Milk Street - Mint Street

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

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'Milk Street - Mint Street', in A Dictionary of London, (London, 1918) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dictionary-of-london/milk-street-mint-street [accessed 18 March 2024]

In this section

Milk Street

North out of Cheapside, at No. 115, to Gresham Street (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Ward Within.

Earliest mention : "Melecstrate," 12th cent. c. 1132-1150 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 18).

Other forms : "Melchstrate," 1227 (Cal. Ch. Rolls, I. 68). "Melkestrate," 1231 (ib. 141). "Melcstrate," 54 H. III. (Ch. I. p.m. File 38 (20)). "Melkstrete," 3 Ed. I. (Rot. Hund. I. 407). "Milkstrate," 1278-9 (Ct. H.W. I. 38). "Milcstrate," 1279 (ib. 42). "Milkestretende," 14 Rich. II. 1390 (Cal. P.R. Rich. II. 1388-92, p. 329).

There was a great Fire in Milkstrete and Bread Street 1264 (Fr. Chr. 48 H. III. p. 5).

Milk Street Market for Meat, Fish and Poultry was held here (Hatton, 1708).

So called of Milke sold there (S. 297). Compare Honey Lane, Bread Street.

Milk Street Buildings

In Milk Street at No. 1, adjoining Honey Lane Market (P.O Directory).

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

Milk Yard

West out of Poppinge's Court, Shoe Lane, in Farringdon Ward Without (O. and M. 1677-Boyle, 1799).

Site now covered by St. Bride Street.

Mill Alley

See Great Bell Alley, Coleman Street.

Mill Bridge

In St. Catherine's Thames Street (P.C. 1732).

Not named in the maps.

Qy.=Mille Dock.

Millard's Court

In Duke's Court, Chick Lane, West Smithfield (Lockie, 1810-Elmes, 1831).

Not named in the maps.

Named after the owner or builder.

Mille Dock

Part of the possessions of the Abbey of Graces in East Smithfield, near Nightingale Lane (L. and P. H. VIII. Dom. S. XVII. p. 399).

Millers Court

East out of Aldermanbury at No. 36 (O. and M. 1677-Elmes, 1831). In Cripplegate Ward Within.

The site is now covered by offices and business houses.

Milte Alley

Mentioned in 1419-20 in will of Johanna Fastolf (Ct. H.W. II. 49). Possibly to be identified with Mill Alley, near "le Towne Dyche," in parish of St. Stephen, in Coleman Street, mentioned 1543 (L. and P. H. VIII. XVIII. I, p. 201).

Miltheldrede (St.) upon Walbrook

See Mildred (St.) Poultry.

Milton Buildings

On the south side of Watling Street at No. 18 (P.O. Directory).

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

Milton Street

North out of Fore Street, at No. 96, to 56 Chiswell Street (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Ward Without, except a few buildings at the northern end, which are in the borough of Finsbury.

First mention : Elmes, 1831.

Former name : "Grub Street."

Forms : "Grobstrat," 1217-43 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 8). "Grobbestrate," 1277-8 (Ct. H.W. I. 29). "Grubbestrate," 1281 (ib. 43). "Grubbestrete," 1298 (ib. 134). "Grubbelane," 1336 (Cal. L. Bk. E. p. 289). "Grubstrete," 41 Ed. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 11855). "Crobbestrate" (Cal. L. Bk. D. p. 186). "Grub Street" (Stow-Lockie, 1816).

As to the derivation of this name, it has been suggested in N. and Q. 8th S. XII. 251, that it occurs frequently as a name for a Roman way, but no evidence is given in support of the statement.

"Grapan," "gropian," A.S.=to grope. "Grube"=a ditch or drain (Halliwell). Denton adopts the latter word as the true origin of the name.

The name Milton Street was adopted (1830) in memory of the carpenter and builder who owned the building lease of the street at the time (Elmes).

Mincing Lane

North out of Great Tower Street to Fenchurch Street at No. 42 (P.O. Directory). In Tower and Langbourne Wards.

Earliest mention : "Menechinelane," 1273-4 (Ct. H.W. I. 17).

Other forms of name : "Mengenelane," 1290-1 (ib. 95). "Mangonelane," 1291 (ib. 96). "Monechenelane," 1291 (ib. 101). "Menchenelane," 1294-5 (ib. 119). "Manionelane," 1295 (ib. 121) and 1311 (Cal. L. Bk. D. p. 77). "Menchonelane," 1304 (Ct. H.W. I. 162). "Manchonlane," 1306-7 (ib. 184). "Menionelane," 1312 (ib. 230). "Mangonelane," 1320 (ib. 288). "Mengonelane," 1321 (ib. 292). "Mengeoneslane," 1324 (ib. 309). "Mengeonlane," 1330 (ib. 361). "Myniounlane," 1349 (ib. 577). "Munchenlane," 1348-9 (ib. 528). "Monechunelane," 1349 (ib. 553). "Manchonelane," 36 Ed. III. (Ch. I. p.m. pt. 2, 71). "Minchonlane," 1393 (Ct. H.W. II. 299). "Mynchenlane," 1398-9 (ib. 337). "Mynchyn lane," 28 H. VIII. (Lond. I. p.m. Lond. and Midd. Arch. Soc. VII. (p. 55). "Mynsing Lane," 1601 (H. MSS. Com. Salisbury, XI. 315).

The A.S. word "mynechenu"= female of "munuc"=monk.

Halliwell in his Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words gives "Minch"= a nun, and it is suggested that this street derives its name through this word from the A.S. "mynechenu," the "mynchens" or nuns of St. Helens who held property there.

At the north-eastern end of this lane remains of a Roman bath, hypocaust, etc., have been found, and Roman pavements on the western side of the street.

Minoresses

See Clare (St.) Without Aldgate.

Minories

South out of Aldgate High Street, at No. 81, to Tower Hill (P.O. Directory).

The name seems to have been given to the street at the end of the 16th or begining of the 17th century. Stow mentions the street, but not by name. But it is named in Ryther's map, 1608.

"Bisshoppes Place, without Aldgate, late called the Mynores," 32 H. VIII. (H. MSS. Com. Wells MSS. 227-8).

Other names : "The Mynorytts," 1599-1600 (H. MSS. Com. Salisbury, X. p. 39). "Great Minories" (P.C. 1732-Strype, 1755).

Name derived from the Abbey of St. Clare, called the Abbey of the Minoresses of St. Mary of the Order of St. Clare, which stood on this site (Strype, ed. 1720, ii. p. 14).

See Clare (St.) Without Aldgate.

After the dissolution the abbey was granted, 35 H. VIII., to the Bishops of Bath and Wells (H. MSS. Com. Wells MSS. 231), and Wm. Knight appears to have been consecrated Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1541 in the chapel of the Bishop of Bath's House situate in the Minories, Aldgate (Kinns, 191).

The abbey precincts were exchanged by Bishop Barlow soon after 1548 with the Duke of Somerset for other property, and were given by the Duke to his brother, Lord Seymour, who was attainted and beheaded, so that the property reverted to the Crown.

It was granted to Henry Duke of Suffolk in 1552 by name of "The Minory House" (Kinus, 202).

Minories' Cross

In Agas' map at the junction of the Minories and Little Tower Hill.

It is also shown on Haiward and Gascoigne's plan of the Tower and precincts, 1597.

A waylide cross or calvary.

Minories' Ears

On the eastern boundary of .Portsoken Ward (Strype, ed. 1720, 1. ii. 26).

Not named in the maps.

Mint (The)

In the Tower of London, II H. VIII. (L. and P. H. VIII. III. (1), p. 195).

Mint (The)

See Royal Mint (The).

Mint Street

Between the ramparts of the Tower and the Inner or Ballium wall was a narrow street called Mint Street with houses. In this street was the Royal Mint, workshops, etc. (De Ros Memorials of the Tower, p. 3).