Basing Lane - Bayley, Bayley's, Place, Little Tower Hill

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

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'Basing Lane - Bayley, Bayley's, Place, Little Tower Hill', in A Dictionary of London, (London, 1918) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dictionary-of-london/basing-lane-little-tower-hill [accessed 18 March 2024]

In this section

Basing Lane

West out of Bow Lane to Bread Street, in Cordwainer and Bread Street Wards (O.S.1848-51).

Earliest mention : 1275 (Ct. H.W. I. 20).

Other forms : "Basingelane," 1279-80 (ib. 46). "Basingeslane," 1324 (ib. 309). "Basiggeslane," 35 Ed. I. (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 204). "Bassingeslane," 3 Ed. II. (ib. D. p. 231). "Basingestrete," 1303 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p.191). "Basynglane," 1336 (Ct. H.W. I. 412). "Bassynglane," 1361 (Cal. Close R. Ed. III. 1360-4, p.278).

Removed for the western extension and widening of Cannon Street, 1854, into which it is now absorbed.

Maitland says Basinglane or Bakeing Lane from having the King's Bakehouse or some other great bakehouse there formerly (ed. 1775, II. 824).

There does not appear to be any early record of the name "Bakeing," and the more probable derivation would seem to be from the family of the "Basinges" who held property in the lane in 1275 (Ct. H.W. I. 20).

Basinghall Avenue

West out of Coleman Street at No. 8 (P.O. Directory). In Coleman Street and Bassishaw Wards.

First mention : L.C.C. list, 1901.

The site was formerly occupied by "Green's" or "Green Court" (Strype, ed. 1720-O.S. 1848-51.

"Glean Alley" (O. and M. 1677).

This last name is derived from a messuage called "the Glayne" in Colmanstrete in parish of St. Stephen, 30 H. VIII. 1538 (Lond. I. p.m. I. 64), and the name "Green Court" is probably merely a corruption of this name.

Basinghall Court

East out of Basinghall Street, with a passage north to London Wall (P.C. 1732-Boyle, 1799). In Bassishaw Ward.

Called also, "Bassishaw Court" (O. and M. 1677 to Strype, 1755). Named from the street or ward.

The site has been rebuilt and is now occupied by offices and chambers, etc.

Basinghall Postern

See Second Postern.

Basinghall Street

North out of Gresham Street at No.93 to 21 London Wall (P.O. Directory). In Bassishaw and Coleman Street Wards.

First mention : "Basinghallstreete," 1670-1 (Ct. H.W. II. 775).

Former names : "Street of Basingeshawe," 1279 (Cal. P.R. Ed. I. 1272-81, p. 333). "Street of Bassieshawe," 1288 (Ct. H.W. I. 85). "Bassishaw Strete," 21 Ed. I. (Cal. Charter Rolls, II. 434).

High Road called "Bassingeshawe," 7 Ed. I. 1280 (Cal. P.R. Ed. I. 1272-81, p.381). "Street of Bassishaughe," 17 Ed. III. 1343 (Cal. Close R. Ed. III. 1343-6, p. 95). "High Street of Bassieshawe," 4 H. VI. 1425 (Cal. L. Bk. K. p. 53). "Bassinghawstrete," 4 Ed. VI. (P.R. Ed. VI. Pt. 9). "Bassinges Hawe," 23 Eliz. 1581 (Lond. I. p.m. III. 42). "Bassingshall streete," 1603 (S. 287). "Basinghallstreete," 1670-1 (Ct. H. W. II. 775). "Bashishaw Street" (Strype, 1720). "Basinghall Street, properly Bassishaw Street" (P.C. 1732).

In 1425 certain parcels of land were granted by the Executors of Richard Whityhgtone for the enlargement and improvement of the high street of Bassieshawe (Cal. L. Bk. K. p.53).

The street has been much altered in modern times by the removal of the numerous courts and alleys that intersected it and by the erection of large blocks of chambers and offices, as Gresham Buildings, Guildhall Chambers, etc.

The name is derived from the estate and parish of Bassishaw (q.v.). See New Basinghall Street.

Basket Makers

In 3 Ed. IV. they were allowed to have shops only in the Manor of Blanch Appleton (S. 151).

The 52nd of the City Companies. No Charter and no Hall.

Livery granted 1825.

Bassett's Inn

Tenement or hostel of Ralph Holand called "Bassettisyn," formerly belonging to Sir Ralph de Basset, late lord of Drayton, situate in parish of St. Mary de Aldermanbury, devised to Fraternity of Tailors and Armourers of Linen Armour, 1454 (Ct. H.W. II. 526).

Sharpe says the only property remaining to them of the gift of Ralph Holand is the George Inn, Aldermanbury. See George Hotel.

Bassishaw

An estate and parish so called comprising the ward or at least the greater part of the ward of Bassishaw, and the parish of St. Michael.

Basinghall Street seems also to be frequently alluded to as "Bassishawe."

First mention : "Bassingeshage," 1161-81 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 20).

Other forms : "Bassieshaghe," Rich. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1952). "Bassingeshage," "Bassieshag," c. 1233 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 20). "Bassieshawe," 36 H. III. (Ch. I. p.m. 36 H. III. file 13 (4). "Bassishawe," 41, H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2084). "Bassyeshawe," 3 Ed. I. (Rot. Hund. I. 403). "Basseyeshawe," 1296 (Ct. H. W. I. 128). "Basseshaze," 1298-9 (ib. 141).

In 1278 Wm. de Manhale devised to his wife Lucy all his timber to erect a house for her in his "court of Bassieshawe," 1278 (Ct. H.W. I. 36).

First mention of "parish of Bassingeshage." "Parrochia de Bassingeshage," 1160-81 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 20).

See Bassishaw Ward.

Bassishaw Court

See Basinghall Court.

Bassishaw Ward

One of the smallest of the twenty-six wards of the City, bounded north by Cripplegate Ward Without, east by Coleman Street Ward, west by Cripplegate Ward Within and south by Cheap Ward.

First mention : "Warda de Bassingeshol." "Warde de Bassyeshawe," 3 and 4 Ed. I. (Rot. Hund. I. 403). See Wards.

Other forms : Ward of Bassyngeshawe, 13 Rich. II. (Cal. L. Bk. F. p. 273). Ward of Bassynges Halle, 1549 (Lond. I. p.m. I. 109).

Seems to be sometimes referred to as "Bassishaw" (q.v.).

Riley suggests in his Memorials that "Bassishaw" and "Basinghall" are probably names of different origin, the former being derived from the "haw" or " laugh" of the Bassets there and not from the family of Basing (p. xix.).

But the evidence of the records is against this view, for the two forms seem to have been in use concurrently and interchangeably from the 12th century, the earliest instance of the name being "Bassingeshage." See under Bassishaw.

Stow says the ward taketh name of Bassingshall, the principall house of the Basinges, the builders thereof and owners of the ground near adjoining. He identifies it with Bakewell hall. See Blackwell Hall.

It seems probable that in this case Stow's derivation is correct and that the Basings, who were an influential family in the City from early times, may have had their principal house and property in this part of the city. "Bassingeshage" would be the "hawe" or enclosure of the Basings, and the omission of the "ng" in later writings might come about from the use of the contracted form "Bassishaw" for "Bassingshawe."

It is to be noted that in the early lists of wards, it is referred to by this title and not, as in the case of most of the other wards, by the name of the Alderman of the Ward for the time being.

The ward contained in Stow's time : One parish church-"St. Michael Bassishaw." Part of the Guildhall. Bakewell or Blackwell Hall. Four Halls of Livery Companies : Weavers, Girdlers, Masons, Coopers.

The church of St. Michael Bassishaw was taken down 1896-7 and the parish united to St. Laurence Jewry.

The Halls remain except Blackwell Hall and Mason's Hall (q.v.).

Bassisshaw Alley

See Church Alley.

Bates' Yard, Houndsditch

See Seven Step Alley.

Bates's Yard, Middlesex Street

See Petticoat Square.

Bath House

See Minories.

Bath Place

"The Earle of Bathes Inne, now called Bath place of late for the most part new builded," near Holborn Bars (S. 390-1).

See Brooke House.

Bath Street

See Roman Bath Street.

Bathestereslane

See Batteslane.

Batteslane

In Thames Street-in Dowgate Ward, in parish of All Hallows at the Hay.

Earliest mention found in records : 5 Ed. II. 1311-12 (Cal. L. Bk. D. p. 312).

Other names : "Bathesteres lane," c. 31 or 32 H. III. (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 1). Property described as in the parish of All Hallows del Heywarf bounded on the east by Bathesteres Lane and on the south by the Thames. "Battyslane," 12 H. VII. (1497) (Lond. I. p.m. I. p. 13). In this Inquisition a wharf called "Heywharf" is described as in "Battyslane." "Batteslane," otherwise called "Heywharfe lane," 1508-9 (Ct. H.W. II. 614).

The heirs of William Bat held property in this parish in 19 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1791), and the lane may have been named or renamed after this family. Otherwise "Battes" may be merely the contracted form of the names Battesteres or Bathester's, written "Baftes," the contracted letters being in course of time omitted altogether.

"Battesteres" or "Bathesteres" suggests a corrupted form of "bakestere," a baker.

See Haywharf Lane.

Bay Hall

At the end of Bassingshall streete (S. 286, in margin).

Used as a market house (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 59).

In Coleman Street Ward.

See Blackwell Hall.

Bayley, Bayley's, Place, Little Tower Hill

See Baily Place.