Hand Alley, Bishopsgate - Hangman's Gains

Hand Alley, Bishopsgate

See New Street, Bishopsgate.

Hand Alley, Houndsditch

South-west out of Houndsditch, near the northern boundary of the ward. In Portsoken Ward (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 27).

Not named in the maps.

Name probably derived from sign.

Hand Alley, Philip Lane

See Hand Court.

Hand and Crown Alley

North out of Holborn, opposite Holborn Bridge, between King's Arms Inn and Swan Inn, in Farringdon Ward Without (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 283, and Boyle, 1799).

Site now covered by Holborn Viaduct and the approaches.

Named after the sign, or possibly two signs.

Hand and Crown Court

North-east out of Gravel Lane. In Portsoken Ward (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 27-Boyle, 1799).

Removed towards the end of the 18th century for the erection of warehouses, occupied by the Port of London Authority.

Hand and Crown Court

Near St. John's Court, between Cow Lane and Chick Lane, in Farringdon Ward Without (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 284-P.C. 1732).

Not named in the maps.

Hand and Hatchet Alley, Tower Hill

See Hatchet Alley.

Hand and Pen Alley

On Great Tower Hill, within the Tower precincts (P.C. 1732-Lond. Guide, 1758).

Not named in the maps.

Name derived from sign, or perhaps the union of two signs. Said to be a scrivener's sign.

Hand and Pen Court

South out of Barbican, in Cripplegate Ward Without (Rocque, 1746-Boyle, 1799).

The site is now occupied by offices and business houses.

Hand and Pen Court

South out of Leadenhall Street, between Nos. 60 and 61. In Aldgate Ward (L.C.C. List of Streets, 1912).

First mention : Rocque, 1746.

Hand Court

West out of Philip Lane in Cripplegate Ward Within (O. and M. 1677-Boyle, 1799).

Also called : "Hand Alley" (Strype, 1720 and 1755).

It seems to be called "Hand Alley" or "Sands Court" in P.C. 1732.

The site is now occupied by offices and business houses.

Hand Court

South out of Chequer Yard to Upper Thames Street, at 160, west of Bush Lane. Near the Steelyard. In Dowgate Ward (Horwood, 1799-O.S. 1848-51).

Former name : "Hand Yard" (O. and M. 1677-Strype, ed. 1755).

Named from the house there called the "Hand" mentioned in Lond. I. p.m. 24 Eliz. 1582, III. p. 45.

Site now occupied by Cannon Street Station and the railway lines.

Hand Court

Out of Rose Alley, Hand Alley (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 108). In Bishops-gate Ward Without.

See Hand Court, New Street, Bishopsgate (above).

Hand Court

At the east end of New Street by the East India Company's warehouses, near Rose Alley, in Bishopsgate Ward Without (Lockie, 1810-Elmes, 1831).

Not named in the maps.

Hand in Hand Fire Office

At No. 1 Bridge Street, Blackfriars, on the east side (Elmes, 1831).

Est. 1696 in Angel Court, Snow Hill (Dodsley, 1761).

Now merged in the Commercial Union Insurance Co., No. 26 New Bridge Street.

Hand Yard, Chequer Yard, Dowgate

See Hand Court.

Handcock's Yard

In Water Lane (W. Stow, 1722).

Not named in the maps.

Hanging Sword Alley

East out of Whitefriars Street, at No. 22, in Farringdon Ward Without (P.O. Directory).

First mention : 6 Eliz. (Transcript of Deed of that date in Bell's Fleet Street, pp. 386 and 508).

In this deed the "Hanging Sword Alley," alias "Ouldwood Alley," is included in the grant by the Bishop of Salisbury to the Queen of his manor of Salisbury House or Place, as part of the manor (Bell, 588).

Formerly called "Blood-bowl alley" from a house so named in the alley.

Apparently a corruption of "Ouldwood."

Named after the house called the Hanging Sword (S. 399) mentioned in a document of 1574 in the Record Office (Noble, p. 98).

Hanging Sword Court

South out of Fleet Street and west to Hanging Sword Alley, in Farringdon Ward Without (O. and M. 1677-L. Guide, 1758).

Site now occupied by Crown Court (q.v.).

Hangman's Gains

A street forming a square, west out of New Street, St. Katherine's lane and running north to St. Katherine's Churchyard. In St. Katherine's precinct (Strype, ed. 1720-Horwood, 1799).

Other forms of name : "Hamsdons Gaines" (Survey of St. Katherine's, 1686, and P.C. 1732). "Hanson's Gains " (Lockie, 1810).

Name said to be derived from the towns of Hammes and Guisnes in Flanders, from which towns many strangers came over to England in Q. Elizabeth's reign to escape from religious persecutions. They were assigned a small district in St. Katherine's precinct in which to reside and to carry on their occupation as weavers (Strype, quoting Gibbon, Bluemantle, ed. 1720, I. ii. 8).

Removed for the construction of St. Katherine's Docks, 1827.