Moorfields

Moorfields

North out of Fore Street, at No. 61, to Ropemaker Street (P.O. Directory). In Cripplegate Ward Without.

So named first, 1879.

Former names: "Little Moorfields" (O. and M. 1677–O.S. 1875–80). "Back Street, Little Moorfields," in Strype's map of Cripplegate Ward, and called "Fore Street" in map of Coleman Street Ward.

In O. and M. 1677, only the houses on the west side had been erected, the eastern side still lying open to and forming part of the Walks of Moorfields, as they were called at that time. "Houses in Little Morefield," mentioned in 1560–1 (Ct. H.W. II. 676).

Named after the extensive district of Moorfields lying to the north of the city wall, much of which had originally been marsh land, and the site of which is now covered by Finsbury Circus, Finsbury Square, etc. It was not until about 1511 that any effort was made to drain and utilise this district, but in that year in the southern portion of this moor or field, dikes were cut and bridges made, and subsequently the ground was raised and levelled, and in 1605 the place was converted into pleasant walks, set with trees (Strype, Ed. 1720, I. iii. 70) for shade and ornament, the northern portion still remaining marshy and undeveloped.

These walks were called the Upper and Lower Walks of Moorfields in O. and M. 1677, and are shown also in Leake's map, 1666. They were finally built over in the 18th and early part of the 19th centuries.

Called "le Morefelde" south of "le More" or "le Moore mede," 31 H. VIII. 1539 (L. and P. H. VIII. XIV. Pt. I, p. 591).

See la More, Moorgate Station Buildings.

Back Street, Little Moorfields. Harben suggests that Back Street is the same as Fore Street, both labelled on Strype's ward maps, and seemingly the same street parallel to Finsbury (which is in turn labelled "the Road" and "Finsbury Circus" in different ward maps). However, Strype explains that the two are distinct, and are in different wards: Back Street is in Cripplegate Ward; Fore Street, or the Forestreet, is in Coleman Street Ward.

Little Moor fields, on the W. side of Moor fields, betn Moor gate (near Postern st.) S. and Finsbury fields N. This is that Building fronting Moor fields, and so is a Row not a str.

[Forestreet.] Little Moorfields, or the Back street [in Cripplegate Ward], now so called, to distinguish it from the new double Row of Houses, now finished; which is called the Forestreet. Which said new Row of Buildings is in Coleman street Ward: Which said Buildings are good, and well inhabited.

Little Moorfields, Fore street, Moorgate.

Moorfields (Little), Fore-Street, Cripplegate,—the first parallel to the W. side of Moorfields, extending from 61, Fore-st. to Ropemakers-st.

Moorfields, Little, Cripplegate, is on the north side of Fore-street, and extends to Ropemaker's-street.