Hare Place

   South out of Fleet Street, at No. 46, to Mitre Court (P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Without.

   First mention: O.S. 1875.

   Former names: "Ram Alley or Court" (Elmes, 1831). "Ram Court" (1565-6, Inner Temple Records, II. 8-Horwood, 1799). "Ram Alley" (Rocque, 1746, and Strype). "Ramme Alley", (13 Eliz. (Lond. I. p.m. II. 142). "Ram Alley", 1629 (H. MSS. Com, 7th Rep. 677).

   Ram Alley was a place of sanctuary, and having become in consequence a resort of bad characters, was in the 17th century a constant source of annoyance to the inhabitants of the Temple precints. The privileges of the place were not entirely done away with until 9 George I., Although they had been formally abolished in 1624 (Inner Temple Records, xxv., etc.).

   Named after "Hare House" in Ram Alley, an old house left to the parish in 1594 (End. Ch. Rep., St. Dunstan in the West, 1902, p. 2).