Greenwood Court, Harrow Alley - Greyhound Alley

Greenwood Court, Harrow Alley

See Wood Green Court.

Greenwood's Court

West out of Nightingale Lane, between Sun Yard and Angel Alley. (In St. Katherine's Precinct.) (Rocque, 1746-Lockie, 1810).

Former name : "Ringwood Court" (Strype's map, ed. 1720).

Removed and site covered by the St. Katherine Docks and adjacent warehouses.

Greenwood's Rents

On the west side of Bishopsgate Street, adjoining Slade's Buildings west, in Bishopsgate Ward Without, north of Sun Street (Lockie, 1810-Elmes, 1831).

Site now occupied by the Metropolitan and Great Eastern Railway lines.

Probably named after a builder or owner.

Gregg's Court

North out of Goodman's Yard to Swan Street, in the Minories (Strype, ed. 1755-Elmes, 1831).

See Grigg's Court.

Named after the owner or builder.

Gregory (St.) by St. Paul's

At the south-west end of St. Paul's, adjoining the Lowlardes Tower (S. 372, and Strype). In Castle Baynard Ward. The parish extended into Farringdon Ward Within.

First mention : "Aeclesia beati gregorii pape XVIII...Ecclesia memorati gregorii infra atrium apostoli pauli." In "Miraculi Beati Edmundi Regis," by Hermannus, Archdeacon, c. 1070 (Cott. MS. Tit. B. II. 1).

The MS. contains an account of the translation of the body of St. Edmund and of the miracles wrought by it when it was brought into London, into the church of St. Gregory.

Other forms : "St. Gregory," 51 H. III. (L. and M. Ft. of Fines, I. 44). "St. Gregorii juxta Sanctum Paulum," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 229). "St. Gregory in St. Paul's Churchyard," 1347 (Cal. Close R. Ed. III. 1346-9, p. 296). "St. Gregory near St. Paul's," 1391-2 (Cal. L. Bk. H. p. 375). "St. Gregory by Poulescheyne," 10 H. VI. (Cal. P.R. 1429-36, p. 216).

Repaired and beautified 1631-2 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 227).

Partly pulled down 1641, to the disgust of the parishioners, on the advice of Inigo Jones for the rebuilding of St. Paul's (H. MSS. Com. MSS. H. of Lords, 4th Rep. 89).

Burnt in the Fire and not rebuilt, the parish united to St. Mary Magdalen, Old Fish Street (ib. 230).

A Rectory. Patrons : Canons of St. Paul's.

The dedication is to St. Gregory the Great, to whom the English Church owes an eternal debt of gratitude for the mission of St. Augustine which he sent to this country during his papacy.

Gregory (St.) the Martyr

Church of St. Gregory the Martyr near Estchepe (Ct. H.W. I. 602, and II. 174), 1349.

Qy. an error for St. George, Botolph Lane (q.v.).

Gregory Place

North out of Half Moon Passage on the east side of Bartholomew Close (O.S. 1880, and L.C.C. List, 1901).

First mention : Lockie, 1810.

Shown in Bacon's map, 1912, but not named.

Named after the owner or builder.

Grenewyches Lane

See Greenwich Street.

Greshaan Place

West out of King William Street at No. 1 (P.O. Directory). In Langbourn and Walbrook Wards.

First mention : O.S. 1880.

Occupies the eastern end of the former Dove Court (q.v.).

Gresham Almshouses

On the east side of Old Broad Street at the back of Gresham House stood 8 almshouses built by Sir Thomas Gresham (S.178).

Removed for the erection of the Excise Office in 1767 (Welch, p. 23) and erected in City Green Yard, Whitecross Street, Cripplegate, where they remained until 1883, when they were removed to Brixton.

Gresham Buildings

On the east side of Basinghall Street at No. 1 (P.O. Directory). In Bassishaw Ward.

First mention : O.S. 1875.

Gresham College

At the south-west corner of Basinghall Street, at its junction with Gresham Street (P.O. Directory). In Cheap and Bassishaw Wards.

New building opened Dec. 15th, 1913, on the site of the former College, but enlarged. Frontage to Basinghall Street 58 ft., to Gresham Street 71 ft.

The original College was in Gresham House (q.v.) on the east side of Old Broad Street, the residence of Sir Thomas Gresham, erected in the 16th century.

Under Gresham's Will, which came into operation in 1596, the College was established in his house and the seven lectureships were founded. It remained here until 1768, when the site was sold to the Crown and the Excise Office erected. But the new College in Basinghall Street was not built until 1843, in which year it was opened by Lord Mayor Humphrey. A few years ago it was found to be inadequate for its present-day uses and was taken down and the present building erected in its place. Architects, Dendy Watney and Sydney Perks (Times, 16 Dec., 1913).

It is interesting to note that the members of the Royal Society held their first meetings in the old Gresham College.

Gresham College Court

In Bishopsgate Street (Dodsley, 1761).

Not named in the maps.

Gresham House

On the east side of Old Broad Street at No. 24, with an entrance from Bishopsgate (P.O. Directory). In Broad Street Ward and Bishopsgate Ward Within.

Built 1855. Architects, Sir Wm. Tite and E. M. Clifton (Welch, p. 208).

It occupies the site of the old mansion of Sir Thomas Gresham, which he erected in the 16th century in Bishopsgate Street (S. 175). By his will he appointed the house to be used as a college, and it was used and known as Gresham College (q.v.) until 1768, when the site was made over to the Crown for a perpetual rent of £500 per annum. The Excise Office was then erected as shown in Horwood (1799), but was removed to Somerset House in 1848, and in 1853 the site was sold for £136,044 and the present buildings erected for offices and business purposes.

Gresham Place

West out of Moor Lane, in Cripplegate Ward Without (O.S. 1875-80).

The site is now occupied by part of Hanover Court.

Gresham Street

West from Old Jewry, at No. 22 to No. 59 St. Martin's le Grand (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Within, Cheap, Coleman Street and Bassishaw Wards.

This street was so named in 1845, superseding the old names "Lad Lane" and "Cateaton Street." At this date it extended only so far as Wood Street, but in 1877 it was further extended to St. Martin's le Grand and then comprised the whole of the streets previously known as "St. Anne's Lane" and "Gresham Street West."

Further details as to these various streets will be found under their respective names, Cateaton Street, Lad Lane, Gresham Street West, St. Ann's Lane.

Remains of Roman pavements, pottery, etc., have been found here in Cateation Street and Lad Lane.

Gresham Street West

West from Wood Street to Foster Lane. In Cripplegate Ward Within and Aldersgate Ward.

Formerly called "Maiden Lane" (q.v.). Renamed "Gresham Street West" 1845-77, then "Gresham Street" (q.v.).

Grey Friars

A house of Franciscan Friars, or Friars Minors, on the north side of Newgate Street, on the site afterwards occupied by Christ's Hospital and Christ Church Newgate Street. In Farringdon Ward Within.

The Frere Menours came first into England in 1224 (Chron. of London (1189-1485), p.11).

Stow tells us that 9 friars came over, 4 coming to London, and five remaining at Canterbury. Lodged for 15 days with the preaching friars in Holborn and then hired a house in Cornhill of John Treners, Sheriff (S. 319).

They increased so rapidly in numbers and popularity that they were removed by the citizens to a place in S. Nicholas Shambles. H. Waleys built the body of the church, Walter Potter, Alderman, the Chapter House, Gregory Rokesley the Dorter, etc. (S. 319).

The quire of the new church was begun in 1306 and built within 21 years. The church was 300 ft. long, 89 ft. broad, 64 ft. high. Consecrated 1325 (S. 320).

In 1397 a grant was made to the Commonalty of a piece of land to the south of the Church 95' 2" long, 8' 4" wide at the "south-west boteras" and 7' 9" wide at the "West boteras," reserving to themselves an "alure" 2 ft. wide with a door to be made by the Mayor and Commonalty (Cal. P.R. 1396-9, p. 88).

Library founded by Richard Whittington, 1429, in length 129 ft., in breadth 31 ft. A conduit head and watercourse were also given to them (S. 320).

The conduit yard is shown in a "Plat of the Greyfriars" in Trans. L. and M. Arch. Soc. V. 421, 1546 and 1617.

Monastery surrendered 1538 (S. 320).

In L. and P. H. VIII. 1543, XVIII. (1), p. 132, a description is given of the site of the late Friars Minors and boundaries indicated of the church of the Friars, London Wall, Northumberland Place, the garden of the Friars, etc., with the watercourse known as "le Conduyte."

In 1547 a grant was made to the mayor and citizens of the church of the Grey Friars, house and site of the Friars, le Fraytrye, le Lybraye, le Dorter, le Chapiter House, le Greate Cloyster, and le Little Cloyster and houses on the north of the Little Cloyster (L. and P. H. VIII. XXI. (2), p. 414).

The Greyfriars' gate into Newgate Street was in existence in 1649-72, a tradesman's token there of that date being mentioned by Burn, p. 96.

Church to be a parish church. See Christ Church.

House of the Grey Fryers repaired 1552 for poor fatherless children (S. 321).

See Christ's Hospital.

The site is now occupied by the new General Post Office buildings.

There is a most interesting survey of the precincts in 1617, with the buildings shown as indicated in a MS. survey of 1546, preserved by the authorities of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and reproduced in Trans. L. and M. Arch. Soc. V. p. 421. The survey shows the exact position of the church, the cloisters and gardens, the bakehouse, brewhouse, etc., with the adjacent streets and buildings, the Wall of London, Newgate, etc. See Plate III.

There is also a good account of the church, etc., in Lond. Topog. Rec. II. p. 29.

Grey Friars (Street)

North out of Newgate Street, at No. 108, leading to Christ's Hospital (O. and M. 1677-Elmes, 1831).

"Grey Friars Court" in Strype, 1721, I. iii. 195, and Dodsley, 1761.

The name commeorated the Grey Friars' Monastery which stood here.

The site is now occupied by the new General Post Office buildings.

Greyhound Alley

East out of St. Mary Axe to Bury Street (O. and M. 1677-Elmes, 1831).

The name seems to have been derived from a messuage which formerly stood on or near the site called "le Crane" and afterwards "le Greyhounde," 35 H. VIII. 1543 (L. and P. H. VIII. XVIII. Pt.1, p. 530).

Site now occupied by offices and business houses.

Greyhound Alley

In Newgate Street (Dodsley, 1761).

Not named in the maps.

Greyhound Alley

West out of Houndsditch. In Portsoken Ward (Strype's maps, 1720 and 1755).

Removed for the extension and continuation of St. Mary Axe to Houndsditch.

Name derived from the sign.