George's (St.) Avenue - Gingerbread Alley, Court

George's (St.) Avenue

East out of Aldermanbury at No. 22 (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Ward Within.

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

Occupies the site of George Hotel, Inn, Aldermanbury (q.v.) and Young's Buildings, and leads into Aldermanbury Buildings.

George's (St.) Lane

On the west side of Old Bailey to Seacoal Lane (S. 374-5).

Now Fleet Lane (q.v.).

Called "George Court" in Strype, out of Seacoal Lane.

Gerard's Court

In Little Bell Alley (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799).

Not named in the maps.

Gerard's Hall Inn

On the south side of Basing Lane, adjoining St. Mildred, Bread Street, in Bread Street Ward (Elmes, 1831).

First mention : "Gerrardes hall" (S.350).

Former names : New hall of John de Gisorcis in parish of S. Mildred de Bredstrete, 1296 (Ct. H.W. I. 128). His former house was in the Vintry, 26 H. III. (Cal. Ch. R. I. 269). "Gyors halle," 1350-1 (Ct. H.W. I. 644). "Gysorshalle," "Gysoreshall," 9 Rich. II. (Anc. Deeds, C. 257 and 2802). "Gisoreshalle," 1430 (Ct. H.W. II. 453). "Gysors Hall," called Gerrards hall by corruption (S. 351).

In Stow's time a common ostrey (S. 350). Fables as to a Giant who dwelt there (ib.).

In a London deed of 1672, a messuage new built in the parish of St. Mildred's Bread Street, is described as "Garretts hall" (L.C.C. Deeds, Harben Bequest, 1600-1700, No. 79). Could this be an error for Gerard's Hall ?

Removed for the western extension of Cannon Street, 1853-4.

It had a fine crypt with pointed vault, columns and capitals, dating about 1290.

Named originally after the owner.

Gerdleresselde

See Girdler's Seld.

Germaynes Lane

Tenement held by Arnold Tedmar in Thames Street and Germaynes lane, given by William de St. Alban, 1313 (Ct. H.W. I. 239).

Not further identified.

Possibly on or near the site of the Steelyard.

Gibson's Key

West of lane called Watergate, and south of Thames Street, belonging to Amisia Gibson, 32 H. VIII. (L. and P. H. VIII. Vol. XVI. pp. 239 and 503). In parish of St. Dunstan in the East, 35 Eliz. 1593 (Lond. I. p.m. III. p. 172).

Former names : "Asselynis Warff" (44 Ed. III. Anc. Deeds, A. 2551). "Asselyns Wharf" (ib. A. 2514). "Asselynes wharf" (ib. A. 1706). "Asshelynes wharf," 1465-6 (Ct. H,W. II. 553). "Assheling warffe," 23 Eliz. 1581 (Lond. I. p.m. III. p. 36). "Pakkemannys Wharf," "Pakenames Wharf," "Pakename warfe," 7 Rich. II. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1779) ; 1465-6 (Ct. H.W. II. 553) ; 32 H. VIII. (L. and P. H. VIII., XVI. 239). Puckman Wharfe, 23 Eliz. 1581 (Lond. I. p.m. III. p. 36). "Crychurch warffe," 32 H. VIII. 1541 (L. and P. H. VIII. XVI. 239). "Crechurche-wharfe," 23 Eliz. 1581 (Lond. I. p.m. III. p. 36).

Gibson's Key alias "Draper's Keye" formerly in tenure of Christopher Draper, 35 Eliz. (1593) (Lond. I. p.m. III. p. 172).

These names are obviously derived from the successive owners who were in possession of the Key from time to time, and they furnish a good example of the changes of nomenclature that took place in these quays from time to time.

If the lane called Watergate is to be identified with Water Lane, then the site of this Key is now covered by the Custom House.

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

Gihale (le)

See Yvihalle.

Gihalle

See Guildhall.

Gilbert's Court

West out of Monkwell Street. In Cripplegate Ward Within. At the northern end of the street (Strype, ed. 1720-Boyle, 1799).

The site has been rebuilt and is occupied by offices and business houses.

Named after an owner or builder.

Gildhalla Teutonicorum, die Kolner

See Steelyard.

Giles' (St.) Hospital, without Cripplegate

A hospital of the French order founded temp. Edward I., afterwards suppressed with other alien priories, etc., and the lands given to the brotherhood of St. Giles, founded by Henry V. for relief of the poor (S. 303), the house being situated in Whitecross Street.

Giles' (St.) Well

Mentioned in Circuit of St. Giles' parish in Strype, ed 1720, 1. iii. 87.

Qy.=Crowder's Well?

Giles' (St.) without Aldersgate

Parish mentioned 23 H. VIII. 1532 (L. and P. H. VIII. V. 449).

Qy.=St. Giles' without Cripplegate?

Giles' (St.) without Cripplegate

On the south side of Fore Street, in Cripplegate Ward Without (P.O. Directory).

First mention : Grant by Aelmund to the canons of St. Paul of his church of St. Giles built outside the walls, temp. H. I. (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. 62).

Stow says it was built by Alfune about 1090 (pp. 34 and 432). He is quoting from the Liber S. Bartilmew which refers to the erection of the church of St. Giles not long before that of St. Bartholomew the Great (Cott. MS. Vespasian B. IX. p. 15).

Amongst the archives of St. Paul's, letters from Edmund, Bishop of London are preserved to the effect that the church of St. Giles had belonged to the Dean and Chapter from time out of mind (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 50).

Forms of name : "S. Giles of Crupelgate," 3 John (Anc. Deeds, A. 2119). "S. Giles without Cripelgate," 1242 (Cal. Ch. Rolls, H. III. I. 273). "S. Giles," Abbot, 1309-10 (Ct. H.W. I. 210). "S. Giles outside Cripelgate," 10 Ed. II. (Ch. I. p.m. 10 Ed. II.).

There was a Fraternity of St. Mary and St. Giles in the Church, founded in the 13th century (Cal. P.R. Rich. II. 1391-6, p. 170).

Stow (p. 432) says the first church stood where the Vicarage house now is (shown on O.S. 1875). But this is not certain, and some writers think that the tower forms part of the original structure and that the present church stands on the old site, or approximately so (Miller, 47).

It was rebuilt in the 14th century on its present site, on the bank of the Town Ditch (Denton, p. 22). Burnt down 1545, but rebuilt (S. 432), a "very fayre and large church" (ib. 301-2). Repaired 1623-9 and spire rebuilt 1629. Repaired again 1704 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 82). Late Perpendicular. Restored 1862, Edmund Woodthorpe, architect.

A Vicarage. Patron : Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's.

The dedication to the French hermit-abbot St. Giles suggests the French influence of the Norman conquest. St. Giles was regarded as the especial patron of cripples and beggars.

Giles' (St.) without Cripplegate Churchyard

On the south and west sides of the church. In Cripplegate Ward Without, bounded by the City Wall on the south.

Enlarged 1662, a piece of ground near Crowder's Well being taken for a burial ground (Malcolm, III. 272).

Almshouses in the churchyard suppressed, time H. VIII. (S. 303).

The remains of a bastion of the City Wall are preserved in the churchyard, the foundations being 18 ft. below the present level of the Churchyard. Lower portion to height of 4 ft. probably of Roman work. Height 31 ft., 18 ft. below and 13 ft. above ground level, 8 ft. thick below and 3 ft. at the top. An old drain was found at the base, probably built to take the water of the ditch (Trans. L. and M. Arch. Soc. N.S. I. (4) 356).

Gilly Key

See Galley Quay.

Giltspur Street

South out of West Smithfield, at No 31 to Holborn Viaduct, Newgate Street and Old Bailey (P.O. Directory).

First mention : "Gyltesporestrete" alias "Knyghtryders Strete," St Sepulchre's parish, 38 H. VIII. 1547 (L. and P. H. VIII. XXI. (2) p. 414).

So named of the Knightes and others riding that way into Smithfielde (S. 375).

Northern end widened towards the end of the 18th century.

Giltspur Street, Aldermanbury

See Gayspur Lane.

Gingerbread Alley, Court

East out of Old Change, in Bread Street Ward, small and ordinary (Strype, ed. 1720-Boyle, 1799).

Site has been rebuilt and is occupied by offices and business houses.