Friday Street

Friday Street

South out of Cheapside across Watling Street and Cannon Street to Old Fish Street (P.O. Directory). In Bread Street Ward and Farrington Ward Within.

Earliest mention: "Fridei-strate," Henry II. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2176).

Other forms: "Frideie Strate," John (ib. A. 2180). "Fridai strate," 3 John (ib. A. 2182–3). "Frideestrete," 1275 (Ct. H.W. I. 25). "Frydaystrate," 1277 (Cal. L. Bk. B. p. 265). "Fridaystrete," 1305 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 144).

Friday streete so called of fishmongers dwelling there and serving Frydayes market (S. 352).

A very common name for a street in old times, and to be found even in quite small villages in England.

It seems most probable that the name is taken from the day of the week and not from any more remote origin.

Roman pavements, wells, etc. found here on the site of the old "Saracen's Head" Inn and St. Matthew's Church.

Friday street, a very considerable str. of good Buildings, betn Cheapside (towd the W. end) Nly and Old Fish str. S. L. 260 Yds, and from P.C. E 230 Yds. This str. Stow says, was so called of the Fish Market, formerly here kept on Fridays.

Friday street, cometh out of Cheapside, and runneth South into Old Fishstreet; and in its passage crosseth Watheling street. This Street is well built, and inhabited chiefly by Haberdashers, and other Wholesale Dealers.

Friday street, Cheapside.

Friday-Street, Cheapside,—at 37, the second on the R. from St. Paul's church-yard, it extends to Old Fish-st. two doors from Bread-st. hill.

Friday-St., Cheapside, is the second turning on the right hand, going from St. Paul's-church-yard.

Friday Street, Cheapside. "So called," says Stow, "of fish-mongers dwelling there, and serving Friday's market." The name occurs in the City books as early as 1305. In the Roll of the Scrope and Grosvenor Controversy, the poet Chaucer is recorded as giving the following evidence connected with this street:—

Geffray Chaucere Esquier, of the age of forty years and more armed twenty-seven years, for the side of Sir Richard Lescrop sworn and examined, being asked if the arms, azure a bend or, belong, or ought to pertain to the said Sir Richard by right and heritage, said Yes; for he saw him so armed in Fraunce before the town of Retters, and Sir Henry Lescrop armed in the same arms with a white label and with banner; and the said Sir Richard armed in the entire arms azure a bend or, and so during the whole expedition until the said Geffray was taken. Being asked how he knew that the said arms belonged to the said Sir Richard, said that he had heard old Knights and Esquires say that they had had continual possession of the said arms; and that he had seen them displayed on banners, glass painting and vestments, and commonly called the arms of Scrope. Being asked whether he had ever heard of any interruption or challenge made by Sir Robert Grosvenor or his ancestors, said No: but that he was once in Friday Street, London, and walking up the street, he observed a new sign hanging out with these arms thereon, and inquired what inn that was that had hung out these arms of Scrope? And one answered him saying, "They are not hung out, Sir, for the arms of Scrope, nor painted there for those arms; but they are painted and put there by a knight of the county of Chester, called Sir Robert Grosvenor." And that was the first time he ever heard speak of Sir Robert Grosvenor or his ancestors, or of any one bearing the name of Grosvenor.—Scrope and Grosvenor Roll, vol. i. p. 178 (translation from French).

The Nag's Head Tavern, at the Cheapside corner of Friday Street, was the pretended scene of the consecration of Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. As the Official Records show, Parker was duly consecrated at Lambeth Palace in December 1559, and the "Nag's Head Story,"¹ invented half-a-century afterwards, is now generally discredited by all respectable controversialists belonging to that party. The White Horse, another tavern in Friday Street, makes a conspicuous figure in the Merry Conceited Jests of George Peele, as the place in which he "helped his friend to a supper;" and again in the opening scene of The Old Wives Tale, 1595. Destroyed in the Great Fire, the White Horse was rebuilt and still exists, retaining the old sign. It is at the end of the street on the west side. Another inn of note was the Bell.

September 1, 1608.—Sir Thomas Estcourt, Sheriff of Gloucester, to Thomas Wilson. Is about to leave London and proffers his services. If he has occasion to write to him he may have weekly messengers, either clothiers or carriers, at the Bell, Friday Street, and the letter will be delivered within three days.—Cal. State Pap., 1603–1610, p. 455.

Gambol. Here's one o' Friday Street would come in.
Christmas. By no means, nor out of neither of the Fish Streets, admit not a man; they are not Christmas creatures: fish and fasting days, foh! Sons, said I well? look to't.
Gambol. Nobody out o' Friday Street, nor the two Fish Streets there, do you hear.—Ben Jonson, Masque of Christmas.

Old Fish Street was at the end of Friday Street. In Friday Street, in 1695, at the "Wednesdays Clubs," as they were called, certain well-known conferences took place, under the direction of William Paterson, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Bank of England. Friday Street is now chiefly occupied by warehousemen and other wholesale firms. On the west side stood the church of St. Matthew, which has been pulled down, and the parish united to that of St. Vedast.

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¹ There is a view of the Nag's Head in La Serre's Entrée Royale de la Reyne Mère du Roy, 1638, and a copy of it in Wilkinson's Londina Illustrata, and in the new Shakspere Society's edition of Harrison's England.