Soper's Lane - Sowches' (Lord) House

Soper's Lane

Occupied the site of Queen Street (q.v.) before the Fire (Leake, 1666). It was of course narrower. In Cordwainer and Cheap Wards.

First mention : " Soperes lane," 41 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1509). In this deed it is described as a new street. other names and forms of name: "Shoperes lane," 1251 (H. MSS. Corn. 9th Rep. p.3). "Soperlane," 1282 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 53). "Soppor lane," 1288 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p.168). " Soperelane," 1288-9 (Ct. H.W. I. 86). " Soperslane," 1372 (ib. II. 145). "Sooper lane," 145940 (ib. II. 541). " Soperis lane," 20 Ed. III. (Cal. L. Bk. F. p. 155). "Sloper lane," 34 H. VIII. (L. and P. H. VIII. Pt. I, p.283).

In the reign of Edward II. the lane was inhabited by members of the mystery of Pepperers, dealers in grocery, etc., whose ordinances appear in the City Records as "Ordinatio Piperariorum de Soperslane" (Lib. Cust. II. 765), but in earlier times Riley (Mem. p. xviii.) says it was inhabited by the "sopers" or soap makers, and that the name was probably due to this circumstance and was not derived from Alan le Soper as suggested by Stow, who lived in the reign of Edward II., whereas the earliest mention of the lane, as shown above, is many years prior to this time, viz. in 41 H. III. On the other hand the family of Soper may have had property in the neighbourhood long before the reign of Ed. II.

Soper's Lane (Porters of)

The porters of Soper's lane customarily served the Pepperers, 1372, and agreed to serve the Grocers and to have six men ready every day in Soper's lane and Bucklersbury to carry packages (Ct. H.W. II. 145).

Soper's Yard

West out of St. Mary Axe. In Lime Street Ward (O. and M. 1677 Boyle, 1799).

Soaper's Yard " in O. and M. 1677.

Site rebuilt towards the end of the 18th century.

Sopporlane

See Soper's Lane.

Soukinge Lane

Mentioned in Inquisition as to property of Wm. Wakefield in the parish of St. Giles Cripplegate, 9 Eliz. (Lond. I. p.m. Pt. I. No.72; Trans. L. and M. Arch. Soc.).

Qy.=Golden Lane.

Souldier's Court

See Soldier's Court.

South Alley

In Basinghall Street (P.C. 1732).

Not named in the maps.

South Place

East out of Finshury Pavement, at No. 52, to Eldon Street. Partly in Coleman Street Ward, Nos. I to 6 being in the Borough of Finsbury (P.O. Directory)

First mention : Lockie, 1810.

On the northern boundary of the City, occupying part of the site of Moorfields.

South Place Mews

Out of South Place, Finsbury Pavement, partly in Coleman Street Ward, partly outside the City boundary (L.C.C. List, 1901 and 1912).

South Sea Chambers

In Threadneedle Street at No. 41, near the South Sea House, west (Lockie, 1810 and 1816).

Not named in the maps.

South Sea Court

In Lombard Street (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799).

Not named in the maps.

South Sea House

On the north side of Threadneedle Street at No.37, near its junction with Bishopsgate. In Broad Street Ward (P.O. Directory).

First mention: Strype, ed. 1720.

The original building seems to have occupied the back part of the present site, called the "Excise Office" in O. and M. 1677, and the "Old South Sea House" in Rocque 1746.

The South Sea Company was incorporated in 1711, and the building was erected about that time for the purpose of the Company's business.

It is called " the Baltic" in O.S. 1880.

The premises have been remodelled (1900) and are now used as offices and for business purposes, the name being retained to commemorate the famous South Sea Company.

South Sea Passage

South out of Broad Street, on the west side of the Old South Sea House. In Broad Street Ward (Rocque, 1746-Boyle, 1799).

Leading into Threadneedle Street.

South Sea Yard

North out of Threadneedle Street, on the west side of South Sea House. In Broad Street Ward (Strype, ed. 1720-Boyle, 1799).

Southam Lane

In Temesestret, 6 and 7 Rich. II. (Cal. L. Bk. H. 225; Cal. P.R. Ric. II.1381-5, p.321).

Not identified.

Southampton House

On the east side of Chancery Lane, outside the City boundary.

Liberties and bounds to be extended from the bars in Holborne to the Rolls in Chancery Lane, 1617 (L. and P. Ed. VI., etc., IX. 507).

New buildings to be erected in Southampton Gardens next Chancery Lane, 1639-40 (ib. Chas. I. XV. 501).

Site now marked by Southampton Buildings.

Southgate

In 14 Ed. II. at pleas before the justices itinerant at the Tower, the jury presented that the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's had placed two wooden posts at the corner of the lane called "Suthgate," formerly open for horses and carts, and had placed iron chains with locks across it (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. 49).

Not identified. Possibly in St. Paul's Churchyard.

Southwark Bridge

Connects the north and south sides of the river from Queen Street Place to Bankside, Southwark. Designed by John Rennie. Erected 1815-19. Northern abutment occupies site of the old Three Cranes' Wharf

Southwark Bridge Stairs

Adjoining Southwark Bridge on the west (O.S. 1894). First mention: O.S. 1875.

Sowches' (Lord) House

On the south side of Leadenhall Street, next to Benbridges Inn (S. 153). In Lime Street Ward.

Site shown on O.S. 1875, west of Benbridges Inn.

The lords Zouch of Harringworth had a hospice in St. Andrew's parish" juxta Lymestrete," 1381-1415 (Cal. I. p.m. III. 43, 192, and IV.15).

The garden of the lord de la Zouche is also mentioned in 1430-1 (Cal. L. Bk. K. p.119).