Berewards Lane, All Hallows Barking

   In Tower Ward in parish of All Hallows Barking, 13 Ed. I. (Ct. H.W. I. 71 and Stow, ed. 1598, p. 95).

   One end of it at least must have adjoined Tower Street, as a tenement is described as being in Tourstrete at the corner of "Berwardeslane" in parish of All Hallows de Berkyngchirche near the Tower (Ct. H.W. II. 415, A.D. 1418).

   It would seem, however, to have extended further south than Tower Street, as in 1285 a messuage and wharf, which would presumably be on the river bank, are described as near the lane called "Berewardeslane" (ib. I. 71).

   Perhaps it extended from Thames Street to Tower Street, behind Tower Hill, to the west of the Tower bancke, shown in Leake, 1666, and was not rebuilt after the Fire.

   In the Promptorium Parvulorum the word "berewarde" is given as the equivalent of "ursarius" a "bearward" or "keeper of a bear." A note on the word points out that Shakespeare made use of the word and also of "bearard" or "bear-yard." The name suggests a place for bear-baiting in the neighbourhood.

   See Beer Lane.