Bell Court, St. Martin's le Grand - Bell Wheel Alley

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

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'Bell Court, St. Martin's le Grand - Bell Wheel Alley', in A Dictionary of London, (London, 1918) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dictionary-of-london/bell-court-bell-wheel-alley [accessed 18 March 2024]

In this section

Bell Court, St. Martin's le Grand

See Bell Square.

Bell Inn

On the east side of Warwick Lane, in Castle Baynard Ward (O. and M. 1677-Lockie, 1816).

Strype says in his time it was chiefly used by market people (ed. 1720, I. iii. 230), and in Rocque's map, 1746, a passage leads direct from the inn into Newgate Market. In O. and M. it is further north than in the later maps, on the site of the Crown Inn. Thus the sites of the two inns are reversed in O. and M.

Mentioned temp. Q. Eliz. (Proc. in Chancery, I. 337).

The site is now occupied by warehouses and offices.

Bell Inn

On the east side of West Smithfield, in Farringdon Ward Without (O. and M. 1677-Lockie, 1816).

The site is now covered by the Smithfield Meat Market.

Bell Inn

North out of Knightrider Street, east of St. Andrew Wardrobe Church, in Castle Baynard Ward (Rocque, 1746-L. Guide, 1758).

The site was formerly occupied by the Kings Wardrobe, now by Wardrobe Place (q.v.) and Bell Yard.

See Bell Yard, Carter Lane.

Bell Inn

On the west side of Wood Street at No.86, near the northern end. In Cripplegate Ward Within (Lockie, 1816).

First mention : O. and M. 1677. Called "Bull Inn" in Horwood, 1799. Site now covered by warehouses.

Bell Inn, Coleman Street

Messuage called "The Bell" on the east side of the street called Colman Streete, in parish of St. Stephen in Colman Streete, between the Armourer's Hale north and tenement of Thos. Offley south, and a "Yerde" part of the possession of the College of Acon. 34 H. VIII. 1542 (L. and P. H. VIII. XVII. p. 163), and 24 Eliz. 582 (Lond. I. p.m. III. p. 57).

In Strype's maps 1720 and 1755.

Described by Hatton 1708 as near the northern end of Coleman Street.

See Great Bell Alley,

Bell Inn, Friday Street

On the West side of Friday Street at No.13, in Bread Street Ward (O. and M. 1677-Elmes, 1831).

The site is now occupied by offices and business houses.

Bell Inn, Grub Street

See Bell Alley, Grub Street.

Bell Inn, Holborn

See Old Bell Inn.

Bell Inn, Old Fish Street Hill

On the west side of Fish Street Hill, south of St. Mounthaw Church, and north of Bell Alley, but not communicating with it. In Queenhithe Ward (O. and M. 1677-Strype, 1755).

The site has been rebuilt for the formation of Queen Victoria Street.

Bell Inn, Walbrook

.See Bell Court.

Bell Savage Yard, Old Bailey

See Ball Court.

Bell Square

East out of St. Martin's le Grand to Foster Lane in Aldersgate Ward (Horwood, 1799-Lockie, 1816).

First mention : "Belle Alley," 32 H. VIII. (L. and P. H. VIII. XVI. 243). "Bell Court" (O. and M. 1677-Boyle, 1799).

Site covered by old General Post Office buildings, erected 1825-9.

Bell Square

East out of Blomfield Street. In Bishopsgate Ward Without (Horwood, 1799-Bacon, 1912).

Site now occupied by the western end of Broad Street Avenue (q.v.).

Bell Tavern

Mentioned in bounds of parish of St. Katherine Creechurch, apparently in Crutched Friars (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 65).

Not further identified.

Bell Wharf

South out of Thames Street in parish of St. Benet, Paul's Wharf, at the eastern boundary of the parish (P.C. 1732). In Castle Baynard Ward.

Not named in the maps.

Bell Wharf

South out of Bell Wharf Lane, west of Golden Heart wharf, in Vintry Ward, opposite 177 Upper Thames Street (Lockie, 1810-O.S. 1880).

"Timber Wharf" in Rocque, 1746.

Bell Wharf Lane

South out of Upper Thames Street to Greenwich Street and Bell Wharf, opposite No.177 Upper Thames Street (P.O. Directory). In Vintry Ward.

First mention: O.S. 1848-51.

Former names : "Bell Wharf Passage" (Horwood, 1799, and Lockie, 1810). "Emperor's Head Lane, Alley" (Leake, 1666-Boyle, 1799). "Emper head lane" (Hatton, 1708, and Dodsley, 1761). "Simpson's lane of one Simpson" or "Emperor's head lane of such a signe" (S. 241).

After the Fire, 1666, the buildings on the western side were set back 1 1/2 ft. to widen the alley, 1670. But it was not found possible to set back those on the eastern side (L. and P. Chas. II. 1669-70, p. 71).

The Fishermen's Hall mentioned in a deed of 1741 relating to houses comprised in Brickle's Charity is identified with the Emperor's Head (Hubbard, p. 40).

Possibly this lane was originally called "Harbour Lane" (q.v.).

Bell Wharf Stairs

At Bell Wharf, Thames Street (q.v.) (Strype, ed. 1755).

Bell Wheel Alley

West out of Mark Lane, nearly opposite Hart Street. In Tower Ward (O. and M. 1677-Strype, 1755).

Not shown in the later maps, but it seems to have been near No.14 Mark Lane.