Pudding Lane, Eastcheap

   South out of Easteheap, at No.2, to 120 Lower Thames Street (P.O. Directory). In Billingsgate Ward and Bridge Ward Within.

   Earliest mention: " Puddynglane," 1361 (Ct. H.W. II. 45).

   Other names : " Puddynglane," otherwise " Retherlane," 1372-3 (ib. 153). "Fyncheslane " alias" Pudynglane," 1413 (Cal. P.R. H. V. 1413-15, p.304). "Fynkeslane" now called "Puddynglane," 28 H. VI. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1723). " Retheresgatislane" alias dict. "Podynglane," 17 Ed. IV. (Harl. Ch. 44, F. 38). " Retherhethe Lane" alias" Podding Lane," 1552 (Lond. I. p.m. 8 Eliz. II. p.51). "Raderiff Lane" alias "Pudding Lane," 1571 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. 14).

   The name "Retheresgateslane" seems to have been an earlier name than either of the others, for it occurs as follows: " Rederisgate," 1279-80 (Ct. H.W. I. 44). " Redereslane," 1301 (Ct. H.W. I. 153). " Rede Rose Lane," 1318 (ib. 278). " Redereslane," 1319 (Cal. L. Bk. E. 107). " Retheres lane," tith Ed. II. (Anc. Deeds, C. 3583). " Retheresgateslane," 1322-3 (Ct. H.W. I. 299 and 301). " Rotheresgatelane," 1325-6 (ib. 317). "Rederesgatelane," 1333-4 (ib. 393). " Rethergatelane," 1362-3 (ib. II. 76). " Rethereslane," 23 H. VI. (Anc. Deeds, C. 508). "Roderlane," 2 and 3 P. and M. (Cal. L. and 11. Feet of Fines, II. 92).

   Sharpe suggests that " Rethereslane " is so called from " rother," a horned beast, from the beasts brouglit by the butchers to Eastcheap, and he says the cattle market at Stratford on Avon is known as "Rother Market " (Cal. L. Bk. I. p.22, note).

   The earliest forms of the name " Rederisgate," 1279-80, " Redereslane " in 1301, and "Rethereslane" suggest this.

   Stow says called " Rother Lane" or " Red Rose lane" of such a signe there, now-commonly called Pudding Lane (S. 212). But he gives no authority for his derivation, and the sign may have been of more modern origin than the name of the lane.

   Possibly the name is derived from the personal name of a former owner.

   Now commonly called Pudding Lane, because the Butchers of Eastcheape have their skalding Hduse for Hogges there, and their puddings with other filth of Beastes are voided down that way to theyr dung boates on the Thames (S. 212).

   In support of this theory we find it granted in 1402, 3 H. IV., by the name of "Bethereslane "in parishes of St. Magnus and St. Botolph, to the butchers of Eastcheap, with licence to build a bridge over the Thames with houses thereon, whence they might cast offal into the Thames at ebb-tide (Cal. L. Bk. I. p.22).

   The Great Fire of 1666 commenced in this lane and an inscription was set up on the house to that effect. It was then a baker's, but now a Cooper's (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 173)

   Said to have originated in the house now known as No.25.

   A wall of tiles and ragstones found here 1836-41.