Ely House
Names
- Ely House
- Bishop of Ely's
- Ely's Inn
- Ely Place
- Ely Rents
Street/Area/District
- Holborn
Maps & Views
- 1593 London (Norden, 1653 - British Library): Ely House
- 1593 London (Norden, 1653 - Folger): Ely House
- 1658 London (Newcourt & Faithorne): Ely House
- 1666 London after the fire (Bowen, 1772): Ely House
- 1666 London after the fire (Hollar & Leake, 1669?): Ely House
- 1677 A Large and Accurate Map of the City of London (Ogilby & Morgan): Ely House
- 1720 London (Strype): Ely House
- 1736 London (Moll & Bowles): Ely House
- 1746 London, Westminster & Southwark (Rocque): Bishop of Ely's House
- 1761 London (Dodsley): Ely House
Descriptions
from A Dictionary of London, by Henry Harben (1918)
Ely House
The inn or hostel of the Bishop of Ely in Holborn (S. 388).
Granted by John de Kyrkeby, Bishop of Ely, to the bishopric of Ely, 1290.
William de Luda gave to the bishopric "all his houses at Holeburn in the suburbs of London, except the vines and croft, which are not of the liberty of the City, but are of the County," 1298 (Ct. H.W. I. 138).
Hall of the Bishop of Ely in Holebourn strete, formerly belonging to Christine de Bomeneye, 21 Ed. I. (Ely Epis. Records, G. 3f. 215d.).
Thomas Arundell rebuilt the house with a new gate or front (S. 389).
The bishop held his soke there, and in later times exemption was claimed in consequence from the Mayor's jurisdiction, but disallowed 1570.
The Church of St. Etheldreda was formerly the Chapel of Ely House.
Sometimes called Ely Place.
Q. Elizabeth caused the bishop to lease some of the gardens to Sir Christopher Hatton, whose name is commemorated in Hatton Garden.
Exchanged for 37 Dover St. 12 Geo. III. and the buildings taken down and the land let 1775.
Ely Place, Ely Rents, etc., erected on the site.
The house was used at the time of the Great Rebellion, 1648, for sick and wounded soldiers (H. MSS. Com. 7th Rep. 23. 139).
There is an account of the house with plans in Trans. L. and M. Arch. Soc. V. 494.
from A New View of London, by Edward Hatton (1708)
Ely House, against St. Andrew's Church Holbourn, the Residence of the Bp of Ely when in Town.
from A Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, by John Strype (1720)
Ely House, formerly called Ely's Inn. This House is, at present, a very old Building, and stands upon a large piece of Ground; having a spacious Hall, a good Chappel, and several large Rooms; but an old Fashion Building, with a spacious Yard or Court before it, and a large Ground for Gardening, behind it; which, for want of a Gardiner's keeping, lay in a rude Condition. And were this Ground improved by Buiding, it would bring in a great Revenue to the Episcopal See; besides a good House for his City abode. The present Possessor thereof, is the very Learned and Right Reverend Dr. William Fleetwood, now Lord Bishop of Ely.
from London and Its Environs Described, by Robert and James Dodsley (1761)
Ely House, the city mansion of the Bishop of Ely, was formerly called Ely’s Inn. It is situated in Holborn, and stands on a large piece of ground. Before it is a spacious court, and behind it a garden of considerable extent; but it is so ill kept that it scarcely deserves the name. The buildings are very old; and consist of a large hall, several spacious rooms, and a good chapel.