Crosby Place

   On the east side of Bishopsgate (Street Within).

   Built by Sir John Crosby on lands let to him by the Prioress of St. Helen's for 99 years in 1466 (L. and P. H. VIII. 1542, Dom. S. Vol. XVII. p. 487).

   Named after him.

   At the time the highest house in London (S. 174).

   Mentioned in Shakespeare's Richard III. Act I. Scenes 1, 2, and 3.

   Belonged to Anthony Bonvys, 30 H. VIII. 1539 (L. and P. H. VIII. XIV. Pt. 1, p. 420).

   Occupied by Lord Darcy, 4 Ed. VI. (Lond. I. p.m. I. p. 116).

   In 18 Eliz. it belonged to Wm. Bonde (ib. II. 200), and in Stow's time to Sir John Spencer, who kept his Mayoralty there (S. 174).

   Burnt in the Great Fire (except the Hall (q.v.)) and rebuilt as Crosby Square (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 106).

   Site shown on O.S. 1875.

   The withdrawing room and Throne room were afterwards used as warehouses for the East India Company (Cox, 334).

   From tesselated pavements discovered on the site during excavations, in 1871-3, it would appear that a Roman villa existed on the site in early times.

   See Crosby Hall.