Old Exchange - Old Navy Office

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

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'Old Exchange - Old Navy Office', in A Dictionary of London, (London, 1918) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/dictionary-of-london/old-exchange-old-navy-office [accessed 19 March 2024]

In this section

Old Exchange

See Old Change.

Old Fish Market

In the parishes of St. Mary Magdalene, St. Nicholas Cold abbey, and St. Nicholas Olave in Old Fish Street.

Earliest mention: Land in" veteri Piscaria," C. 1170 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p.25).

In deeds of the reigns of Rich. I. and Henry III. mention is made of land in the" new Fish-market," near the church of St. Nicholas (ib. p.22).

"West fish-market" mentioned 1241-2 (Anc. Deeds, A. 7824).

In 1298, as at the other markets, two men were elected to see that the King's proclamation against enhancing the price of provisions was duly observed at the Old Fish Market (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 55).

This formed the western fish-market of London, with Queenhithe as the landing-quay, until supplanted by Billingsgate.

In 1 H. V. an inquisition was taken before the Mayor and Aldermen into the bounds and limits of the fish market in" Oldefisshestrete," and the bounds are set out in Riley's Mem. p.598.

It is difficult to identify these bounds with accuracy as the tenements are described according to the names of their respective owners and not according to their location in the street

The western boundary was at the shop of John Trygge on the northern side of the street, and perhaps this shop might have been situated north of Trig Lane, adjoining St. Mary Magdalen's Church, which is mentioned later on in the Inquisition as the western boundary for the sale of "shotfisshe." The eastern boundary on the southern side was the tenement called " Swanne on the Hoope." If, as seems possible from the terms of the Inquisition, the market extended along the whole length of Old Fish Street, then this tenement would be at the south-east corner of the street at its junction with Bread Street.

The token of the Swann tavern in Ould Fish Streete is given in Burn, p.143, as issued in 1649-72.

Old Fish Street

West from Queen Victoria Street to Knightrider Street, in Bread Street and Queenhithe Wards (O.S.1880).

Formerly extended east to Great Trinity Lane.

Earliest mention: "Vico piscano" mentioned in list of property in London belonging to St. Paul's (D. and C. St. Paul's, Lib. L. if. 47-50, C. 1130).

Other forms : " In veteri piscaria," 13th cent. (ib. W.D. 12). " Old Fish Street (Pisconeria), H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1677). " Eldefistrate," 1281 (Cal. L. Bk. B. 8). Oldefistrate," 1291-2 (Ct. H.W. I. 104). " Old Fistrete," 1293-4 (ib. 112). " Eldfihstrete," 1299 (ib. 144). " Oldefishstrete," 1296 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 26). " Olde Fishery," called " Olde Fysshestrete," 1543 (L. and P. Hen. VIII. XVIII. (1), 199). Old Piscaria," called " Old Fishe strete," 1554 (Lond. I. p.m. I. 127).

The street extended into the parishes of St. Nicholas Cole abbey, St. Nicholas Olave, St. Augustine next Oldefysshstrete, St. Gregory, St. Mary Magdalen.

Stow speaks of it as part of Knightrider Street (346), and see Maitland, Ed. 1775, II. 823.

It seems probable that West Fish Street, West Fish market, and New Fish Street, New Fish market all formed part of what is known as Old Fish Street, as all the property variously described as in these several streets appears to have lain close together in one or other of the parishes above enumerated. The entries are very confusing and it is difficult to disentangle them.

The market continued to be kept in Eldefishstrete after the erection of "les Stokkes," 17 Ed. II. (Cal. P.R. Ed. II. 1321-4, p.425, and Lib. Cust. I. 276).

In one entry shops in" Eldefistrete "are described as in the parish of St. Vedast, 1286 (Ct. H.W. I. 76).

Street now again called Knightrider Street (q.v.).

Old Fish Street Hill

South out of Old Fish Street to Upper Thames Street, in Queenhithe Ward (Horwood, 1799-L.C.C. List, 1912).

Former names: "Fish Street Hill" (O. and M. 1677-Strype). St. Mary Mount-haunt" (S. 354). "Mountenhaut Lane" (q.v.). " Oldefisshestretlone," 1345 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III.1345-8, p.14).

In Rocque, 1746, the northern portion was called" Old Fish Street Hill," the southern portion "Labour in Vain Hill."

The main portion of the street was removed for the formation of Queen Victoria Street, and the remaining portion since 1909 has been called Lambeth Hill (q.v).

Old General Post Office

On the east side of St. Martin le Grand (Street), between that street and Foster Lane.

Erected 1825-9. Archt., Sir Robt. Smirke.

Other buildings were erected subsequently on the west side of St. Martin's le Grand, for the Telegraph Office, removed there from Telegraph Street 1873.

The Post Office was erected on what had formerly been the site of the old collegiate foundation of St. Martin's le Grand, a site subsequently covered by numerous small courts, etc., such as Dean's Court, George Street, Round Court, Mouldmaker's Row, New Rents, Bell Square, Bell Court, all removed for the erection of the Post Office buildings.

The buildings on the east side of St. Martin's le Grand were closed in 1910 (when the new buildings in King Edward Street were completed), and they have since been taken down.

The buildings on the west side are still in use for the purposes of the Post Office.

Old Horseshoe Wharf

South out of Thames Street in parish of St. Benet, Paul's Wharf (P.C. 1732-Dodsley, 1761).

Not named in the maps.

Old Jewry

North out of Poultry, at No.43, to Gresham Street (P.O. Directory). In Cheap Ward and Coleman Street Ward.

Earliest mention: " The Jewry," 1181, Inquisition as to Church of St. Olave (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p.68).

Other names and forms: " la Oldeiuwerie," 1327-8 (Ct. H.W. I. 329). " la Elde June," 1336 (ib. 412). " Jure " or" Jurye lane," 1 Eliz. 1559 (Lond. I. p.m. I. 190).

The name seems also to have been used to denote, besides the street, a district, as "Ward of the Old Jewry," 20 Ed. IV. (Ch. I. p.m. 65). Parish of "le olde Jurie," 12 Eliz. 1570 (Lond. I. p.m. II. 131).

Former names: "Colechurch Lane," "Sakfrere lane" (q.v.).

It was so named as being one of the quarters inhabited by the Jews in early times, and much of the property in the neighbourhood in the 13th century was in their possession, especially in Wood Street, Ladd Lane, Catte Street, Colechurch Street, and Ironmonger Lane.

In Stow's time at the north end of the Old Jewry was a large stone building occupying the site of the Jews' houses after the expulsion of the Jews from England, temp. Edward I. , and called the king's palace in the olde Jurie, 16 H. VI. , and in Stow's youth the "old Wardrope." Afterwards divers houses were built on the site (S. 284).

It was also called the Princes Wardrobe (Strype, Ed. 1720, I. iii. 57).

Perhaps this was identical with the palace of the principality (of Wales) in the Old Jewry mentioned in 1 H. VI. 1423 (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1422-9, p.64).

Maitland says the Jews settled in Poor Jewry Lane Aldgate, and the neighbourhood, when they returned after their banishment by Edward I.

The street was widened in 1785, Mercers' School being removed for the purpose.

Old Jewry Chambers

On the east side of Old Jewry at No.8 (P.O. Directory). In Coleman Street Ward.

First mention (O.S. [875).

Old Lane

See Viteri Lane.

Old Ludgate

On the west side of Bishopsgate, west of the London Workhouse, on the south side of Half Moon Street (Horwood, 1799-Lockie, 1810).

The prisoners were brought here after the gate was taken down, 1760.

The site is now occupied by Liverpool Street Station and the railway lines.

Old Navy Office

See Navy Office.