John's (St.) Alley - Jones' Yard

A Dictionary of London. Originally published by H Jenkins LTD, London, 1918.

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'John's (St.) Alley - Jones' Yard', in A Dictionary of London, (London, 1918) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dictionary-of-london/johns-alley-jones-yard [accessed 18 March 2024]

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John's (St.) Alley

An alley so called in parish of St. Leonard, Foster Lane, 32 H. VIII. 1541 (L. and P. H. VIII. XVI. 243).

Perhaps named after "St. John's Head" (q.v.).

See John's Court, St. Martin le Grand.

John's (St.) Alley

South out of Budge Row to St. John the Baptist, Walbrook Church. In Cordwainer and Walbrook Wards (O.M. 1677).

Stow mentions the alley, but not by name.

Part of the site is covered by the western extension of Cannon Street.

Named after the church.

John's (St.) Chapel in the Tower

In the White Tower, Tower of London. A fine specimen of Norman architecture. Records kept there (De Ros. Memorials, p. 21).

Called "Capelle Sancti Johannis Evangelista" in Rot. Liberat. 25 H. III.

It was not the chapel for the prisoners, but for the Constable and officers of the Tower, and also for use on State occasions.

John's (St.) Court

South out of Chick Lane and south-east to Cow Lane, in Farringdon Ward Without (O. and M. 1677-O.S. 1848).

A Presbyterian Meeting House stood there in 1672 (L. and P. Chas. II. XII. 337).

Site now covered by Smithfield Market.

John's (St.) Court

East out of Addle Hill, in Castle Baynard Ward (O. and M. 1677).

See White Horse Court.

John's (St.) passage

South out of Cloak Lane, near Dowgate Hill (Lockie, 1816).

Not named in the maps.

John's (St.) Street

North from West Smithfield to Goswell Road and Pentonville Road (P.O. Directory).

Until the middle of the 19th century the street extended south into Farringdon Ward Without, the southern end being within the City boundary. But this end was demolished for the erection of the Metropolitan Meat Market in Smithfield, so that the whole street now lies outside the City boundary, in Clerkenwell parish.

Earliest mention : "Strata quae vadit de barra de Smethefelde versus yseldone," c. 1170 (Charter in Tomlins, p. 18).

Other forms : "Seintjonestrete," 49 Ed. III. (Anc. Deeds, B. 2180). "St. John Street, alias Cow cross," 5 H. VIII. (L. and P. H. VIII. I. 1509-14, p. 546).

Named after the Priory of St. John of Jerusalem.

John's Court

At Cat's Hole, Tower Ditch (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799).

Not named in the maps.

John's Court

West out of St Martin le Grand at No. 30, in Aldersgate Ward (Horwood, 1799-Elmes, 1831).

Former names : "Baptist's Alley" (O. and M. 1677). "St. John's Alley" (Rocque, 1746) and 1541, in L. and P. H. VIII. XVI. 243.

Site now occupied by some of the General Post Office buildings. Perhaps named after the sign of St. John's Head (q.v.).

John's Court, East Smithfield

South out of Upper East Smithfield (P.C. 1732-Lockie, 1810).

Former name : "Jennings Rents" (Survey, St. Katherine, 1686, Sloane, MS. 3254, A. I. Br. Mus.-Strype, ed. 1720 and 1755).

Removed for the construction of St. Katherine Docks and the adjacent warehouses 1827.

John's Court, Somerset Street

East out of Somerset Street at No. 16. A portion only is in Portsoken Ward (London Guide, 1758-Elmes, 1831).

Former name : "St. John's Court" (Rocque, 1746).

Site has been rebuilt.

John's) St. (Head

A tenement called "Saint John's Hed" in Saint Martyn's Lane, Aldersgate, 1541 (L. and P. H. VIII. XVI. 243).

Perhaps gave its name to John's (St.) Alley (q.v.).

Johnson's (Thomas) Key

For lading and discharging goods, appointed under Act of Parliament, 1559 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 49).

Not identified.

Johnson's Court

North out of Fleet Street at No. 167 (P.O. Directory) and east to Gough Square. In Farringdon Ward Without.

Mentioned in Registers of St. Dunstan's in 1622.

It seems to be called "Morecroft's Court" in O. and M. 1677, and in the Register in 1647 "Mr Johnson's Court."

Named after the family of Johnson.

Johnson's Yard

Out of Three Needle Alley, Moorfields (Strype, ed. 1755-Dodsley, 1761).

Not named in the maps.

Joiners' Hall

See Joyners' Hall.

Joiners' Hall Buildings

South out of Upper Thames Street, at No. 78, to Greenwich Street, between Bell Wharf Lane and Friars Alley (P.O. Directory). In Vintry Ward.

First mention : Horwood, 1799.

Former names : "Joyners Hall Alley" (L. Guide, 1758, to Boyle, 1799). "Joyners Alley" (Rocque, 1746). "Joiners Hall lane" (P.C. 1732). "Tennis Court Lane" (O. and M. 1677-Strype, 1720), or "Fryars Lane" in Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 13.

Named first from a Tennis Court there, and afterwards from the Joiners' Hall.

Joiners' Rents

In "All hollos paryshe," 1569. From parochial records quoted in Tomlinson's Hist. of the Minories, p. 372.

Probably in parish of All Hallows the Great, in Dowgate Ward, near Joiners' Hall.

No later reference.

Jones' Rents

At the south end of Crosskeys Court, with a passage into Swan Alley. In Coleman Street Ward (Strype, 1720 and 1755).

It is described by Strype as a ruinous place, the houses ready to fall down (ed. 1720, I. iii. 64).

Called "Little Hell" in Maitland, 1755, II. 893.

Site now occupied by the Ward Schools.

Jones' Yard

In Stony Lane, Petticoat Lane, in Portsoken Ward (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799).

Not named in the maps.

Named after the owner or builder.