Cripplegate Ward - Cross (Holy) or Holy Rood

Cripplegate Ward

One of the twenty-six wards of the City, and lying both within and without the City Wall. It lies on the north side of the City, between Bassieshaw and Cheap Wards east, Bread Street Ward south, Farringdon Ward Within, Aldersgate Wards Within and Without, and Farringdon Ward Within (det.) on the west, and the parish of St. Luke's Old Street north.

First mention : In the list of wards, c. 1285, mentioned in L. Bk. A. p. 209, "Ward of Crepelgate."

Formerly called : "Ward of Henry de Frowyke," 1275-6 (Cal. L. Bk. B. p. 259).

In the assessements of inhabitants of the Wards, 20 Ed. III. (1346), it is spoken of as "Crepelgate Within and Without" (Cal. L. Bk. F. p. 148).

So called of the gate of that name (S. 292).

Contained in Stow's time seven churches : St. Mary Aldermanbury ; St. Alban, Wood Street ; St, Olave, Mugwell Street ; St. Alphage, London Wall ; St. Michael, Wood Street ; St. Giles, Cripplegate ; St. Mary Magdalen, Milk Street. Also Priory of Elsing Spital ; Cripplegate Hermitage ; Compter in Wood Street. Halls of Companies, six, ivz.: Pinners' or Plasterers' Hall ; Brewers' Hall ; Curriers' Hall ; Wax-Chandlers' Hall ; Haberdashers' Hall, and Bowyers' Hall. Of these seven churches, four alone remain, viz.: St. Mary, Aldermanbury ; St. Alban, Wood Street ; St. Alphage, London Wall ; St. Giles, Cripplegate. While Brewers' Hall ; Curriers' Hall ; Haberdashers' Hall, and Wax-Chandlers' Hall are still in existence. See Wards.

Cristemerelond

Land in parish of St. Olave by the Tower of London, adjoining London Wall held by Robert Cristemasse of the prior and convent of Holy Trinity (Anc. Deeds, A. 2395).

"Cristemesselonde," 20 Ed. I. (ib. A. 2399). "Cristemerelond," 1286 (Ct. H.W. I. 78).

Not further identified.

Named after the owner.

Cristofer (Le)

A messuage in the parish of St. Andrew in Holborne without the Bar of the Old Temple, between a tenement called "le Cristofer" east, a tenement of the Charterhouse west and opposite a small lane leading into the fields of Fiketysfeld, 9 H. VI. (Aug. Off. Leases, 36).

Not further identified.

Crokehorne Alley

In parish of St. Andrew Holborn between Thavies Inn east, and the highway of Holborn north, opposite Elie House, 1547 (L. and P. H. VIII. XXI. (2), p. 416).

"Crookhorn Alley" (S. 393).

Thos. Berthelett had a tenement and garden in the Alley in 2 and 3 P. and M. (Lond. I. p.m. p. 135-7).

Probably on or about the site now covered by Bartlett's Buildings (q.v.).

Crompton's Buildings

Near Middle Temple Gate, erected by Thomas Crompton about 1581 (Inner Temple Records, I. 313).

Named after the owner or builder.

Crookbourn Alley

See Andrew's (St.) Court.

Crooked Frying Pan Alley

In Wood Street, Cheapside (P.C. 1732).

Not named in the maps.

Crooked Lane

South out of King William Street to Miles' Lane (P.O. Directory). In Candlewick Ward and formerly in Bridge Ward Within.

First mention : "la Crokedelane," 6 Ed. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2001).

other names : "Venella torta," 1303 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 192). "la Crokydlane," 1349 (Ct. H.W. I. 561).

Called Crooked lane of the crooked windings thereof (S. 217).

The appearance of the lane has been greatly changed by the alterations effected in the City in the early part of the 19th century, and being now quite straight, it has completely lost the distinctive characteristic to which it owed its appellation.

In Stow's time the lane extended east out of St. Michael's lane winding south and south-east to Fish Street Hill, into Bridge Ward Within, and it so remained down to the end of the 18th century. But in Horwood's map, 1799, it is more extensive and occupied the northern end of St. Michael's Lane extending south out of Great Eastcheap and east to Fish Street Hill. This northern end is the only portion now existing, the whole of the southern and eastern portions forming the original street having been removed for the formation of King William Street and the new approaches to London Bridge soon after 1831. Here are most Haberdashers of small wares and bird-cage makers (W. Stow, 1722).

Crookere Lane, Crookeres Lane

South out of Fleet Street to the Thames in the precinct of the Whitefriars (S. 399). In ward of Farringdon Without in parish of St. Dunstan, 1276-7 (Cal. L. Bk. B. 267).

Forms of name : "Crockere lane" (ib.). "Crokerelane," 1283 (Ct. H.W. I. 66). "Crokkereslane," 1291 (ib. 101). "Crockeres lane," 1291-2 (ib. 104).

In 1349 licence was granted to the Carmelite Friars to enclose a lane called "Crokkerelane" in the suburb of the City to the west of their dwelling-place, reaching from Fletestrete to the Thames, 660 ft. long by 12 ft. broad, for the enlargement of their house, 1349 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1348-50, p. 298).

Pleydell Court, Lombard Street, and Temple Lane now occupy the site (Bell's Fleet Street, p. 101 ; and See Whitefriars for descriptions of site, etc.).

Crookhorn Alley

See Crokehorne Alley.

Crosby Buildings

At No. 6 Crosby Square (P.O. Directory). In Bishopsgate Ward.

First mention : L.C.C. List, 1901.

Crosby Hall

On the east side of Bishopsgate (Street Within) at the north-east corner of Crosby Square (O.S.).

This was the great hall of Crosby Place (q.v.), and having survived the Great Fire and been repaired and restored from time to time, it remained intact until the year 1909-10, when, being threatened with destruction, it was removed and re-erected in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, forming the most interesting example in London of the domestic architecture of the 15th century.

Crosby Hall Chambers

On the east side of Bishopsgate Street at No. 24, opposite Threadneedle Street, in Bishopsgate Ward Within (Collingwood, 1908).

Former name : "Old City Chambers" (Horwood, 1790-Elmes, 1831).

Said to have been designed by Inigo Jones.

Site seems now to be occupied by the Wesleyan Centenary Hall.

Crosby Place

On the east side of Bishopsgate (Street Within).

Built by Sir John Crosby on lands let to him by the Prioress of St. Helen's for 99 years in 1466 (L. and P. H. VIII. 1542, Dom. S. Vol. XVII. p. 487).

Named after him.

At the time the highest house in London (S. 174).

Mentioned in Shakespeare's Richard III. Act I. Scenes 1, 2, and 3.

Belonged to Anthony Bonvys, 30 H. VIII. 1539 (L. and P. H. VIII. XIV. Pt. 1, p. 420).

Occupied by Lord Darcy, 4 Ed. VI. (Lond. I. p.m. I. p. 116).

In 18 Eliz. it belonged to Wm. Bonde (ib. II. 200), and in Stow's time to Sir John Spencer, who kept his Mayoralty there (S. 174).

Burnt in the Great Fire (except the Hall (q.v.)) and rebuilt as Crosby Square (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 106).

Site shown on O.S. 1875.

The withdrawing room and Throne room were afterwards used as warehouses for the East India Company (Cox, 334).

From tesselated pavements discovered on the site during excavations, in 1871-3, it would appear that a Roman villa existed on the site in early times.

See Crosby Hall.

Crosby Square

East out of Bishopsgate at No. 34 (P.O. Directory). In Bishopsgate Ward Within.

First mention : "Crosby Court or Square" (Hatton, 1708), with a passage leading into St. Mary Axe.

Called "Crosby's Square" (Horwood, 1799).

Named from Crosby Place, on part of the site of which the Square was erected after the Great Fire.

Roman pavement found in 1836, while digging for a drain in the basement of No.3, at a depth of 13 ft. from the paving of the Square (R. Smith, 57).

Crosby Square Passage

Leading into Crosby Square (q.v.) (Hatton, 1708-Boyle, 1799).

Not named in the maps.

Crosby Street

East out of Crosby Square to St. Mary Axe (Strype, 1720-Elmes, 1831).

"Crosby's Street" (Rocque, 1746, and Horwood, 1799).

In Hatton, 1708, it is described as a passage only, apparently unnamed, and seems to have been included as a lane in the grant to Sir John Crosby in 1466 (L. and P. H. VIII. 1542, XVII. 487).

It is now called Great St. Helens (q.v.).

Crosleys Square, Hart Street, Tower Street

See New London Street.

Cross (Holy)

See Crutched Friars.

Cross (Holy) or Holy Rood

An old parish in Aldgate Ward, conterminous with the Parish of Holy Trinity (S. 142). Stow tells us that the church was begun by Siredus in honour of the Cross and of Saint Marie Magdalen before the foundation of the Priory of Holy Trinity by Queen Matilda in 1108 (S. 141).