(St.) Mary of Graces, Abbey

   East of Tower Hill, in the new graveyard of the Prior and Convent of the Holy Trinity by the Tower of London, 1350 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1348-50, p. 484).

   Founded 1349, of the Cistercian Order (Dugdale, V. 717). (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1348-50, p. 484, and Ct. H.W. II. 195, under date 1377).

   It is described in the Patent Roll above mentioned as "the house of the Cistercian order to be called the royal free chapel of St. Mary Graces, which the king decided to found and endow in the new graveyard of the Holy Trinity by the Tower of London" (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1348-50, p. 484).

   Called also "The abbey upon Tower Hill," 1375 (Ct. H.W. II. 182).

   Called the Abbey of Graces (ib.), "Eastminster" (S. 126) and Agas. "Seynt Anne at the Tourhil" (Arnold's Chronicle, pp. 75 and 248, and also Fabyan's Chronicle, p. 297).

   Suppressed 1539, and the site granted to Sir Arthur Darcy, 34 H. VIII.1542 (L. and P. H. VIII. Dom. S. XVII. p. 399).

   The Abbey was pulled down by Sir Arthur Darcie and a store-house for victuals erected on the site (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 13).

   This Victualling House is shown on Rocque's map 1746, covering part of the site now occupied by the Royal Mint.

   Called St. Mary of Graces because it was founded by the King in fulfilment of a vow made to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary of Grace.

   The Abbey Church appears to have been dedicated to St. Anne (Cal. Papal Letters quoted in Victoria Co. Hist. London, p. 462).

   The name Eastminster is supposed to have been given in contradistinction to the Abbey of St. Peter's Westminster. But it does not appear to have been so called in early days.

   There is a reproduction of an old Survey giving a view of the Abbey in the Trans. Lond. and Midd. Arch. Soc. I. p. 26. The Survey is said to be of the 17th century, copied from one more ancient. It shows the buildings in the Decorated style of the date of the foundation.

   "Hogg Lane" is shown as the northern boundary.