Moorfields

   North out of Fore Street, at No. 61, to Ropemaker Street (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Ward Without.

   So named first, 1879.

   Former names: "Little Moorfields" (O. and M. 1677, to O.S. 1875-80). " Back Street, Little Moorfields," in Strype's map of Cripplegate Ward, and called" Fore Street" in map of Coleman Street Ward.

   In O. and M. 1677, only the houses on the west side had been erected, the eastern side still lying open to and forming part of the Walks of Moorfields, as they were called at that time. " Houses in Little Morefield," mentioned in 1560-1 (Ct. H.W. II. 676).

   Named after the extensive district of Moorfields lying to the north of the city wall, much of which had originally been marsh land, and the site of which is now covered by Fiasbury Circus, Finsbury Square, etc. It was not until about 1511 that any effort was made to drain and utilise this district, but in that year in the southern portion of this moor or field, dikes were cut and bridges made, and subsequently the ground was raised and levelled, and in 1605 the place was converted into pleasant walks, set with trees (Strype, Ed. 1720, I. iii. 70) for shade and ornament, the northern portion still remaining marshy and undeveloped.

   These walks were called the Upper and Lower Walks of Moorfields in O. and M. 1677, and are shown also in Leake's map, 1666. They were finally built over in the 18th and early part of the 19th centuries.

   Called " le Morefelde" south of " le More " or " le Moore mede," 31 H. VIII. 1539 (L. and P. H. VIII. XIV. Pt. I, p.591).

   See La More, Moorgate Station Buildings.