Foster Lane

   North out of Cheapside at No. 147 to Gresham Street (P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Within and Aldersgate Wards.

   First mention: "Seint uastes lane, qui ducit versus Aldridesgate," 1271 (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A. Box 12, 1128).

   Other forms : "Venell', Sancti Vedast," 3 Ed. I. (Rot. Hund. I. 407). "S. Vedast Lane," 1278 (Ct. H.W. I. 36). "Street of St. Vedast," 1293-4 (ib. 112). "St. Vedast Street," 1303-4 (ib. 161). "Venella Sancti Vedasti," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 229 and 235). "Seyntfastislane," 12 Ed. III. (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A. Box 12, 115). "Fasterslane," 1359 (Ct. H.W. II. 52). "Fastour lane," 1393 (Cal. P.R. Ric. II. 1391-6, p. 346). "Vicum regium vocatum sci. Vedasti," 18 Ed. III. (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A. Box 12, 126). "Fastres lane," 1403 (Ct. H.W. II. 355). "Faster lane," 1407 (ib. 373). "Foster Lane," 1597 (Lond. I. p.m. III. 250). "Fauster Lane" (S. 159 and 316). Perhaps the lane extended further north in early days and included Noble Street.

   Inhabited by working goldsmiths and silversmiths (Strype, 1720, I. iii. 120 and 196).

   Nearly the whole of the western side of the street was removed for the erection of the General Post Office.

   Named after the Church of St. Vedast (q.v.), contracted to "Vast," and later cortupted to "Fast," "Faster," and so "Foster."

   In the town of Arras in the north of France the same contraction is in use, the Cathedral being known as "St. Vastes."

   In excavating for the foundations of the new Goldsmiths' Hall in 1830, a Roman altar was discovered 15 ft. below the level of the street in a stratum of clay (R. Smith, 72).