A Dictionary of London. Originally published by H Jenkins LTD, London, 1918.
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Henry A Harben, 'Stapeledehall (la) - Star Court', in A Dictionary of London( London, 1918), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dictionary-of-london/stapeledehall-la-star-court [accessed 31 October 2024].
Henry A Harben, 'Stapeledehall (la) - Star Court', in A Dictionary of London( London, 1918), British History Online, accessed October 31, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dictionary-of-london/stapeledehall-la-star-court.
Henry A Harben. "Stapeledehall (la) - Star Court". A Dictionary of London. (London, 1918), , British History Online. Web. 31 October 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dictionary-of-london/stapeledehall-la-star-court.
In this section
Stapeledehall (la)
House called "la Stapeledehall" with shop, etc., in parish of St. Botolph without Bisshopesgate, 4th Ed. III. (1330) (Cal. L. Bk. E. p. 251).
Not further identified.
Staple Hall
See Staple Inn.
Staple Hall
House of Lord St. John called" Staple Hall," in length 126 ft., in breadth between the dormitories of the Augustine Friars and the house called "More's house" 14 ft., and between the porter's lodge and More's house 40 ft., 14 Eliz. 1572, and 38 H. VIII. (Lond. I. p.m. II. 156, and L. and P. H. VIII. XXI. Pt. 2, p.243).
Staple Hall, Barking Church
Tenement in parish of Berkyngecherch called "Ia.
Stapeledehalle," 1330-I (Ct. H. Wills, I. 363). Not identified.
Staple Inn
On the south side of Holborn Bars at No.2, outside the City boundary.
"Staple Inn in Holborne," 1595 (Lond. I. p.m. III. 289).
An Inn of Chancery appertaining to Gray's Inn.
Probably known formerly as: "Staple Hall." "le Stapledhalle "in the parish of S. Andrew de Holebourn, 1333-4 (Ct. H.W. I. 394). "le Stapelhalle," 9 H. IV. (Hust. Roll 135, No.14). An Inn of Chancery (S.393).
It appears from an old MS., temp. H. V., containing the orders and constitutions of the Society that it was in existence as an Inn of Chancery at that time, but for how long previously is not recorded. It was purchased by the Benchers of Grays Inn 1529.
Sold to the Prudential Assurance Co. in 1884, and now let as offices and chambers. The front to Holborn preserves the old style of Tudor domestic architecture and is a most interesting specimen of the period.
The use of the name " Staple Hall" has suggested that the building was originally used as a place of meeting by the merchants for wool, who were known as merchants of the Staple and had numerous meeting places throughout the country.
These meeting places are frequently mentioned in records, as Staple Inn at Calais, etc., but it does not appear from any of the records that the Inn at Holborn was one of these recognised meeting places.
The names" Staple Hall," " Stapeledehall " occur more than once in the City records, so that it may not be uninteresting to examine the origin and meaning of the word
staple " a little closely.
O.E. " stapel "=post, pillar, column, or (ii.) step, threshold. The word frequently occurs in old charters in the delimitations of boundaries. In Danish "stabel "=a boundary, stone, post. In Mid. E. it is defined as "a loop of iron for holding a pin or bolt."
Migne defines "Staplum" as "emporium," forum publicum" seu quod a mercatoribus domino fori solvitur, marché ou droit payé par les marchands an seigneur du lieu," and it came to this country in its sense of a mart or market through the O.F. "estaple," "estape "=a mart or general market, a public storehouse, etc.
The successive uses of the word seem to have been " post." " prop," or " support." stand for laying things on," " heap," " heaped wares," " storehouse," " market," "market town," and the sense of firmness, fixedness, runs through all these meanings. The early use of the name in the London records may have denoted a hall supported by posts or pillars. Later the word came to be applied to the markets where the great staple commodities of English trade, of which wool was the principal one, were sold, and finally to the commodity itself. But in the absence of definite evidence of the use of this Inn as a meeting-place for the merchants of the Staple, it would be rash to connect the origin of the name with this use. Sir Laurence Gomme suggests that it may have been so named from its proximity to the staples, which formed Holborn Bars.
Star (The)
Great Eastcheap.-See Star Court.
Star Alley
See Star Court, Minories.
Star Alley
South out of Rosemary Lane, near the west end (Hatton, 1708).
Not named in the maps.
Star Alley
South out of Fenchurch Street at No.52 and east to Mark Lane at No.5. In Langbourn Ward (P.O. Directory).
First mention: Hatton, 1708.
It seems to be shown in O. and M. 1677 but not named.
Strype describes the street as having old built houses on the north side, the church of All Hallows Staining being on the south side (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 164).
Former names: "Cradoches lane," 12th or 13th Cent. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2406). "Cradocks lane" (S. ed. 1603, p.205), now called "Church Alley." Now called " Star Alley" (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. p.159).
Name derived from the sign.
Star Alley
By London Wall near Bedlam (W. Stow, 1722-P.C. 1732).
Perhaps =" Star Court."
Star Alley, Mark Lane
West out of Mark Lane, north of Hart Street, and running north to Fenchurch Street. In Tower Ward (P.O. Directory).
Earliest mention: Hatton, 1708, but it is shown in O. and M. 1677 though not named.
Star Alley, Seething Lane
West out of Seething Lane, opposite Green Arbour Court (O. and M. 1677-Strype, 1755). In Tower Ward.
Site seems to have been rebuilt in Horwood.
Star Court
West out of Huggin Lane to Bread Street Hill, in Queenhithe Ward (O. and M. 1677-Elmes, 1831).
"Star Yard" (O. and M., Strype, etc., and Dodsley, 1761). Site now occupied by Queen Victoria Street.
Star Court
South out of Great Easteheap in Candlewick Ward (Rocque, 1746-Elmes, 1831), north of St. Michael's Churchyard.
It is shown in O. and M. 1677 but not named.
Seems to occupy the site of Small Alley (q.v.) in Strype.
Removed about 1831 for the formation of King William Street.
A house called " the Star" was devised by Thos. Ware, 21 Elizabeth to the use of the poor of St. Michael, Crooked Lane (End. Ch. Rep. 1903, p.5), and was known as No.8 Crooked Lane in 1830 (ib. p.9).
Star Court
See Moor Square.
Star Court
East out of Bread Street at No.56 (P.O. Directory). In Bread Street Ward.
First mention: O. and M. 1677.
So named from the capital messuage here called the " Sterre in Bredestrete," 1 Ed. VI. 1547 (Lond. I. p.m. I. 98).
Described as an inn called the " Starre," 36 H. VIII. (L. and P. H. VIII. XIX. (2), p.315).
Star Court
South out of Old Fish Street to Five Foot Lane, in Queenhithe Ward (O. and M. 1677-Boyle, 1799).
Site rebuilt for the formation of Queen Victoria Street.
Star Court
See White Lion Court, Cornhill.
The General Penny Post Office was at the upper end of this Court in 1720 (Strype, I. ii. 150).
Star Court
At No. 114 Chancery Lane (Lockie, 1810-Elmes, 1831).
Not named in the maps.
Star Court
West out of Grub Street, in Cripplegate Ward Without (Hatton, 1708-O.S. 1875-80) to Moor Lane.
The site is now occupied by offices and business houses.
Star Court
Out of Little Britain (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799).
Not named in the maps.
Star Court
South out of Cheapside, between Friday Street and Old Change, in Farringdon Ward Within (O. and M. 1677-Boyle, 1799).
Site has been rebuilt and is now occupied by offices and business houses.