Houndsditch

Houndsditch

West from Nos. 4 and 5 Aldgate High Street to No. 126 Bishopsgate (P.O. Directory). In Portsoken Ward and Bishopsgate Ward Without.

This is the extent of the present street of this name, but in former times it was the name given to the City Ditch surrounding the wall from the Tower to the Fleet and especially to that part of it extending from Newgate to Cripplegate.

First mention: "Hondesdich," 1282 (Ct. H.W. I. 58). "Hundesdiche," 1304 (Cal. L. Bk. B. p. 141). "Houndesditch," 1315 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 8).

This City Ditch was commenced about 1213 (Ann. de Berm.) under date 1211 in Ann. de Dunstaplia, but recent excavations have shown that there was previously to this date a ditch round the City made by the Romans as part of the fortifications, which had in course of time become filled up and obliterated. This ditch has been laid open and examined at Christ's Hospital, at Aldersgate, New Broad Street, and at America Square, and the remains suggest that in later times they constructed a second and wider ditch for defensive purposes, about 75 ft. in width. Considerable portions were obliterated in later times by the construction of the medieval City Ditch. An excellent account of the remains and excavations is contained in Arch. Vols. LX. and LXIII.

The Danes under Cnut dug a ditch round the City in 1016, so that no one could go in or out (A.S. Chron. Earle and Plummer, p. 22).

The City Ditch was sometimes also called the "Town Ditch" (q.v.).

Houses were soon erected on the bank of the City Ditch, and it became a receptacle for a good deal of filth and rubbish, so that it constantly had to be cleansed and scoured. By Stow's time it had become completely filled up in this way, constituting a grave danger to the health of the City.

Writ of Privy Seal issued to the Mayor and Sheriffs, 28 Ed. III., directing them to cleanse the Town Ditch (Cal. L. Bk. G. p. 27). Cleansed 16 Ed. IV.

In 1595 the question of properly stopping it up and levelling the ground was seriously considered and arguments adduced in favour of this course, such as:

The saving of the expenses of cleansing that would be effected thereby.

Avoidance of a source of infection.

The conversion of the ground into gardens and walks for the citizens (L. and P. Ed. VI. and Eliz., IV. 45).

These improvements seem to have been carried out within a few years, according to Stow's description (S. 130).

The street was first paved about 1503.

Stow says the street known as Barbican was formerly called Houndesditch, but it seems to lie too far north from the line of the ditch.

Stow suggests that the name was derived from filth and dead dogs thrown into the ditch, and this may be correct if, as is most probable, the name grew up by degrees and was only generally adopted after the lapse of time (p. 129).

Another derivation suggested is "Hunes-dic," as being a defence raised against the "Huns," or alien population of the forests and marshes round the capital. But this presupposes an early form "Hunes," for which there does not appear to be any authority, the earliest form of the name being, as shown above, "Houndesdich."

Moreover the ditch does not appear to have been called by this name until after its reconstruction in the 13th century.

It is difficult to suggest any satisfactory derivation of the name, as in early times it seems to have been spoken of as "the ditch" only, or the "City Ditch," and not to have had any other distinctive appellation.

Behind Nos. 58 and 60, remains of the Roman Wall were found cased up between other walls, the top being 71/2 feet above the level of the street. The depth of the City Ditch here was at 18 feet, being at a distance of about 60 feet from the wall.

Houndsditch, a spacious str. a little without the Wall of the City, betn Bishopsgate and Aldgate. L. 400 Yds, and from T L. N. 650 Yds. It was so called from the Ditch formerly round the City Walls, and from the Hounds, or dead Dogs that were cast therein, as Mr. Stow intimates.

[Houndsditch] But as it is fatal to the Suburbs of every great City to be infected with some foul and unclean Birds, that there build their Nests, although not with professed and ignominious Stain of lewd Life; because (within the Limits of Houndsditch) dwell many a good and honest Citizen, that will never endure such scandalous Neighbourhood: Yet there are crept in among them a base kind of Vermin, well deserving to be ranked and numbered with them, whom our old Prophet and Countryman Gyldas, called ætatis atramentum, the black Discredit of the Age, and of the Place where they are suffered to live. Or rather (as St. Bernard thinks it more convenient to term them) Baptisatos Judæos; who take themselves to be Christians, when they are worse (indeed) than the Jews ever were for Usury.	A Matter greatly deserving Reformation in Houndsditch. A.M. The unconscionable broking Usurers their Living.
These Men, or rather Monsters in the Shape of Men, profess to live by lending, and yet will lend nothing but upon Pawns; neither to any, but unto poor People only, and for no less Gain than after fifty or threescore Pounds in the hundred. The Pawn of the poor Borrower must needs be more than double worth the Money lent upon it, and the Time of Limitation is no longer than a Month; albeit they well know, that the Money needs not be repayed back until a Twelvemonth's end. By which time the Interest grows to be so great, that the Pawn, which (at the first) was better than twice worth the Money borrowed on it, doth not (in the end) prove to be valuable to the Debt, which must be payed before the poor Party can redeem it. By which extorting Means of proceeding the poor Borrower is quite cheated of his Pawn, for less than the third part, which it was truly worth indeed.	The Jews were never any such gripple Extortioners. Pawnbrokers. Such Gains are the greedy Usurers Glory.
It is a great Error (in my poor Opinion) that in so ancient and famous a City, abounding (otherwise) in most Christian Alms and Works of Mercy, that among so many worthy Liberalities bestowed on the Poor in divers and distinct Parishes, no Order is taken for such a publick Stock for the truly poor; that when in their urgent Necessity either by want of Means, Sickness, and other Hindrances, their Pawns may not go to the Cut-throat Usurer; but remain to their own good (living or dying) or to theirs, without any other Benefit, than that it may still serve for the like Relief.	A publick Stock would do well for the Poor in every Parish.
And let me not here be mistaken, that I condemn such as live by honest buying and selling, and make a good Conscience of their dealing: No truly, I mean only the Judas Broker, that lives by the Bag, and (except God be more merciful to him) will follow him that did bear the Bag.
On the Ditch Side of this Street, the Mud Wall is also (by little and little) taken all down, the Bank of the Dich being rased, made level Ground, and turned into Garden Plots and Carpenters Yards, and many large Houses are there Builded. The Filth of which Houses, as also the Earth cast out of their Vaults, is turned into the Ditch: By which means the Ditch is filled up, and both the Ditch and Wall so hidden, that they cannot be seen of the Passers by.

Houndsditch, extends from Bishopsgate street without to Aldgate street within, and runs along the outside of the city wall. Here was formerly the city moat, which obtained the name of Houndsditch, from the number of dead dogs flung into it; and this ditch being filled up, the street built upon it obtained the same name. Maitland.

Houndsditch,—commences at 7, Bishopsgate-without, op. the church, and extends to Aldgate-church, here the numbers begin and end, viz. 1 and 157.

Houndsditch, is a considerable street or thoroughfare, which extends from opposite the church in Bishopsgate-street Without, to Aldgate church, along side of the ancient City wall. It derives its name from being on the site of the ancient City moat, which was so called from the number of dead dogs thrown into it.

Houndsditch, a street running from Aldgate Church to Bishopsgate, along the site of the moat or ditch which bounded the City wall. In the 14th century Houndsditch appears to have been a name common to all parts of the town ditch. Thus in the City Records of 1371 mention is made of the "Foss of Houndesdiche, between Newgate and Ludgate;" in 1372 "Houndesdiche, without Aldersgate;" in 1378 "the Foss of Hundesdych in Cripplegate." But in the later centuries the term was limited to the ditch between Aldgate and Bishopsgate.

From Aldgate north-west to Bishopgate, lieth the ditch of the City, called Houndsditch, for that in old time, when the same lay open, much filth (conveyed forth of the City), especially dead dogs, were there laid, or cast; wherefore of later times a mud wall was made, inclosing the ditch, to keep out the laying of such filth as had been accustomed.—Stow, p. 49.

Or it may have been so called from the City kennels, in which the hounds for the City hunts were kept, being placed here. From Arnold's Chronicle we know that at the end of the 15th century the hounds were kept in the moat, and were a great nuisance. Stow, whose early days were spent in this neighbourhood, adds to this rather unpleasant notice of Houndsditch a passage of much interest and beauty:—

Over against this mud wall, on the other side of the street, was a fair field, sometime belonging to the Priory of the Trinity. ... This field (as all other about the City) was inclosed, reserving open passage thereinto for such as were disposed. Towards the street were some small cottages, of two storeys high, and little garden-plots backward, for poor bed-rid people, for in that street dwelt none other, built by some prior of the Holy Trinity, to whom that ground belonged. In my youth, I remember, devout people, as well men as women of this city, were accustomed oftentimes, especially on Fridays, weekly to walk that way purposely to bestow their charitable alms; every poor man or woman lying in their bed within their window, which was towards the street, open so low that every man might see them, a clean linen cloth lying in their window, and a pair of beads, to show that there lay a bed-rid body, unable but to pray only. This street was first paved in the year 1503.—Ibid.

Brokers and sellers of old apparel took up their residence here immediately after the street was formed.

Wellbred. Where got'st thou this coat, I marle?
Brainworm. Of a Houndsditch man, sir, one of the devil's near kinsmen, a broker.—Ben Jonson, Every Man in his Humour.

Tell all the Brokers in Long Lane, Houndsditch, or elsewhere.
Dekker's Knight's Conjuring, 1607.

But into Houndsditch, to the Brokers' roe.
Rowland's Liking of Humours, etc., 1611.

Antony Munday is outrageous against the increasing usury of the place, and Fletcher, in the Woman's Prize, call it Dogsditch—

          more knavery and usury.
And foolery, and brokery, than Dogsditch.

Taylor, the Water Poet, declares that its very name is due to the popular hatred of the brokers dwelling in it.

     Was Houndsditch Honndsditch call'd, can any tell,
Before the Brokers in that streete did dwell?
No sure it was not, it hath got that name
From them, and since that time they thither came;
And well it now may be called Houndsditch,
For there the hounds will give a vengeance twitch.
John Taylor's Brood of Cormorants.

Ludowick Muggleton (d. 1697), the founder of the sect of Muggletonians, a tailor by trade, worked for a while at a broker's in Houndsditch.

I went to work in a Broker's shop in Houndsditch, who made cloaths to sell, and did lend money upon pawns, called a pawn broker.—Muggleton's Acts of the Witnesses, p. 8.

Houndsditch was one of the places that suffered most severely in the great plague of 1665. The narrator of Defoe's History of the Plague lived on the north side of Aldgate Without, close by Houndsditch, and it is the theatre of some of his most striking incidents. In Aldgate, he says, the plague raged with more violence and the number to be buried was greater than in any other parish. The trenches which were first cut for graves being inadequate, the churchwardens had "a dreadful gulf dug, for such it was rather than a pit," and in "just two weeks they had thrown into it 1114 bodies, when they were obliged to fill it up, the bodies being then come to lie within six feet of the surface." The "mark" of this dreadfiil gulf he says, "was many years to be seen in the churchyard on the surface, lying in length, parallel with the passage which goes by the west wall of the churchyard, out of Houndsditch, and turns again into Whitechapel, coming out near the Three Nuns inn." Writing in 1720, Stow says:—

Houndsditch is now built into houses, and is taken up by brokers, joyners, braziers, and such as deal in old clothes, linen, and upholstery, for which it is at present a place of considerable trade.—Strype, B. i. p. 127.

Gunfounders cast brass ordnance here in the reign of Henry VIII.; when Strype wrote braziers worked here, and still there is, as there has been from time immemorial, a great coppersmiths' establishment. Now many of the better houses—and within the last few years several large and costly houses have been built—are occupied by warehousemen, "importers," and wholesale dealers in toys, and Birmingham and Sheffield wares, but there are still many brokers and clothiers. On afternoons the pavement, about half-way down, is cumbered with Hebrew and Hibernian dealers in old clothes, bearing their wares over their left arms, and eagerly bargaining or trying to bargain with each other or with chance customers. But the true old clothes mart, The Clothes Exchange, as it calls itself, is in a passage off the east side of Houndsditch (between Nos. 106 and 107), and in Cutler Street, where, in market hours, or on Sunday mornings, those whose nerves will bear the pushing and crowding, confusion, Babel of sounds, and fermentation of all unsavoury odours, may witness a curious spectacle, and perhaps acquire a little experience. To understand the locality, and especially this branch of its commerce, the exploration may be continued through Harrow Alley into Middlesex Street (Petticoat Lane); it will be prudent, however, to leave watches and valuables at home, and not to take offence at a little "Bishopsgate banter."