Ironmonger Lane

Ironmonger Lane

Ironmonger Lane is a narrow lane in the City of London running roughly north-south between Gresham Street and Cheapside.

History

Ironmonger Lane has kept the same name since at least the 12th Century when it was recorded as Ysmongerlane; "isen" was a typical early London dialect variant of "iron". [Eilert Ekwall, Street-Names of the City of London, Oxford, 1954, pp 115-6] Its name indicated that it was the location of ironmongers, but John Stow, writing at the end of the 16th century, records that the ironmongers of Ironmonger Lane and Old Jewry had already moved to Thames Street. [John Stow, A Survey of London, 1603 edition (reprinted Oxford, 1908), Vol 1 p.81]

Until the Great Fire of London of 1666 Ironmonger Lane was one of only two accesses to the Guildhall (the other being Lawrence Lane), a matter which made the travel of dignitaries difficult as two vehicles could not pass each other. The problem was alleviated after the Fire when King Street was added by Sir Christopher Wren to provide an access to Cheapside. [Walter G. Bell, The Great Fire of London 1666, revised edition, 1923, p.7]

St Thomas Becket is said to have been born on the corner of Cheapside and Ironmonger Lane. Mercers' Hall may lie on the same spot; it is a relatively modern building, the first hall having perished in the Fire and the second in the Blitz. [The London Encyclopedia, ed. Ben Weinreb and Christopher Hibbert, 1983 pp 114 and 510]

Notes


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  • Ismonger, Ismongeres Lane —    See Ironmonger Lane …   Dictionary of London

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  • Worshipful Company of Mercers — Honor Deo Latin for Honour to God. Location: Mercers Hall, London Date of formation: 1394 Company association …   Wikipedia

  • Old Jewry —    North out of Poultry, at No.43, to Gresham Street (P.O. Directory). In Cheap Ward and Coleman Street Ward.    Earliest mention: The Jewry, 1181, Inquisition as to Church of St. Olave (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p.68).    Other names and forms: la… …   Dictionary of London

  • Le Ferronerye —    In Cheap Ward, in parishes of St. Mary Colchurch and St. Mildred, Bread Street.    That part of Cheapside, in which the ironmongers had their selds, including Ironmonger lane.    Shop of John de Finchesle, ironmonger in la ferronerye of London …   Dictionary of London

  • Nathaniel Marshall (canon) — Nathaniel Marshall (died 1730) was an English churchman and theologian. His views were high church and cessationist,[1] and he was a strong opponent of the nonjurors. Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Notes …   Wikipedia

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