Mountfiquit, Tower of

   Near the Wall of London, next to Castle Baynard, in the Ward of Castle Baynard, afterwards included in the precinct of the Blackfriars.

   Earliest mention: Land in parish of St. Martin de Ludgate in the corner opposite the land of the Dean of St. Paul's, between the land of David Longus, Chaplain, towards the north and the street south, which extends towards the wall of the City by the ditch "Cast' de munfichet," C 12 H. III. Witness, Joce fit Petri, Alderm. (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A. Box 15, 402).

   Stow says the castle was built by the Baron of Mountfiquit, who came over with William the Conqueror, not far distant from Baynard's Castle (p.68).

   Later forms of name: "Castle Munfichat" (before 1223) (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. 15) Castle of Munfichet," 1246 (ib. 25). " Turns Montis Fisheti," 1275 (Cal. P.R. 1272-81, p.98).

   In the charter of foundation of St. Mary Spital, 1235, among the grants made was one of land lying between the ditch of the castle of Munfichet of the fee of Richard Munfichet and land of Martin Permentani de Flete (Dugdale VI. (2), 624).

   In an Inquisition 4 Ed. I. the jurors found that the " situ turns qul dicitur ' Montfichet' in civitate Londofi" did not belong to Richard de Montfichet, but to Robert "films Walteri," as also did the whole site of Castelbaynard (Ch. I. p.m. 4 Ed. I. 101).

   In 1275, 3 Ed. I. , licence was granted to Robert " filius Walteri" to sell the castle called Castle Baynard with its appurtenances in dykes, etc., or even in the "Turris Montis Fisheti" (Cal. P.R. 1272-81, p.98), and the whole site was granted to the Blackfriars for the building of their church, etc., in 1278 (Cal. Char. Rolls, II. 211).