MRP: Ludgate Hill

Ludgate Hill

THIS ENTRY IS IN PREPARATION

Background

Ludgate Hill was a fashionable shopping area in the seventeenth century.

It might be interesting to look at some of the residents of the area in the 1640-1669 period in addition to Tobell Aylmer. For example, John Evelyn lived at the Hawk and Pheasant, Ludgate Hill, 1658-59.

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Tobell Aylmer in Ludgate Hill

See wiki entry on Tobell Aylmer

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Notes

• Ludgate prison predated 1599
• Thomas Clarke, a keeper of the prison of Ludgate, 1641
• J & R. Nicholls, Keepers of Ludgate in 1630-1670 period

• The Ludgate area was affected by the fire of 1666

• The 'Doggs head in the pott and the Fire', and other messuages in the said parish of St. Martin's Ludgate (1626)
• [Mortgage] William Bowyer of Denham, Esq., to Randolph Byrd "at the Doggs head in the Pott within Ludgate", citizen and marchant of London (1655)
• Pieces of ground on which stood messuages called 'The Still,' and 'the three guilded Keyes,' and the 'Still Saddle,' burnt down in the Fire of London, near Fleetbridge in the parish of St. 'Bridgett' alias Brides and on Ludgate Hill near Fleetstreet
• Messuages on Ludgate hill near Fleet-bridge in the parish of St. Brides alias 'Bridgett,' one formerly called 'the Still' and now 'the Lookeinglasse,' another formerly called 'the Saddle' and now the 'three guilded Keys (1662)'
• Two brick messuages in Blackfriars Precinct near Ludgate, where tavern called the Greyhound stood before the Fire of London
• At the signe of the greene man at Ludgate Hill (1637/38)

• Thomas Wakefield, Ludgate, yeoman (1662)

Harben (1918)

"Ludgate Hill.-West from St. Paul's Churchyard to Ludgate Circus (P.O. Directory). In Castle Baynard Ward, Farringdon Ward Within and Farringdon Ward Without.

First mention : Temp. Eliz. (Proc. in Chancery II. 232, and S. 393).

Former names : "Flete strete "-from Ludgate to Flete bridge, 1274 (Ct. H.W. I. 19). "Ludgate Street" (q.v.)-from Old Bailey to St. Paul's (Leake, 1666, Weller's map, 1861).

Widened in 1864 at the time of the formation of Ludgate Circus, and again in 1893, from 47 to 60 ft., at a cost of about £200,000."

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To do

• Perform secondary literature search of "Ludgate Hill", "Saint Martin Ludgate", "Old Corner", & variants
• Look for relevant archival deposits
• Look at London Directory (1677) for Ludgate located merchants

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Questions

• What was the social and commercial character of the area in the 1640-1665 period?
• Where were its key local linkages? To the courts? To the city?
• Was the parish of St. Martin Ludgate split between Farringdon within and Farringdon without?

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Possible primary sources

London Metropolitan Archives

• GB 0074 P69/MTN1: Records of Saint Martin Ludgate, City of London

- Records of Saint Martin Ludgate, City of London, dateing from the 16th century, including parish registers (marriages, baptisms, burials, banns) from 1538, vestry minutes from 1576 and rate assessments from 1573. Also administrative papers; records of parish poor relief, and papers relating to parish property.
- Lying on the north side of Ludgate Hill, the church of Saint Martin Ludgate was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. It was rebuilt by Wren, 1677-1684 and is now a guild church. The church is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. The parish of Saint Gregory by Saint Paul was united with Saint Mary Magdalen Old Fish Street in 1670. The united parish was merged with Saint Martin Ludgate in 1890.
- See especially C Rate assessments and inhabitants lists

Lancashire Record Office

• Lancashire Record Office: [no title DX 612 20 Dec. 1658]

- Contents: Bond for repayment of £103: (i) Thomas Posthumus Holt of Coleby, co. Lincoln, esq., Robert Heywood of Heywood, esq., Adrian Scroope of Cockerington, co. Lincoln, esq., & John Handsard of Clements Inn gent., & (ii) Richard Smyth of St. Giles Cripplegate, London, gent.: to be paid on 22 Jun. 1659 at the house of Walter Smith, scrivener, on Ludgate Hill, London. Witn: Walter Smith, George Sly. Heraldic seals. (Enclosed in DX 613).

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