(ii) Hoxton, between Kingsland Road and Hoxton Street.
Among the possessions of Holywell Priory acquired by Sir Thomas
Legh was a close called Star Close. On 14th July, 1565, Sir James Blount,
Lord Mountjoy, and Dame Katherine his wife, Legh's heiress, mortgaged (fn. 1)
to Robert Browne, citizen and goldsmith of London, a considerable portion
of the Legh property, comprising, inter alia, three closes in Hoxton, Shoreditch
and Haggerston, respectively. This mortgage was never redeemed. On
20th June, 1579, Thomas, son of Robert Browne, sold (fn. 2) the whole of the
property to Thomas Harris. In the Notes of Fines (Midd.) for 33 Elizabeth
(Hilary), [1581], is a record of a final concord between William Peake quer:
and Thomas Harris def: concerning a messuage, a garden, an orchard and
four acres of pasture in Hoxton. The details, however, are not very clear,
as the entry is mutilated, and the Feet of Fines for that term are missing. In
January, 1596–7, Peake died, leaving (fn. 3) the whole of his property in Middlesex
to William Wall, his nephew. On 25th June, 1639, Wall died, and in the
inquisition (fn. 4) taken of his property, mention is made of a close of meadow
called "Starre close," containing about 4 acres, (fn. 5) adjoining the messuage
and garden called "the Starre." It is said to be held of the King in chief
by knight's service. There can be little doubt, therefore, that the pasture
purchased by Peake was Star Close.
A plan of the close in 1588 (Plate 2) shows that it included the whole
of the land south of Augustine Steward's property, and north of Old Street,
except a rectangular plot at the south-east corner. It was then devoid of
buildings except in the north-west. (fn. 6)
On 28th May, 1658, William Wall, grandson of the elder William, (fn. 7)
sold a portion of the close, one rood in extent, for the site of Walter's Almshouses, and on 19th October, 1670, disposed of (fn. 8) the greater part (3¾ acres)
of the remainder to Allen Badger. This latter portion contained seven
houses, and in 1684 the number had risen to fourteen. (fn. 9) Wall's successors
in 1689 sold to Thos. Toller, ten messuages on the eastern frontage of the
close, (fn. 10) and Chassereau's map of 1745 (Plate 1) shows that considerable
building had taken place during the preceding half century, though even
then a large part lay open. (fn. 11) From a deed (fn. 12) dated 12th November, 1770,
the estate is found at that time to comprise 14 messuages in Kingsland Road,
including the Red Lion "lately the Crooked Billett," a parcel of ground
"being part of a close formerly called Starr Close," containing 2¾ acres,
and 10 messuages in Hoxton Street.
The Star, from which the close obtained its name, was one of the
buildings shown on the plan of 1588 (Plate 2). It is referred to as early as
1501–2 in a plea by John Austen (fn. 13) as to "iiij messuagis wherof one is called
the Sterre in Shordyche." On 6th September, 1502, Austen sold (fn. 14) to
Edward Hales three houses: (1) a messuage called Toller house "in which
I, the aforesaid John Austen, used lately to dwell," between the tenement
late of William Hungerford east, that late of John Redy west, the land of
the prioress of "Halywell" [Star Close] north, and the royal way south;
(ii) a messuage called "le Sterre"; (iii) a messuage late called "le Belle,"
next to the Star on the north side of it.
In 1541–2 Marcelyn Hales sold to Thos. Armerer the house called
The Star, the house to the south of it called "the corner house," and the
house to the north of it called The Bell. Armerer died in 1549–50, leaving (fn. 15)
to his wife, "my mansyon house . . . called the Starre," and to his
sister, Maud Howton, the house called The Bell "lyenge on the north
syde of my mansyon house called the Sterre, with a garden and an orchard
thereto joynynge," and the house called The Corner House "lyenge on the
southe syde of the Sterre afforesayd with the iij chambres over the sayd house
. . . also the stayres betwyxte the foresayd corner house and the Sterre
afforesayd."
The corner house is heard of again nearly a century later. On 20th
April, 1646, Thomas Hill, of Fulham, demised (fn. 16) to George Cotterell "all
that corner messuage or tenement . . . next adjoyning to the inn
called the Starr." (fn. 17) This suggests that the Star was either still standing or
had been rebuilt.
From the relative positions of the Bell, the Star and the Corner house,
it is probable that their sites corresponded roughly with those of Bull Yard,
Red Lion Court and Spread Eagle Court in Chassereau's Map. The first
named is heard of in 1653, (fn. 18) when Euodias Inman and Jane his wife demised
to George Cotterell 18 messuages ("ruinous and ready to fall down")
called Bull Yard "thentofore known as the Bull Inn." In 1681 the premises
were sold to William Cowland, (fn. 19) and in 1706 were again "in a ruinous
state." (fn. 20) In 1720 (fn. 21) tenements "formerly belonging to John Cowland"
are given as the northern boundary of the Red Lion Court property, which
contained 18 messuages or tenements.
The property north of Star Close at the beginning of the 16th century
consisted of a messuage with garden, pasture, and orchard. The Register
of Augustine Steward, preserved at the British Museum, (fn. 22) contains transcripts
of deeds relating to this property as far back as 1501. (fn. 23)
On 13th November in that year, John Burnet and Thomas Pulton
released to Katherine Page "a certain messuage and divers buildings
with garden, orchard, and close containing three acres and half a rood."
extending on the west from the tenement of John Strete to the close of the
nuns of Holywell called "le Starre Close," for 234 feet 6 inches, and on the
east for 284 feet 6 inches. (fn. 24) On 12th May, 1521, Katherine sold the property
to John Williams. On 22nd January, 1532–3, Williams disposed of it to
Nicholas Serle, from whom it passed to Lawrence Serle, (fn. 25) who died in 1569,
leaving his daughter, Lucy Campion, his sole heir. (fn. 26) The property is
described as a messuage, toft, barn, garden and orchard which "of old were
three roods of land and known by the name of three roods of land," held of
the prebendary of Hoxton, and three acres, containing by estimation two
acres, formerly belonging to Katherine Page, and held of the Queen as of
the manor or priory of Holywell. (fn. 27) On 20th October, 1576, Lucy Campion
leased the premises to John Curwyn, citizen and musician of London, for
21 years, and on 20th February following sold them to Augustine Steward, (fn. 28)
whom she married a few months later. Among the records of this property
contained in the Steward Register is a particularly interesting one of a survey
made in 1588 (Plate 2). (fn. 29)
Steward died on 5th May, 1597, leaving a son, Augustine, aged 12,
who, in 1628, sold the property to William Wall. (fn. 30) On the latter's death
(25th June, 1639) he was found in seisin of a messuage, with a toft, garden
and orchard, as well as of "all those closes or parcels of land containing two
acres," all said to have been lately purchased of Augustine Steward. (fn. 31) His
son Joseph died on 1st August, 1643 (fn. 32) , and the property passed to William
Wall the younger, who on 23rd April, 1658, disposed of it to William Moy.
It was said to comprise a close or piece of ground, a stable standing at the
west end of the close and adjoining the messuage, a barn erected on the other
part of the close adjoining south on the garden wall, and a small tenement and
garden near Ratcliff Row. On 2nd June, 1659, Moy sold the property,
with 200,000 burnt bricks and 160,000 unburnt bricks then on the premises,
to Richard Slater, (fn. 33) who, a few weeks later, transferred it to Charles Farewell. (fn. 34)
In 1667–8 the premises were purchased (fn. 35) on behalf of Henry Regnier
(or Reginer) "an alien born." After the latter's death, the premises were
forfeited to the Crown, (fn. 36) but the King restored them to the widow Elizabeth. (fn. 37) By will, dated 30th September, 1682, (fn. 38) she left all her property in
Hoxton to her daughter Susanna and the latter's husband, Captain Wm.
Abrooke.
On 31st October, 1700, William Berman, of Hoxton Square, "minister
of the Gospell," made his will (fn. 39) in which he directed his executors to purchase
some estate or estates in houses or lands, and to utilise the proceeds according
to directions given to them. Such was the origin of the William Berman's
Trust. (fn. 40) The will was proved on 11th October, 1703, and on 21st July,
1704, the executors purchased from Margaret Smith and Samuel Bagwell the
Regnier premises. (fn. 41) The eastern portion of the property still belongs
to the Berman Trust, and extends from Windsor Place to No. 55, Kingsland
Road.
With the assistance of the map of 1588 (Plate 2) it is possible to determine with some exactness the boundaries of the property. The measurement
of 281 feet along the east frontage precisely corresponds with that of the
present property of the Berman Trust. The western frontage is a little
more complicated. According to the map, the orchard (49½ feet wide) did
not extend to the road, and this is confirmed by the fact that the northern
boundary of the western half of the Berman Trust estate, when purchased
by the London County Council, at a point about 73 feet from Hoxton Street,
turned southward for a distance of 49½ feet, entering Hoxton Street at a
point 50 feet north of the Jews' Burial Ground. The 231 feet frontage to
Hoxton Street, therefore, just included the site of the present schoolkeeper's house.
The greater part of the frontage was taken up with the garden, which
had the house on its north and the barn on the south. On 25th March, 1707,
the Berman Trust leased the garden (120 feet by 84 feet) for use as a Jews'
Burial Ground. With this exception the whole of the western part of the
premises is now in the possession of the London County Council, and is
used for the purposes of the Hoxton Central and Hoxton House Elementary
and Special schools.
Horwood's map of 1799 shows the eastern frontage of the estate
occupied by buildings. The south-eastern angle contained The Castle
public-house, "formerly called The Basing House," (fn. 42) from which apparently
Basing Place and Basing Square, as yet not formed, afterwards derived
their names. The almshouses belonging to Berman's Trust at present
in Basing Square were formerly situated nearer Hoxton Street. (fn. 43) At some
time after 1784 the whole of the western half of the estate (except the
burial ground) was united to properties on the south and north belonging
to Sir Jonathan Miles, and used with them to form the Hoxton House
Lunatic Asylum. (fn. 44)
The plan of 1588 (Plate 2) shows that the frontage to Hoxton Street
for some little distance north of the Steward property was occupied by a
house (or houses) of Mrs. Heron, and that the main portion of the property
to the north was in the hands of a "Mr. Whitt." The site of the house
(or houses) was in the early part of the 18th century occupied by (i) (fn. 45) the
site of "an old house" of 24¼ ft. frontage and 70¼ ft. depth, abutting "on
an alley leading to the almeshouses (fn. 46) south" and on three tenements of Mr.
Hunt north, and (ii) the three houses (fn. 47) of Hunt, bounded north and east
by "Lamas's houses and lands."
The property of Mr. "Whitt" is met with in an indenture (fn. 48) of 20th
April, 1614, by which Richard and George Gippes released to Nathaniel
Carmarden a messuage with garden and orchard "sometymes in the tenure
of one William White, and now of the said Nathaniell Carmarden," abutting
on Hoxton Street west, the King's highway east, and "uppon the house,
garden and barne late of Samuel Marrowe, late in the tenure of Magdalen
Clifford, widdowe, on the north," as well as twelve houses newly built by
Carmarden on part of the garden and orchard. Shortly after this the
property was divided, the eastern half, containing the 12 houses, passing
into the hands of Waldegrave Sidey, (fn. 49) who, on his death in 1656, left (fn. 50) to his
wife Sarah a life interest in "all those my freehold messuages or tenements
called Ratcliffe rents or Ratcliffe Rowe." (fn. 51) In 1663 the houses were purchased
by Robert Swan. (fn. 52) The latter (or his son) disposed of them in 1697 (fn. 53) to
Sarles Goatley. A description of the property occurs in 1741, when Goatley
mortgaged (fn. 54) it under the title of "all those messuages . . . standing all
in a rowe called Ratcliffe Rents or Ratcliffe Row, the ends of which row of
houses stand north and south, and are now accounted to be in number 17
small tenements . . . and do abutt upon the lane then or late called
Hoxton Street on the west part (fn. 55) and on the King's highway . . . on the
east part; also the orchard or garden on the backside, extending from the
said messuages westward to the garden and backside of two messuages in
the occupation of, which orchard contains in length
83 yards and 89 yards, and in breadth from side to side on the east end 40
yards and . . . on the west end 30 yards." Ratcliff Row must have
extended as far north as the site of Redvers Street.
The eastern portion of the estate was disposed of by Richard Gippes
in 1618. On 15th October of that year he sold (fn. 56) to Matthew Nelson "all
that messuage or tenement conteyning . . . fower roomes upon the
ground and one olde porch, and fower chambers and a garrett and three
studdyes or closettes in the said roomes." At the west end was a yard 18 feet
by 9 feet, and on the east side a garden 156 feet long by 65 feet wide, containing a garden-house in the south-west corner. Free use was granted of
the pump lately erected by Carmarden "in the yarde towards the streete
before the said messuage," and free passage "in, by and through the
great gate there." The premises are said to have been previously in the
occupation of Hugh Sayer and then of George Argent. The latter evidently
purchased the house, for in his will (fn. 57) dated 16th August, 1653, he left to
his daughter, Elizabeth Porter [Potter] "all that messuage or tenement,
garden, yards, stable, outhouses and the hangings in the bigger and lesser
chambers . . . scituate in Oxton where I now dwell," with reversion
to his son George. To his daughter, Mary Hodges, he left "all that
messuage or tenement with appurtenances wherein Master Morrel, gouldsmith, dwelleth, scituate . . . in Oxton att the entrance into the gate
leading into my now dwelling house," also with reversion to his son George.
In 1656 the latter assigned his interest (fn. 58) to Henry Potter, husband of Elizabeth,
and in 1665 Susan Potter and others disposed of the premises, then in
occupation of John Lathum and Thomas Rawlins, to Daniel Lathum. (fn. 59)
On 23rd May, 1693, Daniel Lathum sold (fn. 60) the property to Jeremiah Lammas.
The premises are said to have been formerly in the occupation of George
Argent and William Darling, "and sithence of John Lathum the elder,
Thomas Rawlins and Henry Hoyle." Lammas pulled down the house and
built three houses on the site, which were afterwards combined by Peter
Lammas into one house. On 30th July, 1757, the premises were purchased, (fn. 61)
under the description of "all that messuage or tenement in Hoxton, with
garden, courtyard, school-house, summer-house and all other outhouses
thereunto belonging" by Jonathan Miles.
On the same day that he sold Argent's house to Nelson, Richard
Gippes sold (fn. 62) to John Gifford the remaining part of the "Whitt" estate.
This was a messuage of twelve rooms, lately built by Nathaniel Carmarden,
to the north of Argent's property, and the premises included an orchard or
garden plot, 120 feet east to west, and varying from 51 to 60 feet north to
south. The messuage apparently did not front on Hoxton Street, but
lay a little to the rear, facing the "waye that leadeth out of Hoxton Streete
unto the said demised mesuage and the mesuage of George Argent."
The property can be traced until 1637 (fn. 63) when the occupiers are said
to have been William Day, Mary Day, widow, "and now . . . John
Gifford, D.D." It reappears from 1733 to 1760. (fn. 64) In 1782 (fn. 65) its place is
taken by three new-built messuages, described in 1811 (fn. 66) as Nos. 31, 32 and 33,
on the east side of Hoxton Town. These numbers correspond with Nos.
58, 60 and 62 at the present time.
North of the Hoxton Street frontage of the "Whitt" property, and
occupying the site of the modern McGrath Place, was a house traditionally
connected with the Lords St. John. An illustration of it as it appeared in
1823 is given by Wilkinson, (fn. 67) who stated that "it is supposed to have been
erected early in the reign of King James the First, by Oliver, third Lord
St. John of Bletsoe . . . and until within the last thirty or forty years
there was a vane upon the top of the building, the fan of which was perforated
with [St. J. O. 1610], which was remembered to have remained many years in the
recollection of a very respectable inhabitant lately living in the neighbourhood."
He goes on to remark that the letters and date on the vane "evidently point
out this house to have been the residence of Oliver St. John, the third Baron
of Bletsoe, who died here in the year 1618."
The first precise information concerning this house appears in 1733, (fn. 68)
when it was in the possession of Joseph Bayly, and was described as "that
capital messuage heretofore known by the name of the White Hart . . .
formerly in the occupation of Thos. Langley." In 1760, when sold to Geo.
Scott, (fn. 69) it was in the occupation of Mr. Baddeley. In 1782 it was (no longer
described as the White Hart) leased (fn. 70) by Scott to Joseph Barnes, who in
1788 (fn. 71) assigned the lease to John Smith, who in 1811 (fn. 72) sub-leased to Jonathan
Tipple, the premises, described as "the messuage and garden adjacent to
the sign of the White Hart in Hoxton Town called the Great White House
. . . distinguished by the Number 34." Baddeley, Barnes, Smith
and Tipple are the names of four of the six occupiers mentioned by Wilkinson,
so that there can be no doubt as to the identity of the premises. The house
was probably one of the two purchased by Thomas Bayly from William
Pemble in 1704, but its earlier history has not been discovered.
It seems to correspond with the house "late of Samuel Marrowe, late
in the tenure of Magdalen Clifford" mentioned in 1614 as the northern
boundary of the "Whitt" estate. The occupants during 1666–83 seem to
have been Gerard Wayman, Richard Powell and Arthur Barnardiston. (fn. 73)
The story of the vane certainly seems very precise evidence, but it would be
more satisfactory if it rested on something a little more reliable than the
"recollection of a very respectable inhabitant." At any rate, so far as the
suggestion that Lord St. John died there in 1618 is concerned, it is sufficient
to point out that his death occurred at Abbot's Ripton, in Huntingdonshire. (fn. 74)
On 9th May, 1616, Robert Heigham and Thos. Polhill sold (fn. 75) to Thos.
Hill "all that messuage or tenement and all edifices . . . orchards,
gardens, yards, etc., in Hoxton alias Hogsdon . . late in the occupation of James Garnons . . . adjoining to a certeine orchard, garden,
or garden ground, now or late of one Thos. Drayner . . . late in the
occupation of one Nicholas Sutton on the south parte, a certeine peece of
pasture ground now or late in occupation of John Blumson on the north
and west partes thereof, the King's highway . . . towardes Ware on
the east." The area of the premises was two acres.
These premises had previously belonged to Thos. Harbert, who died
on 12th November, 1608. Hill's widow, Judith, on 8th July, 1652, sold
the "great messuage" with all appurtenances to John Horner. (fn. 76) The
property afterwards came into the hands of James and Augustine Poulter, (fn. 77)
who in 1687 sold it to Samuel Norris. (fn. 78) Four years later Norris disposed of
the property, described as nine cottages and two acres of land, to William
Woolley. (fn. 79) On 12th December, 1693, the latter sold to Osmond Smith the
westernmost portion of the property in three parcels, of which the frontage
to Hoxton Street was 78 feet and the depth 87 feet. It is described as abutting
west on Hoxton Street, north upon the messuage and ground now or late
in the occupation of Dr. Thirold, south on the messuage and ground late
in the occupation of Arthur Barnardiston. A document of 1697 (fn. 80) contains
the information that the ground contained a "great messuage," then divided
into tenements and seven other messuages which had recently been built.
The present Nos. 70 (The White Hart) to 76, Hoxton Street, occupy the site.
The two acres of land were not included in the sale of 1693, but
later were in possession of Samuel Burgin (see Chassereau's Map, Plate 1).
According to his will, (fn. 81) dated 18th September, 1741, he left "all that piece
of ground in Hoxton . . . containing about 1½ acres, with the buildings
thereon erected" to his widow for life, with reversion to the children of his
cousin, Grace Bay. On 25th September, 1755, John Bay (Grace's husband)
leased (fn. 82) to Bryan Davis the property, described as "all that parcel of ground
in Hoxton . . . containing an acre and a half, enclosed with brick walls,"
abutting on Kingsland Road, 32 feet 10 inches, "which said ground now lyes
for an orchard in which is now standing many fruit trees." The narrow
frontage on Kingsland Road is explained by the fact that a piece of ground
100 feet long, extending southward 65 feet from the rear of the houses in
Retford Street, had apparently become alienated from this property. (fn. 83) A
distance southward of 32 ft. 10 ins., just reaches to the southern corner of
Redvers Street. (fn. 84) On 18th April, 1786, the property was purchased by
Morgan Thomas, (fn. 85) whose son, Rees Goring Thomas, on 26th May, 1802,
sold (fn. 86) it to Asher, Abraham and Benjamin Goldsmid under the description
of "all that messuage or tenement . . . known as No. 12 in Kingsland
Road . . . with the parcel of land adjoining and extending as far as
Hoxton alias Hogsdon Town . . . and the scite of those premises
contains in length from east to west in the longest part 525 feet and in width
from north to south at the widest part 153 feet and contains . . . 1 acre
1 rood 34 perches." (fn. 87) It was not until 1817 that Wellington Street (now
Redvers Street) was formed (fn. 88) and within the next ten years the greater part
of the estate seems to have been built over.
In the inquisition (fn. 89) held after the death of Thomas Drayner (fn. 90) it was
stated that he was seised of and in, inter alia, a capital messuage in Hoxton,
wherein he dwelt during his life. This and other property had been settled
jointly on himself and his wife Margaret, and after the death of the latter (fn. 91)
came into the hands of his nephew Thomas Halton. On 29th November,
1692, Thomas and Phillips Halton sold (fn. 92) to William Wakelin the messuage
or tenement in Hoxton "wherein the said Thomas Halton did formerly
live, and wherein Samuel Thorold, apothecary, now doth or lately did inhabitt
and dwell." The property passed to Wakelin's daughter Mary, wife of
Christopher Parker, and on 29th December, 1736, the Parkers sold (fn. 93) to
Richard Price, of Charles Square, "all that messuage or house, etc., formerly
in the occupation of Samuel Thorold, afterwards of Doctor William Prouton,
and now of Margaret Owen, situate in Hogsdon." On 26th April, 1749,
Price assigned (fn. 94) to William Dolman the messuage or house "or such part
thereof as was still standing and the materials for building," as well as two
acres lying behind the same.
It is obvious that steps were being taken to rebuild the house, and
when on 7th December, 1750, Price sold (fn. 95) the property to Dolman it is
described as "all that newbuilt messuage, tenement or house and about
two acres of land, lying behind the same . . . with all timber boards
and other materials for building now being in and upon the said premises
. . . formerly in the occupation of Samuel Thorold, etc."
The new-built house was apparently the "Red Lyon and Rising
Sun alehouse" (now the Red Lion, No. 82) mentioned in a lease of
15th November, 1764. (fn. 96) The property dealt with in the lease extended
73 feet north from the passage on the south side of the Red Lion, corresponding to Nos. 82 to 88, Hoxton Street. A lease, dated 10th June, 1766,
dealt with another part of the property, having 47½ feet frontage to Hoxton
Street and 93½ feet depth, containing nine new-built messuages. This
is obviously the plot south of Retford Street, and containing inter alia Nos.
78 and 80, Hoxton Street. The Hoxton Street frontage of the Drayner
estate therefore comprised the sites of Nos. 78 to 88. Horwood's map of
1799 shows that, with the exception of the houses mentioned in the two
leases quoted above, the only other buildings erected on the estate during
the 18th century were a few on the Kingsland Road frontage.
Amongst the property of Holywell Priory which was leased to Sir
Thomas Legh, and of which he afterwards acquired the freehold, was
Hoxton Close. On 1st July, 1565, Sir James Blount, Lord Mountjoy, and
his wife Katherine, Legh's heiress, sold to Thomas Stanley "all that close
of pasture . . . 6 acres in Hoggesdon," abutting on the highway
through Hoxton west, highway to Ware east, lands of John Drayner south,
land of Richard Austen north, and then in occupation of Roger Martin,
citizen and alderman. (fn. 97)
Stanley died on 13th December, 1571, (fn. 98) and his property came to his
daughter, Mary, wife of Edward Herbert. In 1584 Herbert (now Sir
Edward) and his wife sold the close to Thomas Herbert (Harbert). (fn. 99) The
latter died on 12th November, 1608, and the inquisition (fn. 100) taken on 26th
June, 1609, shows that he was seised of and in, inter alia, a "close of pasture
containing six acres" in Hoxton, held in chief by knight's service. Harbert's
property in Hoxton fell to Roger Papworth, from whom Hoxton Close
passed to John Wright. (fn. 101) On 25th May, 1622, Robert Higham, at direction
of Wright, sold to John Boston (fn. 102) "all that close and pasture . . . conteyning by estimacion six acres . . . abutting upon the King's highway
leading from London towards Ware on the east part, and adjoining to the
land now or late John Draners on the south part, and to the lands of
Bassano, gentleman, late Richard Austin's, on the north part." Boston died
on 21st September, (fn. 103) 1625, leaving a son, Paul, who on 9th March, 1649–50,
sold (fn. 104) the close to Thomas Austen. The southern boundary is given as
land now or late of Thomas Drayner, and the northern as land late of
Daniel Bassano and now of Thomas Austen.
The property to the north is evidently that sold (fn. 105) on 2nd November,
1626, by Daniel, son of Edward Bassano, to Thomas Austen, and described
as "all that capitall messuage . . . and one tenement . . thereunto
adjoyninge." (fn. 106)
Austen.
At the beginning of the 18th century the Austen estate extended from
the northern boundary of the Drayner property as far as the rear of the
gardens attached to the houses on the south side of Harman Street,
embracing an area of about twelve acres. Of this Hoxton Close occupied
five or six acres. It seems very unlikely that the Bassano property would
take up the whole of the remainder. The Austen family, however, had a
residence somewhere in the neighbourhood some time before 1626, (fn. 107) and it
seems likely that it also occupied a part of the twelve-acre plot. Thomas
Austen, son of Thomas who bought the Bassano property in 1626, died in
1658, leaving to his son, Thomas, (fn. 108) "my house in Hoxton wherein I dwell."
The latter seems to have removed to South Mimms, (fn. 109) and the Hoxton
estate was probably let. He died in 1701, and all his property "in Islington,
Shoreditch, and South Mimms" and certain other districts passed to his
eldest son, John (afterwards Sir John) Austen. The latter, on 4th August,
1703, sold (fn. 110) the greater portion of the twelve-acre plot to Francis Tyssen,
in whose family it remained for very many years. From the plan
accompanying the particulars of sale of the Tyssen-Tyrrell estate in
March, 1920, preserved in the Shoreditch Public Library, it appears that the
property comprised on the east Nos. 97 to 179 (odd), Kingsland Road,
i.e., from the rear of the houses on the south side of Falkirk Street to
the rear of the houses on the south side of Harman Street, and on the
west Nos. 90 to 112, and 148 to 156, Hoxton Street, i.e., from the rear of the
houses on the south side of Falkirk Street as far as Tyssen Street, excluding a
plot about 210 feet wide extending from the rear of the houses on the north
side of Essex Street as far as Barton Court. In 1703 it was made up as
follows: (i) Two new brick messuages fronting Hoxton Street and a parcel
of garden ground "late a ffeild of pasture land enclosed with a brick wall
containing 5½ acres," and bounded, east by "Ware Road," west by "Hogsdon
High Street or Road" and north partly by Lady Bowyer's garden and
orchard and partly by the flower garden and other ground of John Austen.
This is evidently the old Hoxton Close. Lady Bowyer's premises obviously
formed the southern portion of the excepted plot. (ii) Two other messuages.
(iii) Three orchards or pieces of garden ground, (a) containing 2 roods,
24 poles, (b) belonging to the White House and containing 2 roods, 33 poles,
and (c) belonging to the Austen mansion house and containing 1 rood, 12
poles. (iv) The site of the White House (then demolished) with ground
formerly used as garden thereto "containing about 60 rods as now walled
and fenced in on the north, east and south sides thereof, but lies open towards
the road in Hoxton." The White House must, therefore, have occupied
a site between Nos. 148 and 156, Hoxton Street.
The northern part of the excepted plot was sold to Thomas Walker
some time before 1720, but the details have not been discovered. (fn. 111) The
southern part in 1720 (fn. 112) contained (i) a messuage (obviously formerly Lady
Bowyer's) with courtyard, facing Hoxton Street with coach-house, stable,
and two gardens (2 roods 15 perches) abutting on ground purchased by
Tyssen on the south and east; (ii) two other messuages to the north, fronting
Hoxton Street, with courtyards; (iii) a farmhouse, with yard, barn, cowhouse,
etc. (fn. 113)
Proceeding northwards we come to an estate which, with other Hoxton
property, was in the middle of the 16th century owned by Roger Haryong. (fn. 114)
On 1st May, 1565, he mortgaged (fn. 115) to John Bales a capital messuage and
tenement, as well as three other tenements, with barns, stables, orchards,
gardens, etc. On 17th June, 1569, Bales mortgaged the property, described
as then or late in occupation of "Raffe Tipping," to Thomas Stevens, and
the conveyance was completed on 30th June, 1570. (fn. 116) In his will (fn. 117) dated
20th February, 1574–5, Stevens left to his wife, with reversion to his son,
Henry, "all those the greate messuage, houses, buildings, gardens, orchards,
landes, etc., in Hoxton . . . now in the tenure of Ralph Tipping."
Most of the property descended to Henry's son, Uric, who on 10th May,
1615, sold (fn. 118) to Geoffrey Marchant the reversion in "all that capitall messuage
or tenement, etc., now or late in the tenure of Walter Williams . . . and
Chrystian his wife, late wife of Henry Stevens," as well as 13 acres to the
east of Kingsland Road.
Another part of Roger Haryong's property also came into the possession
of Marchant. On 3rd January, 1600–1, Henry Stevens sold to Thomas
Harbert the three tenements specified in the 1565 indenture. They
are described as the "three messuages or tenements, whereof one is
commonly called the Queenes Head," with barns, stables, orchards, etc.
abutting south on the lands "sometymes of Roger Henrieyoung . .,
and nowe the said Henrye Stephens." (fn. 119) On 21st June, 1616, John Wright
sold (fn. 120) to Marchant a considerable amount of Harbert's property, including
"all those three mesuages or tenementes, whereof one is commonly called
The Maydenhead."
Marchant died on 18th July, 1630, seised in the reversionary interest
"after the death of Christiana, late wife of Walter Williams, deceased, and
now wife of John Hawckes," of one capital messuage with appurtenances
in Hoxton, and 13 acres of land, as well as of three messuages, one of which
was formerly called the Maidenhead, but then the Queen's Head. (fn. 121)
By his will he left to Henry, his eldest son, all the messuages and lands
in Hoxton "which I bought of Uric Steevves and Mr. Writh." In 1658
Henry demised to Robert Earle the capital messuage, with appurtenances,
"formerly in occupation of Ann Jackson widdow, and then of Thomas
Cusden," the 13 acres and other property including "three messuages, one
of them called the Queens Head . . . situated together in Hoxton." (fn. 122)
The capital messuage was apparently still in existence in 1681 when Cusden's
lease ran out. (fn. 123) The property eventually came into the hands of John
Swynfou and Roberta, his wife, cousin and heir of Henry Marchant, (fn. 124) who
on 2nd September, 1703, sold (fn. 125) the 13 acres as well as "ten severall messuages
or tenements, together with the outhouses, gardens, garden ground, etc.,
scituate in Hoxton" to William Ingram. The ten messuages in question
represent probably both (i) the three houses of which the Queen's Head
was one, and (ii) the capital messuage and ground belonging to it.
Chassereau's Map (Plate 1) shows the property of Ingram between "Tyssen"
to the south and "Poor Holborn" to the north, in other words occupying
the site of Harman Street. Queen's Head Yard is shown somewhat to
the north, occupying the site of the present entry to Ely Place. This is
certainly too far north, for it is shown below that the entry to Ely Place was a
portion of the property belonging to "Poor Holborn." At any rate the
position of the combined property is secure. Between Albert Mews
and the northern corner of Harman Street stood a private lunatic
asylum, viz., Holly House Asylum. The site of this would be a natural
one to assign to Haryong's capital messuage, but an interesting note
in Ellis (fn. 126) casts doubt on this. He says: "About this time [1580] (if
tradition doth not deceive us) an old house at Hoxton, now known by the
name of Burrows's Workhouse, was built by a license under Queen
Elizabeth's sign manual." If, as this note implies, Burrows' house (i.e.,
Holly House) was built on a new foundation about 1580, it obviously could
have nothing to do with the capital messuage which was in existence in
1565 (and probably long before).
A further portion of Roger Haryong's property in this neighbourhood
still remains to be dealt with. On 15th December, 1612, Uric Stevens,
son of Henry, mortgaged (fn. 127) to Richard Hewitt inter alia five messuages in
Hoxton, and the schedule of deeds accompanying the indenture shows that
these had formed part of the property mortgaged by Roger to Bales. On
7th July, 1613, the transfer was made absolute, (fn. 128) and there was included a
plot of ground "now used for an entry" beneath the northern portion of
one of the messuages which "abutteth upon the capitall messuage nowe in
the tenure . . . of Walter Williams . . . towards the north."
Under the house in question we are told "there now hangeth a great
gate serving for passage into and from the yard belonging to the said
capital messuage." Conrad Hewitt is afterwards found in possession of six
houses. On 23rd November, 1647, he sold to the parish of Shoreditch (fn. 129) four
of them, the sites of which occupy the ground from Tyssen Street to
Stephen's Mews in the front, and to Albert Mews in the rear. The
other two he sold on 28th September, 1655, to William Rawlins. (fn. 130)
They are described as in the occupation of John Palmer and John Hilton
"silck stockingweavers." By his will, (fn. 131) dated 3rd September, 1658, Rawlins
left to the churchwardens of Shoreditch 20s. a year, to be paid out of the rent
of the "brick house att Hoggsden wherein Hilton, silkestockinweaver,
now dwells." The house of Hilton is marked by the letter N on Chassereau's
map (Plate 1), and can thereby be identified as occupying a site at the
southern corner of Albert Mews.
In 1551 William Merett purchased from Thomas Elrington one
messuage, one toft, one garden, one croft and 5 acres of meadow in Hoxton. (fn. 132)
Details of the property are disclosed a few years later. On 1st July, 1558,
Merett mortgaged (fn. 133) to Paul Pope a close of four acres at "Bamesgate"
and "all that mesuage or tenemente, tofte, garden, barne, and crofte
of meadowe to the same mesuage adjoynyng, conteynyng by estimacion
one acre of medowe . . . now in the tenure of William Roffe, monyer
. . . whiche . . . lyithe and abutteth uppon the Kynges highewaye
ther leadyng from London to Ware on the est and uppon the stret called
Hoxston Stret on the west, and the land late of Thomas Warren on the
north, and uppon the land late of Richard Harryyong (fn. 134) on the south." The
mortgage was redeemed in the course of the year.
On 25th January, 1631, Richard Merrett sold (fn. 135) the property to George
Whitmore. It is described as a messuage with two acres of land adjoining
"as it is now converted in orcharding and gardening," as well as two other
messuages, all lying together. On 10th November, 1651, Thos. Robinson
purchased (fn. 136) the property. The three houses had then disappeared, and
their place had been taken by "nyne houses or tenements, one stable, and
a cowhouse."
On the following day Robinson disposed (fn. 137) of a portion to Francis
Kirkman. It is described as a parcel of ground 34 feet wide and from 74 to
84 feet long, with four messuages thereon, and the entry way from Hoxton
Street between the houses, another messuage with ground attached, and a
garden plot of one acre extending eastwards to Kingsland highway. On
9th April, 1657, Kirkman sold (fn. 138) the property to Abraham Nunns,
citizen and joiner of London. The next step is doubtful, but in 1665–6,
the Joiners' Company purchased an estate at Hoxton (fn. 139) and an indenture (fn. 140)
of 9th June, 1669, by which the Company sold the estate to the overseers of
the poor of the Liberty of Saffron Hill, Hatton Garden and Ely Rents,
describes the property in precisely the same terms as those used in the deed
of 1657. Its identity is thus established. It now consists of Nos. 186
and 188, Hoxton Street, Nos. 199, 201 and 203, Kingsland Road, and
77 houses in Ely Place. (fn. 141)
No early records have been discovered of the property (fn. 142) immediately
north of Ely Place. In 1670–1, however, Abraham Harrison sold to
Thomas Cudsden, the younger, two messuages, one adjoining the street,
then or late in the tenure of Banks, and the other in the occupation
of Charles Jerrard, together with orchards, gardens, etc., extending from
Hoxton Street to the highway to Ware, and containing 2 acres. (fn. 143) The
property was afterwards settled on Cudsden's son Thomas and the latter's
wife, and their son John Cudsden on 29th April, 1736, joined in a transfer (fn. 144)
of it to James Royston. It then consisted of a messuage or tenement, with
yards, garden, washhouse, stables, etc., and a parcel of ground extending
"from Hoggesden aforesaid unto the way leading from Shoreditch to Ware
and doth contain . . . two acres," and is said to be "the same premisses
which Thomas Cudsden the elder bought of Abraham Harison under the
name of two messuages, etc." Chassereau's Map (Plate 1) shows the Royston
property occupying the site of the modern Lynedoch Street.
We now come to the property somewhat euphemistically named The
Land of Promise. This originally formed a part of the estate of Richard
Haryong (fn. 145) who, in 1545, left to Margaret, his wife, a life interest in his lands,
with remainder to his daughter, Alice Marowe. (fn. 146) In 1557, Alice and her
husband sold to Thomas and Alice Haddon the reversion, after the death
of Margaret, of a messuage, two barns, a stable, a garden and three acres
of land in Hoxton. (fn. 147) Ten years later the Haddons disposed of the property
to John Thomas. (fn. 148) It is now lost sight of for a while, but in 1623 William
Slynehead and Katherine his wife sold (fn. 149) to John Furnivall a half share, and
messuage, a cottage, two barns, a garden, an orchard and three acres of land
in Hoxton. Furnivall, by some means, acquired the other half share, and
in 1626 sold the whole to Richard Middleton. (fn. 150) The identity of the property
is established by the fact that Furnivall gave warranty against the claims of
Slynehead and Thomas.
On 9th April, 1633, Middleton sold it to the parish of Shoreditch as
three tenements and three acres of land. (fn. 151) The property was leased out
as a whole for successive periods until 1776, when there were 28 messuages
on the ground. In that year the existing lease (to Samuel Beighton for
103 years from 1744) was surrendered, a fresh lease granted of the western
part of the property, and the eastern portion utilised for the provision of a
workhouse. On the expiry of the fresh lease in 1847 the remainder of the
property was appropriated for workhouse purposes.
The plan of the Land of Promise given by Ware shows that at the
south-west corner it did not reach to Hoxton Street, the boundary being
a broken line running south-east from a point 75 feet from the highway.
The earliest record that has been found of this excepted piece of ground is a
final concord, dated 1693, by which Peter Briggins and Arabella his wife
sold to John Waters six messuages with appurtenances in "Hogsden."
Waters in turn sold to Robert Geary, who also purchased five adjoining
messuages from James Hallet. (fn. 152)
On 4th February, 1589–90, Richard Austen, "monier," settled (fn. 153) on his
younger son Thomas and the latter's prospective bride, Margaret Awsitor, (fn. 154)
a messuage with garden and a croft adjoining, abutting on the royal way
leading to Ware east, on the street called "Hoxton Streate" west, on the
lane called "Webbes Lane alias the Whitehart lane" north, and on the
land now or late in the tenure of John Thomas south. Webb's Lane must
be (fn. 155) the ancient thoroughfare running from Hoxton Street to Kingsland
Road, known in the 18th century as Dirty Lane, and at the present time as
Nuttall Street, and the land of John Thomas is the Land of Promise Estate.
The next trace of the property is nearly a century later.
On 19th August, 1673, James Burbidge Maxey settled (fn. 156) upon his wife
"all that messuage called . . . the Golden Bull, as it is now severed
and divided into severall tenements, and all houses, edifices, etc.," having
a frontage of 77 feet to Hoxton Street, and 110 feet to the "highway leading
from Shoreditch church to Kingsland," and a length of 684 feet, abutting
north upon a lane called Haddon Lane (fn. 157) and south on land belonging to
Shoreditch parish.
The next estate northward, marked "Featherstone, Esq." on
Chassereau's Map (Plate 1), seems to have been composed of two distinct
properties: one consisting of three messuages and three acres, and the other
of three messuages and three roods. These are found in the possession of
Conrad Hewitt in 1654–5 (fn. 158) , but there is no evidence as to how he obtained
them or what he did with them. It seems likely that the three messuages
and three acres originally belonged to Lady Katherine Dormer, widow of
Sir Michael Dormer. (fn. 159) On 23rd October, 1568, her executor, Dr. Valentine
Dale, (fn. 160) sold to John Forth, certain property formerly belonging to Lady
Katherine in Herts and Oxfordshire, as well as three messuages "in
Hogston," with gardens and orchards, and two closes of pasture or meadow
on the east side of the three messuages, abutting on the highway leading
from Ware to Shoreditch Church, and containing three acres. The sale
also included three acres of pasture (a part of Billing's Close) lying on the
west side of Hoxton Street. (fn. 161) In the following year, Forth apparently
re-sold (fn. 162) the whole of the property to Valentine Dale. On the latter's death
it passed to his daughter, Dorothy, who married Sir John North. On 28th
September, 1620, Gilbert North, fourth son of Sir John and Lady Dorothy,
sold (fn. 163) to Thomas Austen what purported to be all the property in Hoxton
and Shoreditch formerly belonging to Lady Dorothy. The three acres in
Billing's Close are specified, but the rest of the property is described as a
mansion house formerly in the tenure of Peter Proby and a messuage and
garden formerly in the occupation of John Noble. This does not bear
much likeness to the three messuages and three acres of 1558, and it must
remain doubtful whether they had not been already disposed of. In any
case the link connecting the Dormer property with Conrad Hewitt is missing.
On 28th March, 1672, Robert Richardson sold (fn. 164) to George Ricketts
"all that messuage or tenement and seven tenements or cottages to the
said messuage belonging . . . and also all that orchard or piece of
ground conteyning . . . three acres lying behind or neare adjoyning
to the said messuage and cottages, and also all the ground whereon two
tenements or cottages now abolished did formerly stand." Richardson
had obtained the property before 1663, for in that year he had mortgaged it
to James Clotterbuck. (fn. 165)
A few years later George Ricketts apparently purchased the three
messuages and three roods from Thomas Edwards. (fn. 166) The document
specifies "one acre," but the feet of fines are rarely exact in their figures,
and a mortgage (fn. 167) to Elizabeth Pickering by James Ricketts on 18th July,
1711, of "all those his three messuages or tenements, with the gardens to
them belonging, inclosed with a brick wall, and three roods of garden ground
adjoyning," states that they were formerly in the occupation of Thomas
Edwards.
The freehold interest in both properties came into the hands of Robert
Roden, who on 18th July, 1717, parted with it (fn. 168) to James Browne, of Southall.
On the latter's death, the property passed to his only sister and heir, Sarah,
wife of Matthew Featherstonhaugh. An indenture of 23rd August, 1742, (fn. 169)
mentions both the premises, the three-acres property being said to abut
east on Kingsland Road, west on "the way leading through Hoxton Town to
Bammes" (i.e., Hoxton Street), north partly on a piece of ground formerly
in tenure of Browning, butcher, and partly on ground heretofore of
Bursinoes, and south on ground formerly of James Ricketts (i.e., the threeroods property).
A document (fn. 170) of 1725, dealing with a portion of the estate, gives the
southern boundary as Dirty Lane, and mentions that the north-eastern
corner of the plot, having a frontage to Kingsland Road of 53 feet, was occupied
by a brewhouse in occupation of White. The estate evidently corresponds
with that marked on Chassereau's Map (Plate 1) as "Featherstone, Esq.,"
and the plot occupied by the brewhouse is clearly shown thereon. No
documents have been found relating to the 97 feet of the southern portion
of the Hoxton Street frontage, which had a depth varying from 100 feet
on the north to 170 feet (taking in Axe Place) on the south. It is possible,
therefore, that this excepted plot did not form a portion of the estate. A
document of 1742 (fn. 171) mentions that there was then standing on the Kingsland
Road frontage south of the brewhouse a messuage known as The Swan,
"commonly called Adams Curiosity House." This also is shown on
Chassereau's Map. The interior of the estate was still open ground at the
close of the 18th century.
Bassano.
Of the property next northward, marked "Benson" in Chassereau's
Map (now Wilmer Gardens), and of the range of buildings fronting Hoxton
Street as far as Langdon's Yard, no precise information has been discovered
before 1722, but it is possible to make out a case for their identification with
the house and grounds of Jerome Bassano. (fn. 172)
In 1590 Jerome purchased from Henry Jay a messuage, three cottages,
a barn, a garden and six acres of meadow in "Oxton alias Hoggeston." (fn. 173)
In 1634 Jerome enfeoffed his son, Noel, with certain property, including a
parcel of ground in Hoxton 81 feet on the east side, 66 feet on the west,
50 feet on the north and 85 feet on the south, with three brick messuages
thereon. (fn. 174) This parcel, with the three messuages, can be traced down to
1742, when it was in possession of Nicholas Langdon. (fn. 175) This suggests
that its position was in the neighbourhood of Langdon's Yard.
The remainder of Jerome's estate seems also to have passed to Noel
who, in his will (fn. 176) dated 27th September, 1651, mentions "my messuages,
lands, etc., being freehold, which I have lying and being in Hoxton alias
Hoggesdon." (fn. 177)
It will be seen below that Noel also inherited a portion of Mill Field,
which had previously belonged to Edward Bassano, and Noel's son, the
younger Noel, was in possession of both properties in 1702. (fn. 178) The latter
certainly passed to Benson, although no deed of transfer can be found, and
it seems more than probable that the other property, also in Benson's hands,
was transferred at the same time. Some confirmation of the suggestion that
it had been Bassano property may be found in the fact that the three acres
belonging to Featherstonhaugh are in 1742 said to be bounded on the
north by ground "heretofore of Bursinoes." "Bursinoes" may well be
a corruption of "Bassano." In 1722 it was in the possession of Samuel
Benson, (fn. 179) who let out the eastern portion of it described (fn. 180) as abutting south
on a garden wall "now or late of James Browne" (i.e., the Featherstonhaugh
property), and north on ground of Alexander Pitfield, Esq. Robert Benson,
Samuel's son, mortgaged the property at least twice, and it is on each occasion
described (fn. 181) as including a "messuage or tenement southward fronting
Hoxton Road to the west," as well as a "messuage, tenement or mansion
house." The latter is probably the building shown by Chassereau on the
Kingsland Road frontage. The interior of the estate remained undeveloped
throughout the 18th century.
The remaining properties on the western side of Hoxton Street and
Hyde Road can be dealt with quite briefly as they remained open, without
buildings, down to the end of the 18th century.
North of the Benson estate on Chassereau's Map is a field marked
"Ashley, Esq." This, in common with all other properties with this
description, (fn. 182) formed part of the property belonging to the Pitfield family,
which was not included in the original purchase of the so-called "manor"
by Sir Charles Pitfield. It is referred to in several documents in practically
unvarying terms as "that piece or parcel of land, meadow or pasture sometime called the Old or the Long Orchard, containing two acres . . .
in Hoxton . . . abutting east on the highway from London to Ware,
west on land heretofore of Robert Massey, gent., and north on land heretofore
of Noel Besano." It is now covered by the buildings in Phillip Street.
The field to the west marked "Harvey, Esq." is the close of meadow
(4 acres) "situate near Bawmes house," purchased by Sir Chas. Pitfield of
Sir Edward Massie, (fn. 182) son of Robert Massie. This now includes the eastern
side of Whitmore Road, and extends east to take in the whole of Halcomb
Street and the west end of Phillip Street.
In the angle formed by the Harvey and Ashley properties are two
fields in Chassereau's Map marked "Benson, Esq.," and "Bevoir, Esq."
Together these formed in early times the whole or part of a field called
Millfield. Among the property settled by Richard Austen in 1588, on his
son Thomas, (fn. 183) were two parcels of land and pasture of 1½ acres each, lying
in Millfield, one of them abutting north on land of John Philpot (i.e., Bammes),
west on land formerly of Sir Humphrey Starkey, late of Sir Thomas "Seymor"
and the heirs of Sir Thomas Leigh (i.e., the Harvey property) and east on
land of Mascall, the other abutting north on land late of the
prioress of "Halliwell," then of Sir Thomas Legh and afterwards of Mascall,
and east on the highway to Ware. These two parcels make up the land
marked "Benson, Esq.," and the part marked "Bevoir, Esq.," obviously
corresponds with the Holywell Priory property.
On 17th January, 1593–4, Thomas Austen sold (fn. 184) the two parcels, then
combined into one parcel described as abutting east on the highway, west
upon the lands of Lady Bond (i.e., heirs of Sir Thos. Leigh) and north on the
lands late of John Mascall (i.e., Holywell Priory property) to Edward Bassano.
From the description of the Long Orchard given above, it is evident that
it descended to Noel Bassano, whose son, Noel, was in possession in 1702. (fn. 185)
It was in the hands of Samuel Benson at his death in 1723, but it has not
been discovered how he acquired it.
Among the lands belonging to the priory of Holywell, which were
acquired by Sir Thomas Legh, were four acres in Millfield at the High
Elms. Together with Fairfield and the field lying between the latter and
Dame Agnes A Clare, it passed successively into the hands of John Mascall
and Dorothy, his wife, and Randolph Crewe. (fn. 186) What happened to it
at Crewe's death is unknown, but when the manor of Bammes was
purchased by Richard de Beauvoir in January, 1686–7, (fn. 187) the list of fields
includes "all that ground or close called the 'Further Four Acres alias
Millfield,' conteyning foure acres and one rood."
Canal Road now runs along the middle of Millfield, but the old name
is still recalled by Mill Row, the houses in which practically cover the site of
the southern of the two parcels belonging to Bassano.
The mortgage by William Merrett to Paul Pope of 1st July, 1558,
has already been mentioned. (fn. 188) It included "one close in Hoxton conteyning
. . . foure acres of land . . . lyinge at Bammes gate and abuttethe
on the lane called Bammes lane [Whitmore Road] on the est parte, uppon
the landes of John Jermyn, monyer, on the west, uppon the landes of the
Lord North on the north . . . and uppon the lane called Hyde Lane
on the south." It was sold by Richard Merrett to George Whitmore on
25th January, 1630–1, (fn. 189) and so came, with the manor of Bammes, to
Richard de Beauvoir. (fn. 190) It is marked on Chassereau's Map as "Bevoir, Esq."
Of the remaining field marked "Ashley, Esq.," nothing is known.