Seuehodes Lane

   In the parishes of St. Lawrence Jewry and St. Martin Pomary.

   A tenement in Ironmonger Lane is described as in the parish of St. Martin Pomers between the lane called Seuehodelane north and the tenement in which Thomas Machchyng lived south (MSS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A. Box 15, 65).

   The lane would therefore appear to be on the west side of Ironmonger Lane.

   First mention: "Seuehodes lane," 1354 (Ct. H.W. I. 679).

   Other forms and names: "Sefhod lane," 1376 (ib. II. 201). "Sevenhod lane," 139+ (ib. 308). " Sevehodes lane," 1406 (Cal. P.R. H. IV. 1405-8, p.289). " Sevehodene lane," 1412 (Ct. H.W. II. 395). Sevenfote lane," 35 H. VI. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2186).

   There was a Robert Schevehod living in the neighbourhood in 1277 (Cal. L. Bk. B. 266) and a Henry "Sevehod" in Ironmonger Lane in 1283 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p.79) and a Robert Seuehod in the same lane in 26 Ed. III. (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A. Box 15, 65), so that the lane doubtless took its name from this family. Sharpe suggests that being in the Jewry the name may have some connexion with Sephardim, the distinctive title of one of the two great branches of the Hebrew race (Cal. L. Bk. A. p.12).

   In "Sevenfote" the change of form may be due merely to errors in deciphering the letters of the name in the original documents.