London Wall, Street

   West from Old Broad Street to Cripplegate (P.O. Directory).

   A street on the line of the old Wall of London (q.v.). In Broad Street Ward, Bassishaw Ward, Coleman Street Ward and Cripplegate Ward Within.

   First mention of the street : In 1388 mention is made of the "highway near London Wall" (Ct. H.W. II. 269). Stow seems to apply the term "London Wall" to the street (p. 82). In 1386 there seems to have been a street here called "Babeloyne" (q.v.).

   The houses and buildings adjoining to and opposite to the City Wall, formed prior to its removal in the 17th century a continuous row of houses on the south side. The ruins of the wall occupied the north side as late as 1761 (Dodsley). Then a heap of rubbish and no Roman work visible.

   In time of Chas. I. houses were built on the City Wall, from Aldgate to the Postern on both sides, without in the Minories and within the Gate to the Postern (L. and P. Chas. I. Dom. S. XXII. p. 422).

   The eastern end was called "All Hallows in the wall" in Strype's time (ed. 1720, I. ii. 131).

   Strype calls it "London Wall Street" (ib.). "Soe called as having the City Wall running along the north side" (ib.).

   Strype describes it as consisting of old timber houses, of no great account, only curriers living there, in consequence of which this portion was known as "Currier's Row." The greatest ornaments of the street at that time were Sion College and New Bethlem Hospital.

   All Hallows in the Wall and St. Alphage Church both stood on the north side adjoining the Wall in early times, and a fragment of the old Wall can still be seen enclosed on the north side of the street in the churchyard of St. Alphage, opposite Aldermanbury. London Wall is now a most important business thoroughfare.

   Important Roman remains have been found in this street and neighbourhood from time to time, viz. Urns found at Finsbury (Arch. XXIX. 147).

   Opposite Finshury Chambers a subterranean aqueduct was found at a depth of 19 ft. running towards Finsbury under the houses of the Circus for about 20 ft. Arch at the opening, 3 ft. 6 in. high. It took a southern course for 60 yds., the entrance was apparently above ground and open to the air. Many Roman coins, vessels, and sepulchral stones, etc., found (Arch. XIX. 152, and R. Smith, 26).

   The Roman wall was found near Circus Place on the site of Old Bethlehem Hospital. Excavations were made to observe its construction over Walbrook, opposite Carpenters' Hall, at the corner of Throgmorton Avenue. The height of the wall was 133/4 ft. The base of the wall was found at a depth of 19 ft. The line of the wall ran 5 ft. south of the line marked on the O.S. map. Sand and silt found at a depth of 15 feet. Wall found also under No, 123, west of Moorgate, with the Ditch 50 feet from the wall, at a depth of 18 feet.

   A sewer of Roman workmanship was found at a depth of 18 ft. 4 in. a few feet eastward of Carpenters' Buildings, embedded in masonry, 12 ft. wide. At a distance of 14 ft. south from London Wall it terminated in a mouth cut to the slope of the Ditch. Converted on the northern side into a place of sepulchre and Roman pottery and coins found (Arch. lx. 237, and Tite xxxii.).

   From Great Moorgate to Little Moorgate the sewer lies in gravel.