benet, Gracechurch.

Now only St. Magnus, the Martyr.

Places of note : London Bridge, Fishmongers' Hall. See Wards.

Bridge Ward Without

. =Southwark. Not included in the present work.

Bridgeman's Yard

In Water Lane, Blackfriars (Strype, ed. 1755-Dodsley, 1761).

Not named in the maps.

Bridget (St.)

See Bride (St.).

Bridgewater Court

North out of Bridgewater Gardens, at the north end. In Cripplegate Ward Without (O.S. 1875-80-L.C.C. List, 1912).

The site is now occupied by Charles Street (q.v.).

Bridgewater Gardens

North out of Brackley Street and west to Hart Court, in Cripplegate Ward Without (O.S. 1875).

First mention : P.C. 1732.

In the 17th century the site was occupied by the Earl of Bridgewater's house (O. and M. 1677), and the gardens partly laid out as Brackley Street and Bridgwater Street (q.v.), hence the name.

The site is now covered by Charles Street and Fann Street (q.v.). Extended 1878.

Bridgewater House

On the north side of the Barbican. The house of the Earl of Bridgewater (O. and M. 1677-Strype, 1720).

Burnt down 1687.

On the site were erected Bridgewater Square and Gardens (now Fann Street), Bridgewater Court, Litton Street, Brackley Street and Bridgewater Street.