(St.) Mary at Hill

   On the west side of St. Mary at Hill (Street) (P.O. Directory). In Billingsgate Ward.

   Earliest mention found in records : "St. Mary de Hull," " St. Mary de la Hulle," temp. John (Anc. Deeds, A. 2445 and 1997).

   Other forms of name : "Sanctae Mariae Hupehulle," c. 1189-98 (ib. A. 2442). "Sanctae Mariae Upehulle" (ib. A. 2424). "St. Mary de Hyll," 1216 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. 17). "St. Mary de Hilla," 1259 (Ct. H.W. I. 3). "St. Mary de Ia Hille," 1218-21 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. 17). "St. Mary de Hulla," 13 Ed. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2418). "Sanctae Mariae atte Hille," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 229). "St. Mary atte helle," 4 Ed. II. (Cal. L. Bk. D. 264). "St. Mary atte Hulle," 1314-15 (Ct. H.W. I. 251). "Seint Mary atte the Holle," 1320 (ib. 288). "St. Mary on the hill," 20 H. VI. (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1441-6, p. 35). "St. Mary at Hill " (apud montem), 2 Eliz. (Anc. Deeds, A. 11332).

   Church new built 1490-7 (S. 210).

   Four chapels : St. Stephen (on the north), St. Katherine, St. Ann's, St. Christopher (Records of St. Mary at Hill, E.E.T. Soc. xli.).

   There was a pardon churchyard (ib.). The litil chyrchyerd by the "abbotes kechen" was closed 1495-6 (p. 219).

   The north aisle was commenced 1487 (ib. p. 142), and the south aisle was built in 1500-1 on the site where the Abbot of Waltham's kitchen had stood (ib. xl. and 240).

   Repaired and beautified 1616 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 168).

   Burnt in the Fire 1666 and rebuilt with a towered steeple (ib.). Remodelled 1848-9, exterior of east end of Wren's church only left.

   Parish of St. Andrew Hubbard united to it after the Fire (ib.), and in 1904 St. George Botolph Lane and St. Botolph Billingsgate.

   A Rectory. Patrons : Advowson formerly in private hands. Now in the parishioners' hands and purchased by them 1638 (Elmes).

   Patronage of St. Andrew Hubbard in hands of Duke of Northumberland, and he and the parishioners present alternately (ib.).

   End. Charities Report, 1902, says Sir Henry Peek had the alternate right of presentation, and that he exchanged it for the right of presentation to St. Magnus the Martyr, etc. (St. Mary at Hill parish, p. 10). But See St. Magnus the Martyr.

   Called "on the Hill" because of the ascent from Billingsgate (S. 210).

   The ground rises here somewhat rapidly from the river, and the church being placed on the ascent of the hill derives the appellation from its situation.