Alban (St.), Wood Street - Alderman's Walk

Alban (St.), Wood Street

On the east side of Wood Street, at the corner of Little Love Lane (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Ward Within.

Earliest mention found in records: Temp. John. "St. Alban Wudestrate" (Anc. Deeds, A. 2484).

Other forms: " St. Alban de Wodestrate," 1286-7 (Ct. H.W. I.80). " St. Alban Wodestrete," 33 Ed. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2451).

Rebuilt 1634. Burnt in the Fire 1666, and rebuilt 168~ by Sir C. Wren, at a cost of over £3000. The Parish of St. Olave Silver Street was united to it (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 92).

A Rectory. Patrons: Hospital of St. James and afterwards the Provost and Fellows of Eton College, who now present alternately with the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's.

Strype speaks of the church as of great antiquity, probably not later in date than King Adelstane (Athelstan), 10th century, whose house, according to tradition, was situated at the east end of the church, and built of the same kind of stone as the church (ib. 76). In support of his opinion, he draws attention to the dedication to St. Alban, the first English martyr. and to the early work shown in the building, the Roman brichs inlaid in the walls, the turning of the arches and the heads of the pillars (ib.). In the Parish Clerks' account of the church it is said to have been built in or about 930 (p.1). Newcourt says it belonged originally to the Abbey of St. Albans, and that the Abbot in 1077 exchanged the advowson for that of another church with the Abbot of Westminster (1.236).

He gives Matthew Paris as his authority for the statement. If this statement is correct, the dedication to St. Alban, which is of rare occurrence, would be explained.

Alban's (St.) Court

West out of Wood Street at No.91 with a passage south to Oat Lane (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Ward Within.

First mention: Horwood, 1799.

Named after the Church of St. Alban, Wood Street. Former name: "Fryingpan Alley" (q.v.).

Albert Buildings

On the south side of Queen Victoria Street at No.37, at the corner of Queen Street (P.O. Directory). A large block of offices, etc.

Albion Buildings

On the southern side of Bartholomew Close at Nos. 11 and 13(P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Without.

First mention: Horwood, 1799.

A stone gives the date 1766, probably the date of erection. Rebuilt 1887.

Situated at the rear of the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate Street; hence the name.

Albion Chapel, Moorfields

A Presbyterian chapel at the south-east corner of Finsbury Pavement, on the north side of London Wall. In Coleman Street Ward (O.S. 1880).

First mention: Greenwood, 1827.

Erected after the removal of Old Bethlem Hospital in 1814 for the members of a Scotch congregation. Removed for the erection of Tower Chambers (q.v.).

Albion Place

North out of London Wall and then east. In Coleman Street Ward (O.S. 1880).

First mention: O.S. 1848-51.

It is shown in Greenwood's map 1827, as a passage unnamed, east of Albion Chapel, leading to Albion Hall. Removed for the erection of Tower Chambers. Named after the Albion Chapel (q.v.).

Albion Tavern

A famous tavern on the west side of Aldersgate Street at No.153.

Albion Wharf

Between Anchor Wharf and Horseshoe Wharf on the Thames, in Castle Baynard Ward (O.S. 1880). Site now occupied by warehouses, etc.

Alborgth (St.), Alborought (St.)

See Ethelburga (St.), Bishopsgate.

Aldedenes, Alden's Lane

See Old Dean's Lane and Warwick Lane.

Alderchgate Street

Messuages in this street are described as in the parish of St. Olave in Old Jewry in the ward of Colmanstreat, between tenements formerly belonging to the late Priory of St. Bartholomew Smithfield, north and the highway east, I552-66 (Lond. I. p.m. II.67).

No later reference.

It seems hardly possible that the street can be identical with Aldersgate Street, unless there is a detached portion of St. Olave's parish and of Colemanstreet Ward in or near Aldersgate Street. There is no record of any such detached portion.

Alderman Parson's Stairs

See Alderman Stairs.

Alderman Stairs

On the Thames at East Smithfield, between Miller's Wharf west and Carron Wharf east.

First mention: Rocque, 1746.

Forms of name: " Alderman Parsons Stairs" (Rocque, 1746-Elmes, 1831). " Parson's Stairs" (Horwood, 1799-Greenwood, 1827). "Lady Parson's Stairs" (Elmes, 1831). " Alderman Stairs" (O.S.). " Person's Yard " (Strype, ed. 1720).

Name derived, as Elmes (Topographical Dictionary, 1831) suggests, from a former owner.

Sir John Parsons was Alderman of Portsoken Ward 1687. Humphrey Parsons, Alderman, 1721-41, and Sir John Parsons, Fishmonger, M. 1704, is described as a son of ... Parsons of St. Katherine's, Brewer (Strype, ed. 1720, II. Bk. V.p. 152).

Aldermanbury

North out of Gresham Street at No.69 to 16 London Wall (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Ward Within.

Earliest mention found in records: In early times there was a soke of this name "Aldresmanesberi," mentioned in a list of property in London belonging to St. Paul's (c. 1130), (MSS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Liber L. ff. 47-50), and it is probable that the earliest references are to the district or to the church of St. Mary, rather than to the street.

Other forms of name : " Aldermanesbury," Ric. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1952). " Aldermannebury," 4 John (ib. A. 1502). "Aldermannesbury," temp. John (ib. A. 1501). "Aldermanburi," Is John (ib. A. 6884). "Lane called Aldermanbury," 10 Ed. 111.1336 (Cal. Close R. Ed. III.1333-7, p.653). See under Mary (St.) Aldermanbury.

There are frequent references temp. Ed. I. and Ed. III. to the "Capital messuage" of Aldermannebury and to "manerium" or "managium" de Aldermanbury, but it does not seem to have been in existence in Stow's time. It has been suggested by Stow that the first Guildhall was on the east side of the present Aldermanbury (Street) further west than the later building, and that the district received its name as being adjacent to, or, as having within its precincts, the "bury" or "court" of the aldermen of the city.

The northern portion of the street from Addle Street to London Wall was called" Gay-spore lane" until about the middle of the 18th century. See Gayspur lane.

Aldermanbury Avenue

West out of Aldermanbury at No.47 to Philip Lane (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Ward Within. Erected 1885. The site was formerly occupied by Sion College.

Aldermanbury Conduit

In the middle of Aldermanbury near St. Mary Aldermanbury Church. Commenced by Sir William Eastfield, Mayor, and by a codicil to his will dated 1445 he directed that it should be completed at his expense (Ct. H.W. II. 510).

Stow tells us that it was finished by his executors in 1471, and that he had directed that water should be brought from Tyburn for the supply of the Conduit (S. 17, 18, 294, 526).

Strype describes it as built tower-wise (ed. 1720, I. iii. 90). Burnt in the Fire and rebuilt. Taken down in the 18th century.

Aldermanbury Euildings

On the east side of Aldermanbury at No.27, leading into St George's Avenue (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Ward Within. Used as offices, etc

Aldermanbury Postern

North out of London Wall at No.129 to Fore Street, opposite St. Alphage Church (P.O. Directory).

First mention : Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 92.

Former names:-" Postern," Hatton, 1708. "First postern," Rocque, 1746.

So called from the street of Aldermanbury, of which it is the northern continuation, and as marking the site of one of the old postern gates in the City Wall. This postern was originally called the " Little Postern," but in later years " Aldermanbury Postern."

Aldermanecherche, Aldermannes-cherch

Ernald de Berkele was presented to the church of" Aldermannes cherch "in the king's hands by voidance of the see of Canterbury, 1234 (Cal. P.R. H. III.1232-47, p.38).

Basing lane was in the parish.

Possibly to be identified with St. Mary Aldermary.

Alderman's Walk

West out of Bishopsgate, on the north side of St. Botolph's Church, at No. 117 (P.O. Directory). In Bishopsgate Ward Without.

First mention: Rocque, 1746.

Strype tells us that adjoining to St. Botolph's Churchyard was an open passage leading to a large house and garden belonging to Francis Dashwood, deceased, and in his maps he calls this walk Dashmoods Walk (evidently an error for Dashwood). Francis Dashwood was Alderman of Walbrook Ward, 1658 (Beavan, I.222). Hence the name of the street. Sir Samuel Dashwood had a house in Devonshire Square (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 109).