Harbour Lane

   South out of Upper Thames Street to the Thames, west of Grantham's lane in the parish of St. Martin Vintry, in Vintry Ward (S. 241).

   First mention: "Herbierlane," 32 Ed. III. (MSS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A. Box 15).

   Other names : "Erberlane," 1439 (Ct. H.W. II. 487) and 1448 (ib. 516). "Herber lane," or "brikels lane" (S. 241), 1440 (End. Ch. All Hallows the Gt. p. 2). "Harbour Lane" to temp. Eliz. (Proc. in Chancery, I. 5).

   In the will of John Brykles, dated 1440, a cellar in the lane is described as adjoining the tavern called the Emperor's Head, so that it would seem that Harbour Lane must be identical either with Brickhill Lane or Emperor's Head Lane, now Bell Wharf Lane. In spite of Stow's remark, it seems more likely to be identical with Emperor's Head Lane, because in John Brykel's Will it is referred to quite separately from Brickhill Lane, and no attempt is made in the will to identify the two lanes as would probably have been the case if they were one and the same.

   See Bell Wharf Lane.

   The lane may originally have taken its name from the mansion called "le Herber" (q.v.), but it is some distance from it.