Menterhous - Merchants' Lane

Menterhous

A tenement so called in Fletestrete, 10 Ed. II. (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 183).

Perhaps the tenement of John le Meneter (Minter or Moneyer) de Fletestrete, mentioned 1310 (ib. L. Bk. D. p. 184).

Not further identified.

Mercers' Chapel

On the north side of Cheapside, at the south-east end of Mercers' Hall (O.S.). Between Ironmonger Lane and Old Jewry. In Cheap Ward.

Earliest mention : The chapel, called "le Mercers Chapell," annexed to church of St. Thomas the Martyr called "de Acon" 1505-6 (Ct. H.W. II. 611).

At the dissolution of the monasteries temp. H. VIII., the Hospital of St. Thomas of Acon was purchased by the Mercers (S. 271) and licence was given to them to erect a chapel and hall next to St. Thomas of Acon's church in Cheapside, 11 H. VIII. 1519 (L. and P. H. VIII. III. Pt. 1, p. 122).

Burnt in the Fire and rebuilt with a beautiful stone front to Cheapside (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 39).

Re-edified 1867.

Mercers' Company

The first of the 12 Great Livery Companies.

Incorporated 1393 (S. 272).

They had their shops and selds in the Mercery in Chepe in early times.

Built Gresham College jointly with the Corporation.

Elections to the Mistery of Mercers made in 1328 (Cal. L. Bk. E. p. 232).

Mercers' Court

East out of St. Mary at Hill, opposite the Church, north of Cross Lane. In Biilingsgate Ward (Rocque, 1746-Elmes, 1831).

Former names : "Mercers alley" (P.C. 1732). "Massies Court" (Strype, ed. 1720 and 1755). "Masseys Court" (O. and M. 1677).

The site is now occupied by business houses.

Mercers' Court

In Threadneedle Street (P.C. 1732).

Not named in the maps.

Mercers' Court

Or Dog Tavern Yard near Billingsgate (P.C. 1732).

Also called Grocers' Court.

Qy.=Mercers Court, St. Mary at Hill.

Mercers' Court

North out of Great Tower Street at No. 72, between Mark Lane and Mincing Lane (O. and M. 1677-Elmes, 1831). In Tower Ward.

Site covered by business houses. Rebuilt during the 19th Century.

Mercers' Hall

On the north side of Cheapside at No. 86 (P.O. Directory). In Cheap Ward.

First mention : Licence granted to the Mercers to erect a chapel and hall next to St. Thomas of Acon's church in Cheapside, 11 H. VIII. 1519 (L. and P. H. VIII. III. Pt. 1, p. 122). The Company purchased the site of the hospital at its dissolution, temp. H. VIII.

Burnt in the Fire and rebuilt 1672.

Rebuilt 1879.

The master and brethren of the Hospital of St. Thomas of Acon sold to the Company as early as 1407 a chapel and a little room, "la sale del Mercerie" (Watney, 36).

Mercers' Rents

South of property in the parish of St. Stephen in Colman Street, lying beside the Towne Dyche east, a garden in Mill Alley west, and the common alley north, 34 H. VIII. 1543 (L. and P. H. VIII. XVIIJ. Pt. 1, p. 201). In Coleman Street Ward.

Probably on or near the site of Langthorn Court, if Mill Alley is to be identified with Bell Alley (q.v.).

Mercers' School

On the south side of Holborn in Barnard's Inn. Erected here in 1894.

The Hall of the inn retained as the dining-hall.

Formerly on the east side of College Hill, adjoining the church of St. Michael Paternoster Royal on the north (O.S. 1880).

The School originally adjoined the Mercers' Chapel in Cheapside (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 32), but was removed to Budge Row in 1785, thence to Watling Street, and later to College Hill in 1808. In 1832 it occupied the site of the Whittington Almshouses after their removal to Highgate. Archt., Mr. George Smith.

It was re-founded in Cheapside c. 1447 (Watney, p. 14) in response to a petition presented in that year to the king by the rectors of All Hallows the Great, St. Andrew Holborn, St. Peter Cornhill, and St. Mary Colechurch for the establishment of grammar schools in their parishes (Trans. L. and M. Arch. Soc. N.S. I. (2), p. 117).

This school was maintained by the Hospital of St. Thomas of Acon until its dissolution, temp. H. VIII., when it was purchased with the site of the Hospital, etc,, by the Mercers' Company, 1541.

Mercersrent (le)

Tenement of Richard Whityngton called "le Mercersrent," 1443. It seems to have been in Cattestrete and Milkstrete (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1441-6, p. 414).

Not further identified.

Mercery (The)

The mercery is described as in West Cheape in the parish of St. Mary le Bow. It was the quarter in which the Mercers carried on their trade.

The seld of Serlo le Mercer, 1235, and the "Crounsilde" were both in the Mercery (Cal. Charter Rolls, I. 201-2, and S. 259).

Merchant Taylors

Originally called Tailors and Linen-Armourers. A charter of Liberties was granted to them under this name, 1 Ed. III. 1326-7 (Cal. L. Bk. F. p. 52).

Elections to Mistery of Tailors and Linen-Armourers recorded 1328 (Cal. L. Bk. E. p. 234).

The advowson of St. Martin Outwich was granted to them, 6 H. IV. (S. 182).

Incorporated by Hen. VII. by the name of the Master and Wardens of the Merchant Taylors of the fraternitie of Saint John Baptist (S. 183).

Master called "pilgrim" and the wardens "purveyors of alms" until 11 Eich. II. (ib.).

Had a School, Almshouses, etc. (Herbert II. 488 et seq.).

Merchant Taylors' Alms Houses

On the north side of Royal Mint Street (Rosemary Lane) towards the western end, and on the west side of Princes Street (Rocque, 1746-Elmes, 1831).

Moved to Lee 1835-6 (Herbert, I. p. 497).

Site now occupied by goods depot of the Great Northern Railway.

Merchant Taylors' Almshouses

Adjoining to the west end of the parish church of St. Martin Outwich in Threadneedle Street built in a squared court for seven men S. 182).

Shown in plan of the parish, 1599, in Wilkinson, Plate I.

Mentioned in Wardmote Inquest of the Ward of Broad Street, 15 H. VIII. 1523 (L. and P. H. VIII. III. Pt. 2, p. 1515).

The almshouses seem to have been removed to Tower Hill about 1597 (Herbert, II. 496), and the site in Threadneedle Street is now occupied by the Capital and Counties Bank, etc.

Merchant Taylors' Garden

See Merchant Taylors' Hall.

Merchant Taylors' Hall

On the south side of Threadneedle Street at No. 30 (P.O. Directory).

First mention : "Tailors' Hall," 10 H. VIII. 1519 (L. and P. H. VIII. III. Pt. 2, p. 1534).

Stow says that it originally belonged to Edmond Crepin and was granted 6th Ed. III. by the name of his principall messuage in the wardes of Cornehill and Brodestreete, which Sir Oliver Ingham did then hold, to John of Yakley the kinges Pavilion Maker and was called the "new hal or Taylers Inne" for a difference from their olde hall about the back side of the red Lion in Basing Lane in the ward of Cordwainer Street (S. 183). The grant to John de Yakeslee the King's tent maker is recorded in Cal. L. Bk. E. p.269, 6 Ed. III. (1332).

The Hall is shown in the plan of St. Martin Outwich parish, 1599, preserved in the vestry and reproduced in Wilkinson's history of the parish, Plate 1.

Burnt down in the Fire and rebuilt by Ed. Jerman, reconstructed 1844, re-decorated 1858.

It had a garden adjoining, shown in the maps of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Silver yard measure is preserved here, used by the Company for testing the cloth merchants' measures at Bartholomew Fair.

Merchant Taylors' Rents

In Moor Lane (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799).

Not named in the maps.

Merchant Taylors' School

On the east side of Suffolk Lane, in Dowgate Ward (O.S. 1880).

First mention : Founded 1561 by the master, wardens and assistants of the Merchant taylers (S. 239).

Burnt down in the Fire 1666 and rebuilt (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 208).

Stood on the site of the Manor of the Rose (q.v.), a portion of which property was purchased by Richard Botyl, merchant tailor, for the Co. 1561. This purchase included the west gatehouse, a long court or yard, stairs, galleries and part of the chapel (Wilson, 193).

Removed to the Charterhouse 1873-5 (O.S. 1894).

Merchants' Lane

In Thames Street (W. Stow, 1722).

Not named in the maps.