West Harding Street - Whalebone Court

West Harding Street

East out of Fetter Lane at No.20 (P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Without.

Former names: Westharding Street alias New Street," 1664 (L. and P. Chas. II. IV. p. 50). "Westharden Street" (Rocque, 1746).

Named after a widow, Harding, who left money for charitable purposes in 1513.

West Smithfield

A large area, about 3 acres in extent, lying to the north-west of the City, adjoining the Church and Hospital of St. Bartholomew on the west, at the northern end of Giltspur Street, in Farringdon Ward Without (P.O. Directory), and extending to the Bars of Smithfield. Formerly used as a large Cattle Market.

First mention : Confirmation by Henry II. of grant by Henry I. to the church of St. Bartholomew of the place called " Smethefeld " (Cal. P.R. Ed. II. 1317-21, p. 158).

Described by Fitzstephen, writing in reign Henry II., as "quidam planus campus re et nomine extra unam portarum."

Much of it marshy, full of water and mud as appears from Dugdale's account of the foundation of the Priory of St. Bartholomew, 1108, and from Liber S. Bartilmew, MS. Cott. Vesp. B. ix. (B.M.).

Forms of name: "Smethefelde," temp. Stephen (Anc. Deeds, A. 6683). "Smethefeud," 1275 (Ct. H.W. I. 23). " Smetheffeld," 1283 (ib. 64). " Smethefeud " without Neugate, 1293 (ib. 108). " Westsmythefelde," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 238). " Weste Smethefeld," 1375 (Ct. H.W. II. 185). " Westsmethefeld in the Ward of Farndone Without," 3 Ed. III. (Cal. L. Bk. E. p.279).

Justs held there 1357, 1362, and in subsequent years to 1467 (S. 383-6).

The pens or folds for the Cattle market existed in Stow's time (S. 374), and he complains that it had been so much enclosed and encroached on that there was but little room left for other markets, military exercises or justings, such as had formerly been held there (S. 383).

Bartholomew Fair (q.v.) held there (ib.). Paved 1614 at a cost of £1600 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 240).

In O. and M. "the pens" are on the western side, and a considerable portion remalned open and unoccupied, and it continued in this state until the 19th century. But the whole of the northern portion is now entirely covered by the Central Markets.

The Cattle Market was moved to Copenhagen Fields in 1855 as the space available in Smithfield had become too restricted.

The name is now used to designate the buildings erected on the southern portion of the area, between King Street and St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

See Smethfeld del Barbican.

West Smithfield (Prior and Convent of)

Qy. St. Bartholomew Priory or Charterhouse.

Probably St. Bartholomew.

West Street

West out of Finsbury Circus to No. 26 Finsbury Pavement (P.O. Directory). In Coleman Street Ward.

First mention: O. S. 1848-51.

Erected on part of the site of Moorfields.

West Street

A later name for Chick Lane, West Smithfield (q.v.).\

West Watergate

See Puddle Dock.

Westcheap

See Cheapside.

Westharden Street

See West Harding Street.

Westminster Hall Court

North out of Dunning's Alley, in Bishopsgate Ward Without (Strype, 1720, I. ii. 108-Boyle, 1799).

The site is now occupied by the Great Eastern and North London Railway lines.

Westmoreland Alley

See Westmoreland Buildings.

Westmoreland Buildings

West out of Aldersgate Street at No. 179 to Albion Buildings (P.O. Directory). In Aldersgate Ward and Farringdon Ward Without.

First mention: 1761.

Former names: 'Westmoreland Court" and " Pav'd Alley" at the eastern end (O. and M. 1677). "Westmoreland Court" and " Pottage Pot Alley" east (Rocque, 1746). "Westmoreland Alley or Court" and "Paved Alley " (as above) (Strype, 1720 and 1755). "Westmoreland Passage, commonly called Porridge Pot Alley" (P.C. 1732) Westmoreland Court" (Dodsley, 1761).

Strype says it was formerly a large House converted into tenements (ed. 1720, I. iii. 284).

Probably rebuilt 1761.

Westmoreland Court

North out of Silver Street, in Farringdon Ward Within (det.) (Rocque, 1746, and Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 91, to Boyle, 1799).

Site now occupied by offices and business houses.

Westmoreland Court

In Bartholomew Close (W. Stow, 1722-Boyle, 1799).

Not named in the maps.

Westoneslane

In parish of All Hallows the Less, in Dowgate Ward. First mention : 31 Ed. III. 1357 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1354-8, p.636). other names and forms: "Weston lane," 1378 (ib. Rich. II. 1377-81, p.98). "Westonneslane," 1401 (ib. H. IV. 1399-1401, p.546).

In 17 Ed. III. it is called " Armenterslane" and was in the possession of John de Westone, and complaint was made against him that he had closed it to the public contrary to right and custom (Lib. Cust. II. p.448).

It appears to have been called "Westoneslane" subsequently to this date, after the owner John de Westone.

The street seems also to have been called " Alhalwenestrete the litel under the lofte," 3 Ric. II. 1379 (Cal. P.R. Ric. II. 1377-81, p.376), which suggests that it may be identified with the lane afterwards called Cold Harbour (q.v.).

Weston's Rents

In Houndsditch (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799).

Not named in the maps.

Westrate

See Newgate.

Westsmithfield Tower

A tower so called in the Tower of London, 1461 (Cal. P.R. Ed. IV. 1461-7, p. 85).

Westwherf

Tenement of Adam le Blound with wharf near London Bridge, 1308 (Ct IH. W. I. 198).

No later mention.

Whalebone Court

South out of Moorgate Street Buildings to Telegraph Street and Whalebone Passage, leading into Tokenhouse Yard (L.C.C. List, 1912). In Coleman Street Ward.

First mention: Strype, 1720.

Shown but not named in the later maps.

In Strype's maps it runs north out of Bell Alley (Telegraph Street), but does not extend so far north as the site of Moorgate Street Buildings.

Whalebone Court

In Little Old Bailey (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799). Not named in the maps.

Whalebone Court

North out of Bell Alley, in Coleman Street Ward (Strype, 1720 and 1755).

See Whalebone Court, Moorgate Street Buildings below.

Whalebone Court

North out of Throgmorton Street. In Broad Street Ward (O. and 1677-Elmes, 1831).

"Whalebond Court" (Strype, 1720 and 1755).

The site is now partly occupied by the London County and Westminster Bank, Head Office (q.v.).