Maiden Lane

   1) West from Wood Street, at No. 110, to Foster Lane. In Cripplegate Ward Within and Aldersgate Ward (Elmes, 1831).

   Re-named Gresham Street West (q.v.) in 1845, and Gresham Street (q.v.), 1877.

   First mention: "Maydenlane," 26 H. VIII. 1534 (Lond. I. p.m. I. 49). "Engaine lane or Mayden lane" (S. 307).

   Former names : "Englenelane," 1282 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 154). "Inggelenelane," 1310-11 (Ct. H.W. I. 217). "Ingelane," 1320 (Cal. P.R. Ed. II. 1317-21, p. 516). "Engleslane," 1332-3 (Ct. H.W. I. 380). "Inggenelane," 1339 (ib. 433). "Ingenelane," 1349 (ib. 560). "Ingenlane," 1383 (ib. II. 236). "Ingestrete," 13 H. IV. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2460).

   See Gresham Street West, Maden Lane, Inggelene Lane.

   The original name of the street may either be derived from the M.E. "engel" = angel, which would give the genitive "englene," or from "Engel" = English, with a similar form, "Englene," in "Englene-lond," etc.

   As the word "angel" has always been a favourite street name in London, it seems most probable that that would be the origin of the word here. The later name, "Maiden Lane," was derived from the sign.

   2) West out of College Hill at No. 9, through Queen Street to Garlick Hill by St. James' Church (P.O. Directory). In Vintry Ward.

   First mention: 1585 (H. MSS. Com. 1885. Wells MSS. p. 23).

   Former name and forms of name : "Kyrune lane," 1259 (Ct. H.W. I. 3). "Kyroneslane," 1275 (ib. 24). "Kironelane," 1286-7 (ib. 80). "Kyronlane," 1305 (ib. 171). "Kyrounlane," 1349 (ib. 590). "Kyrenlane," 1360 (ib. II. 64). "Kyronelane," 14 Ed. III. (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 14). "Kirounlane," 1446 (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1441-6, p. 425). "Kerion lane " (S. 241).

   So called, says Stow, of one Kirion, sometime dwelling there (S. 249).

   "Medelane" 1317-18 (Ct. H.W. I. 275), seems to be identical with it, as in Lond. Inq. p.m. 32 H. VIII. the capital messuage called "Skales Inne," and two other messuages adjoining are described in "Medelane," alias "Maydenlane," in parish of St. Michael Paternoster, in the ward of Vyntre (L. and M. Arch. Soc. Trans. Lond. I. p.m. Vol. I. p. 109).

   The modern name would be derived from the sign.

   See Maden Lane.