Middlesex Street

Middlesex Street

North out of Aldgate High Street to Bishopsgate, the northern end of Widegate Street having been absorbed into it. The western side is in Portsoken Ward, the eastern in the parish of St. Mary Whitechapel (P.O. Directory).

Former names: "Hog Lane" (Stow, p. 128), 1603 ed. Forty years previously had hedge rows of elms on both sides. "Pettycoatelane" (2 Chas. I. Midd. Sessions Rolls, III. 13). "Peticote Lane" (Ryther's map. 1608). "Petticoat Lane" (O. and M. 1677. to Lockie, 1810).

Extended as far as Widegate Street only in these maps, etc.

Seems to have been first named Middlesex Street about 1830. Elmes, writing in 1831, says it is now called Middlesex Street, but it is still known as Petticoat Lane in the neighbourhood.

The French weavers settled in this part when they came over in the 17th century owing to the religious persecutions, but their place has been gradually filled by Jews, many of whom are sellers of old clothes, etc., and the street has a low reputation. It has been greatly improved by modern rebuilding and widening.

Widened to 40 ft. between Whitechapel High Street and Wentworth Street in 1883 in connection with clearances made under the Artisans and Labourers' Dwellings' Improvement Acts.

It is interesting to note in connection with the changes that have taken place in London streets and localities that the Spanish ambassador had his house in Middlesex Street in James I.'s reign.

Derivation of names: Hog Lane, Strype suggests, may have been named from the hogs that ran in the fields there (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 22). Bakers were allowed to keep hogs in streets without the City (ib.). The name was probably changed to Petticoat lane as the buildings became more numerous from the sellers of old clothes, etc.

See Sandy's Row.

Pettycoat lane, in the W. part of Spittlefields, betn Whitechapel bars Sly, and Artillery lane Nly, L. 550 Yds, and from the T L. near N. 770 Yds; all the SWly side of this str. to the Wide Gate str. is within the Freedom, and the other side (so far) is without, as appears by the best Map.

Petticoat Lane (formerly called Hog Lane, is near unto Whitechapel Bars, and runs Northwards towards St. Mary Spittle. In ancient Times on both Sides of this Lane were Hedge Rows and Elm trees, with pleasant Fields to walk in.

Insomuch that some Gentlemen of the Court and City built their Houses here for Air. Here was an House on the West Side, a good way in the Lane, which, when I was a Boy, was commonly called the Spanish Ambassadors House, who in King James I.'s Reign dwelt here: And he (I think) was the famous Count Gondamer. And a little way off this, on the East Side of the Way, down a paved Alley, (now called Strype's Court from my Father who inhabited here) was a fair large House with a good Garden before it, built and inhabited by Hans Jacobson, a Dutchman, the said King James's Jeweller, wherein I was born. But after, French Protestants, that in the said King's Reign, and before, fled their Country for their Religion, many planted themsleves here, viz. in that Part of the Lane nearest Spittle-Fields, to follow their Trades, being generally Broad Weavers of Silk, it soon became a contiguous Row of Buildings on both Sides of the Way.]

So that of later Years all is converted into Buildings, even all the Spittle Fields, wherein are several Streets, with Courts and Alleys, replenished with Inhabitants, especially Silk Throwsters and Weavers, and Dependents on them; of which many are Wallons, and Refugee French. This Lane hath the West Side in this Ward, the East being part in the Parish of Whitechapel, and part in the large Parish of Stepney. In this Petticoat Lane are divers Courts and Alleys, most of which on the West Side, which are in this Ward, have their Passages into, or out of Gravel Lane, where they have been treated of. But these that have not, are five; Inkhorn Court, a pretty open Place, with indifferent Inhabitants. Near unto this Court is White Hart Court, which is but indifferent. Bates Yard very mean. And Red Cross Court, which hath a Passage into Whitchapel Street, where it is treated of. This Part of the Lane coming out at the Bars is not over well inhabited; and those of most account are Horners, who prepare Horns for other petty Manufactures; as for those that make Lanthorns, Inkhorns, Giggs, Spoons, small Dishes, and other things of Horn.

Petticoat lane, extends from Whitechapel into Spitalfields. On both sides of this lane were anciently hedges, and rows of elm trees, and the pleasantness of the neighbouring fields induced several gentlemen to build their houses here, among whom was the Spanish ambassador, whom Strype supposes to be Gondomar: but at length many French refugees settling in that part of the lane near Spitalfields in order to follow their trades, which in general was weaving of silk, it soon became a row of contiguous buildings. This lane is very long and very disagreeable, both on account of its nastiness and offensive smells, it being the chief residence of the horners, who prepare horns for other petty manufacturers.

Petticoat Lane, now Middlesex Street, Whitechapel.

Petticoat Lane, formerly called Hog Lane, is near unto "Whitechapel Bars," and runs northward towards St. Mary Spittle. In ancient times, on both sides of this lane, were hedge rows and elm trees, with pleasant fields to walk in. Insomuch that some gentlemen of the Court and city built their houses here for air. Here was an House on the west side, a good way in the lane, which, when I was a boy, was commonly called the Spanish Ambassador's House, who in King James I.'s reign dwelt here: and he (I think) was the famous Gondomar. And a little way off this on the east side of the way, down a paved alley (now called Strype's Court, from my father who inhabited here), was a fair large house, with a good garden before it, built and inhabited by Hans Jacobson, the said King James's Jeweller, wherein I was born. But after French Protestants, that in the said King's reign, and before, fled their country for their religion, many planted themselves here, viz., in that part of the lane nearest Spittlefields, to follow their trades, being generally Broad Weavers of Silk, it soon became a contiguous row of buildings on both sides of the way.—Strype, B. ii. p. 28.

This Hog Lane stretcheth north toward St. Mary Spittle without Bishopgate, and within these forty years had on both sides fair hedge rows of elm trees, with bridges and easy stiles to pass over into the pleasant fields, very commodious for citizens therein to walk, shoot, and otherwise to recreate and refresh their dull spirits in the sweet and wholesome air, which is now within a few years made a continual building throughout of garden houses and small cottages; and the fields on either side be turned into garden plots, tenter-yards, bowling alleys, and such like.—Stow, p. 48.

Gherardt Van Strype (the ancestor of the ecclesiastical antiquary) was a member of the Dutch Church in London in 1567.¹ [See Ink Horn Court.]

Ben Jonson makes Iniquity say:—

We will survey the suburbs, and make forth our sallies
Down Petticoat Lane and up the Smock-Alleys,
To Shoreditch, Whitechapel, and so to St. Kathern's,
To drink with the Dutch there, and take forth their patterns.
The Devil is an Ass, Act i. Sc. I.

As the weavers receded from Petticoat Lane it was occupied by Jews; and for a long series of years its inhabitants have been Jews of the least respectable class, and the houses and shops receptacles for second-hand clothes and stolen goods. It is perhaps not so bad as it was a few years ago, but it is still one of the most disreputable quarters of the Metropolis. On a Saturday the Sabbath quiet as a City lane on a Sunday; on Sunday morning and on the afternoon of every other day it is noisy and crowded with clamorous buyers and sellers of old clothes, old jewellery, and old wares of all kinds.

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¹ Strype, B. v. p. 300.