Bassishaw

infobox UK place
official_name= Ward of Bassishaw
map_type= Greater London
country= England
region= London
london_borough= City of London
latitude= 51.51649
longitude= -0.09025
os_grid_reference= TQ325815
post_town= LONDON
postcode_area= EC
postcode_district= EC2
dial_code= 020
constituency_westminster = Cities of London and Westminster

Bassishaw is a ward in the City of London. This small ward is bounded on the east by Coleman Street ward, to the south by Cheap ward, to the north by Cripplegate ward, and on the west by Aldersgate ward. It historically consisted only of Basinghall Street with the courts and avenues leading off it [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=46749 "Book 2, Ch. 6: Bassishaw Ward", A New History of London: Including Westminster and Southwark (1773), pp. 549-51] accessed: 21 May 2007] but today also includes streets further west, including Wood Street, and to the north such as St Alphage Garden [http://213.86.34.248/NR/rdonlyres/8F2B7608-35C1-4D39-90BE-2EA03B556BAC/0/bassishaw.jpg] .

History

Etymology

The ward is named for "Basinghall", the mansion house of the Bassing family, who were prominent in the city from the 13th century. Henry III granted Adam de Bassing "certain houses in Aldermanbury and in Milk-street; the advowson of the church at Bassings hall; with other liberties and privileges". The family also spread in Cambridgeshire and gave their name to a place called Bassingbourn.

Guilds and churches

Located in this ward was a weekly cloth market, granted by Richard III. The Coopers' guild hall was first founded in this ward in 1522, at "The Swan" and from 1547, a purpose built hall. Their hall was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, and rebuilt on the same site. They rebuilt again in 1865, selling a part of the site to the Corporation for the expansion of Guildhall. This hall was destroyed by fire on the night of 29 December, 1940 [ [http://www.coopers-hall.co.uk/coopers/index.htm "History of the Coopers" (Company of Coopers)] accessed 21 May 2007] .

The Masons' hall was constructed in 1463 in Mason's Avenue. Their hall was also sold to the Corporation in 1865. The Weavers', and Girdlers' also had their guild halls in the ward.

The modern livery halls of the Pewterers, Salters, Brewers and Girdlers are located in the ward.

There were only two churches in this small ward, neither remain standing.
* St. Michael Bassishaw, dedicated to St Michael the archangel, founded in the 12th century"Churches of the City of London" Reynolds,H (Bodley Head 1922)] . At that time the rectorship was in the gift of St Bartholomew-the-Great, but over time came to be associated with St Pauls Cathedral. The church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London, and rebuilt in 1679. It was united with St Lawrence Jewry in 1897, and the site sold in 1899 and the church demolished in 1900.
*St Alphage London Wall, also damaged in the Great Fire but not rebuilt until 1777, and eventually demolished in 1924.

Points of interest

The ward contains a large part of the Guildhall, the main administrative building for the City of London Corporation - a small part of the Guildhall lies in Cheap ward. Also in the ward is the Wood Street police station, the headquarters of the City of London Police.

Politics

Bassishaw is one of 25 wards in the City of London, each electing an Alderman, to the Court of Aldermen and Commoners (the City equivalent of a Councillor) to the Court of Common Council of the City of London Corporation. Only electors who are Freemen of the City of London are eligible to stand.

References

External links

* [http://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/render_page.php?id=BASI1&title=Basinghall/ Map of Early Modern London: Basinghall Ward] - Historical Map and Encyclopedia of Shakespeare's London (Scholarly)