Elden Lane - Ely (Bishop of), Soke

Elden Lane

Tenements in Fletstrete and Bowyerrowe in the parish of St. Martin within Ludgate near the lane called Elden Lane, 1411-12 (Ct. H.W. II. 392).

Sharpe identified it with Old Dean's Lane, but this identification does not seem possible unless Ave Mary Lane at one time formed part of Warwick Lane (q.v.).

Elden, Eldenes Lane

See Old Dean's Lane.

The entries relating to this lane are rather confusing, and it may be well to set out in order such of them as cannot be satisfactorily regarded as referring to the present Warwick Lane.

"Messuage in Heldesdenes Lane in parish of St. Sepulchre extra "Newegat," 14 Ed. I. 1286 (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A., Box 23, No. 1669).

Tenements in Eldesdenes lane, Cockes lane, Secollane, etc, in parish of St. Sepulchre (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 23).

"Tenements near Eldenes lane and Seintbrides lane in parish of St. Brigid," 1379 (Ct. H.W. II. 209).

"Tenements in Fletsstrete and Bowyerrowe in parish of St. Martin within Ludgate near the lane called Elden lane," 1411-12 (Ct. H.W. II.392).

The messuages referred to in the first two entries would appear to be situated in the parish of St. Sepulchre extra Newgate, those in the third in the parish of St. Bride, those in the fourth in the parish of St. Martin Ludgate.

To deal with the last entry first, if it could be established that Ave Mary Lane formed at an early period a portion of Warwick Lane, then this entry would present no difficulty, as the whole of the western side of that lane was in the parish of St. Martin Ludgate. But read in conjunction with the other entries, it is not unreasonable to see if there is any one point at which the three parishes mentioned in these four entries meet and join each other, and this is found to be the case in the neighbourhood of the Belle Sauvage Yard.

Possibly there may have been a lane called Elden Lane in this neighbourhood somewhere between the Old Bailey, Ludgate Hill, Fleet Lane and the present Farringdon Street, on a site which cannot now be precisely identified, and it may be well to bear this in mind and not assume too hastily that all the entries under this name refer to Warwick Lane.

Eldeneslane

See Old Dean's Lane.

Eldon Street

On the north side of Finsbury Circus, on the northern boundary of the City, running west from Blomfield Street to Wilson Street. Partly in Coleman Street Ward and partly in the borough of Shoreditch, outside the City boundary (P.O Directory).

First mention : Greenwood, 1827-29.

Formerly the northern portion of Moorfields.

Named after Lord Eldon, Lord Chancellor 1807-27.

Elena (St.)

See Helen (St.) Bishopsgate.

Elephant Yard

North out of Fore Street, in Cripplegate Ward Without (L.C.C. List, 1901 and 1912).

Not named in the maps.

Eleyne (Seint) Lane

It appears from records temp. H. III. that there was a lane described as "a common thoroughfare" from Bishopsgate Street to St. Mary Axe, but in 33 H. III. the Priory of St. Helens obtained licence to shut up this lane lying across their ground, extending from the Gate of the Priory to the Church of St. Mary at Ax and called "Seint Eleyne Lane" (Pat. 33 H. III. m. 7).

There had been a passage for carts and horsemen through this lane (Rot. Hund. I., pp. 409, 410, 420, 425, 426, 431).

It is worthy of note that the obstruction has continued to the present time, as there is still no thoroughfare for carriages.

Elim Place

West out of Fetter Lane, south of Graystoke Place, in Farringdon Ward Without (O.S., 1875), east of the Methodist Chapel.

In Horwood, 1799, the street seems to extend further west and to occupy the site of Mac's Place (q.v.) on the west side of the chapel, as well as the site to the east.

"Elim Place" (Lockie, 1810).

Site rebuilt for business purposes.

Elliott's Court

West out of Old Bailey. In Farringdon Ward Without, 1915 (L.C.C. List, 1912).

First mention : Hatton, 1708.

Former name : "Ellis Court" (O. and M. 1677 to Strype, 1720).

The name suggests an owner or builder.

Ellis Court

See Elliott's Court.

Ellison Street

West out of Middlesex Street at No. 43. In Portsoken Ward (P.O. Directory).

Earliest mention : Lockie, 1810.

The site was occupied by Seven Step Alley (q.v.) until the formation of Ellison Street at the beginning of the 19th century.

Elm Court

West out of Fetter Lane, near Elim Place (Lockie, 1810-Elmes, 1831). In Farringdon Ward Without.

Not named in the maps.

Elm Court

East out of Middle Temple Lane, within the Temple precincts (P.O Directory).

First mention : "Elme Court," 1620 (Middle Temple Records, p. 50).

South side rebuilt 1630 (ib. p. 60).

Elm Place, Fetter Lane

See Elim Place.

Elme (le)

John Walworth to be buried in churchyard of St. Brigid in Fletestret near "le Elme" opposite his ancient tavern, 1396-7 (Ct. H.W. II. 324).

Not further identified.

Elms (The), Smithfield

"Le elmes" or "le two elmys" in the parish of St. Sepulchre without Newgate are frequently mentioned in early records in descriptions of property to identify the position of tenements, etc. (Anc. Deeds, B. 2173 and 2204).

Stow describes the site as between the Horsepool and Turnmill brook, and said it had been a place of execution for Offenders (S. 382).

Strype says it was so used in 1219 and earlier, as shown by a Close Roll, 4 H. III., in which mention is made of "Furcae factae upud Ulmellos Com. Midd. ubi prius factae fuerunt (ed. 1720, I. iii. 238).

Sir W. Wallace was executed there 1305.

Elphege (St.)

See Alphage (St.), London Wall.

Elsing Spital

A Priory of Augustinian Canons and a hospital for blind men, called the Hospital of St. Mary within Cripplegate or Elsing Spital.

On the east side of Philip Lane, between Philip Lane and Gayspor Lane, on the south side of London Wall.

Site shown on O.S. 1875, occupied by Sion College.

Earliest mention : License granted to William de Elsyng to alienate in mortmain certain houses in the parishes of St. Alphege and St. Mary Aldermanbury to found a hospital for 100 blind people in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 3 Ed. III. 1329 (Cal P.R. Ed. III. 1327-30, p. 360).

Deed of foundation of hospital of St. Mary in parishes of St. Alphege and St. Mary Aldermanbury by William de Elsyngg, confirmed 4 Ed. III. 1330 (ib. 1330-4, p. 49).

Founded for sustenance of a master and four secular priests by William de Elsyng as hospital of St. Mary within Crepilgate. Five canons regular of the rule of St. Augus tine substituted i6 Ed. III. 1342 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1340-3, p. 416).

Other names : "New Hospital within Crepulgate," 1330-1 (Ct. H.W. I. 362). Hospital of St. Mary within Crepulgate called "Elysyngge Spitele," 27 Ed. III. (Cal. L. Bk. G. p. 16). "Hospital of St. Mary Aldermanbury," 1338 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1338-40, p. 171). "Elsynges Spital," 1350-1 (Ct. H.W. I. 641). "Hospital of St. Mary de Elsyngspittle," 1371 (ib. II. 139). "Mary, priorie of Elsing Spital," 1521 (Arnold's Chronicle, p. 251).

William de Elsinge was Warden of the Hospital 1330-1 (Ct. H.W. I. 362).

Named after him "Elsynges Spital."

The Hospital was dissolved and the church of Elsingspittle given to be the parish church of St. Alphes, Cripplegate, 28 H. VIII. 1536 (L. and P. H. VIII. X. 460).

Grant of site of the Hospital for secular uses, 31 H. VIII. (ib. XV., p. 292).

Stow says there was a great fire there in 1541 (S. 297).

Sir Rowlande Haywarde was in possession of the premises 36 Eliz. 1594 (Lond. I. p.m III. 207).

Sion College (q.v.) was erected on the site about 1623, but was removed to Victoria Embankment in 1886.

The site is now occupied by business premises in Aldermanbury Avenue and London Wall.

Elsworth Place

See Collier's Court.

Ely (Bishop of), Soke

Rent paid yearly at the soke of the Bishop of Ely, 40 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2224).

The Bishop's House, gardens, etc., are shown in Rocque's map, 1746, outside the City boundary, on the north side of Holborn Hill.

See Ely House.