Trinity (Holy), Priory of - Tristram's, Trystram's Alley

Trinity (Holy), Priory of

In Aldgate Ward. Shown on Agas' map (Vertue's ed.) "Crychurch."

The bounds of the Priory are set out in Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 5, commencing at Aldgate, and the site is shown on the O.S.1875.

From some valuable 16th century plans made by J. Symons, C. 1592, and found among the MSS. at Hatfield House, it appears that the Priory extended from Aldgate east to Heneage Lane west and from a way by the Wall of London north to Algate Street south (Home Counties Magazine, Jan.1900, Vol.11. Pt. 5, pp.48 and 50).

Founded by Q. Matilda, wife of Henry I., in 1108 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p.219) as a house of Augustinian Canons. She gave to the Priory the gate of Aldgate and the soke belonging thereto (Cal. L. Bk. C. p.224). The bounds of this soke are set out by Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 55.

The soke of the English Knightenguild, or Portsoken, was given to the Priory in 1125 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p.219 et seq.) as set out s.v. "Portsoken " and "Portsoken Ward," and in consequence the Prior of Holy Trinity was presented as Alderman of Portsoken Ward until the temp. H. VIII.

The Priory was dissolved by H. VIII. 1531 (S. 124) and site granted to Sir Thomas Audeley with the rectory and advowson of the parish church of St. Katherine Christeschurch, 25 H. VIII. 1534 (L. and P. H. VIII. D.S. VII. p.232).

Priory pulled down and house built on site, afterwards called " Duke's Place" (q.v.).

The whole site was sold to the City by Lord Thomas Howard (Strype. ed. 1720. I. ii. 67).

Stow tells us that the Priory comprised the site of several old parishes, namely of St. Mary Magdalen, St. Michael, St. Katherine and the Blessed Trinity, united in old time under the name of the Holy Cross or Holy Roode Parish, and that after the foundation of the Priory it was formed into the parish of the Holy Trinitie (S. 142).

The bull of Pope Innocent, 1137, confirming the foundation, mentions the church of St. Katherine and the chapel of St. Michael in the churchyard of the monastery (Dugdale, VI. 156).

Called "Holy Trinity Priory" or " Christ Church" interchangeably in early records. .In Matilda's charter of foundation: "Ecclesiam Christi infra muros Lund" (Cal. L. Bk. C. p.224). "Canonicorum Sanctae Trinitatis" (Charter, H. I. Cal. L. Bk. C. pp.73-5); "Ecclesie et canonicis Sancte Trinitatis " (Charter, H. II., quoted Letter Bk. C. p.220; and Stephen's Charter (ib. p.221)). Canons of Christ Church, 1155-62 (Anc. Deeds, A. 6242), and in 1109 (A. 6687). Church of "Holy Trinity de Cristchurche," 1361, also called the " church of Crichurche" (Ct. H. W. II. 38).

It is noteworthy that this double form of dedication seems to have been in general use in early days: The Cathedral of Christ Church, Canterbury, is also called "Holy Trinity." The Cathedral of Holy Trinity, Dublin, is otherwise "Christchurch" (Cal. of Documents in France, I. p. x.). The old priory church of Christ Church, Hampshire, near Bournemouth, is also called "Holy Trinity," and probably other instances could be cited.

The Priory of Holy Trinity is often called "Crychurche," "Crichurch," in early records from the contracted form " Xpichurch," written for " Christchurch."

The church of St. Katherine built in the churchyard of the Priory for the use of the parishioners of Holy Trinity, as shown under Katherine (St.) Creechurch, was also called "'Christeschurch" or " Crichurch," as being situated within the precincts of the Priory, but in early times and until the dissolution of the monasteries the name " Crichurch" as a separate appellation was used to denote the Priory and not the church of St. Katherine.

It seems possible that the church of Christ Church was in existence at the date of the foundation of the Priory (Matilda's Charter, L. Bk. C. 224) and the Priory church, at least of later times, occupied the site on which the church of St. James', Duke's Place, was erected in 1622 (s.v.), Janies' (St.), Duke's Place.

The history of the Priory and its possessions is preserved in a cartulary compiled by Thomas de Axebrigge, c. 1425, referred to by Stow as the " Liber Trinitatis," in which transcripts of the original charters quoted above are contained. This cartulary is preserved in the Hunterian Museum at Glasgow, but a transcript of it is in the Guildhall in four volumes, MS. No.122 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. xvi. et seq).

See Mary (St.) de Cricherche, Chapel.

Trinity Alley

Eight messuages so called belonging to a guild or fraternity of the Holy Trinity in St. Botolph's Aldgate, sold, 2 Ed. VI. (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 16).

Not identified.

Perhaps an error for St. Botolph's Aldersgate.

See Trinity Court.

Trinity Alley

Garden in Trinity Alley in parish of St. Sepulchre, temp. Q. Elizabeth (Proc in Chancery, I. 224).

Not further identified.

Trinity Bonded Tea Warehonses

On the west side of Cooper's Row, north of Trinity House. In Aldgate Ward (O.S.).

Occupy part of the site of the Monastery of the Friars of the Holy Cross (Povah, p. 11).

Trinity Buildings

South out of Great Tower Street, opposite All Hallows Barking-Church (O.S. 25 in. 1880, and Collingridge, 1908).

First mention : O.S. 1848-51.

Trinity Buildings

In Little Trinity Lane (L.C.C. List, 1901).

Not named in the maps.

Trinity Church Passage

East out of Fetter Lane, at No.15, to Great New Street and Holy Trinity Church (P.O. Directory).

First mention: O.S. 1848-51.

Former names: "Three Leg Alley" (O. and M. 1677-Boyle, 1799). "Pemberton's Row" (Horwood, 1799-Elmes, 1831). "Featherbed Lane" (Boyle, 1799-Elmes, 1831) (part only).

Named after the church of Holy Trinity there.

Trinity Court

West out of Aldersgate Street, at No.191, north of Little Britain (P.O. Directory).

First mention: O. and M. 1677.

Perhaps so named after Trinity Hall, formerly belonging to the Guild of the Holy Trinity of St. Botolph's parish (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 120) and conveyed to Wm. Harvey, 2 Ed. VI.

The property of the Guild seems to have comprised "Trinity Hall," otherwise called the Common Hall, 8 messuages and tenement called Trinity Alley, the Wolle Sacke in Petibretane, tenements in Barbican, etc.

Trinity Hall was subsequently, 1582-1655, conveyed to the parishioners of St Botolph's, in whose possession it has remained (Staples, 20 et seq.).

Trinity Court, Little Trinity Lane

See Trinity Place.

Trinity Court, Minories

See Lancaster Place.

Trinity Hall

Messuage so called belonging to a guild or fraternity of the Holy Trinity in St. Botolph's Aldgate (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 16).

An error for St. Botolph's Aldersgate. See Trinity Court.

Trinity House

On the north side of Tower Hill (P.O. Directory).

Built 1793-5. Architect, S. Wyatt.

Site bccupied by Stable Yard in Rocque, 1746.

Incorporated 1514, founded by Sir Thos. Spert, the first Master (H. MSS. Corn 8th Rep. 285).

Corporation consists of a Master, Deputy Master, Wardens, Assistants and Elder Brethren and members. Encourages navigation, regulates lighthouses, etc.

First met at Deptford, house pulled down 1787. First London house at Ratcliffe, afterwards in Water Lane in 1671.

See Old Trinity House.

Trinity Lane

Seems to be used to denote what is now designated "Little Trinity Lane" (q.v.) (Hatton, 1708), sometimes " Great Trinity Lane" (q.v.) (S. 354). In Queenhithe Ward, and See below.

First mention : 55 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, C. 1910).

Other names: " Le Trinite Lane," 6 Ed. III. (ib. A. 2531). " Trinite Lane," 1361: (Ct. H.W. II. 48). "Holy Trinity Lane," 1340 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1338-40, p.545). In former times it extended north into Bread Street and Cordwainer Wards.

These entries relate to " Little Trinity Lane."

"Trinitie Lane" in Bread Street and " Knyhtryderstreete" in parish of St. Mildred in Breadstreete, 1594-5 (Ct. H.W. II. 722) = Knightrider Street Great Trinity Lane (q.v.).

In the course of excavations for making a sewer portions of immense walls were discevered, with layers of bond-tiles and remains of fresco paintings.

Trinity Mews

See Trinity Place, Trinity Square.

Trinity Place

East out of Little Trinity Lane at No.28, in Queenhithe Ward (O.S.1875).

Former name: "Trinity Court" (O. and M. 1677-Elmes, 1831).

Trinity Place

East out of Trinity Square, outside the City boundary, but in the parish of St. Botolph Aldgate (P.O. Directory).

Former name: "Trinity Mews" (O.S. 1880).

A large portion of the old Wall of London can be seen here, some 50 feet in length, the part above the ground being of medieval work, but probably erected on a Roman substructure. It forms part of a very long range of wall north of Postern Row, extending from George Street to Crutched Friars and Jewry Street.

Trinity Square

On the north side of Tower Hill (P.O. Directory).

Laid out in Horwood, 1799.

First mention : Lockie, 1810.

Within the Tower Liberties and partly in the borough of Stepney.

Name derived from the Trinity House, erected 1793-5.

Behind the houses in this square, on the west side of a vacant plot of land in George Street, stands one of the few remaining fragments of the old Wall of London.

Trinity Terrace

On the west side of Tower Hill, between Barking Churchyard and Tower Hill (Maskell, p. 153).

Former name: "St. Katherine's Rents" (Haiward and Gascoigne Plan of the Tower, 1597).

Removed for the erection of warehouses 1864 (Maskell, 183).

Tripe Yard

See Strype Yard [Street?].

Tristram's, Trystram's Alley

In parish of St. Stephen in Coleman Street, in the Ward of Coleman Strete, 2 Ed. VI. 1548 and 16 Eliz. 1574 (Lond. I. p.m. I. 126, and II. 180).

Also called " Hames Alley." Not further identified.