Petty Wales

Petty Wales

North from the Thames to the eastern end of Tower Street (Agas), and Haiward and Gascoyne's plan of the Tower Liberties, 1597.

Described in the circumference of the Tower set out in Letters Patent, James II., as extending from Richardson's wharf on the Thames to the eastern end of Tower Street.

In the 4 Rich. II. the franchises of the Tower are described as stretching from the water side unto the end of Pety Wales to the end of Towerstreate, ... (B.M.) (Lansdowne MS. 155, fo. 56b).

Earliest mention: "Petit Walles," 1298–9 (Ct. H.W. I. 140).

Other forms: "Pety Gales," 1338 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1338–40, p. 172).

In 1353–4 mention is made of tenements and quay and other appurtenances in the parish of All Saints Berkynggechirche, in the "lane of Petit Wales" hard by the Tower of London (H. MSS. Com. Var. Coil. IV. p. 335).

House or Mansion east of Thomas Bays' wharf in "Petit Wales" in the parish of All Hallows Berkynchirche hard by the Tower of London (ib. 336).

Again in 1424 two tenements with adjoining quay and appurtenances are described as situate in "Petit Wales Street" (ib.).

Stow speaks of Petty Wales as a name for the eastern end of Thames Street, called "Galley Row or more commonly Petty Wales" (137 and 138). But in saying this he seems to be confusing Petty Wales with Galley Row in Tower Street (q.v.), and there is no reason to think that they were identical.

The entries set out above, however, suggest that Petty Wales may have included the eastern end of Thames Street, as Stow says, as it is difficult to understand how there could be so many wharves in Petty Wales if it merely extended north and south as shown in the plans.

Tower Hill now occupies the site.

Stow suggests (p. 138) that it was named from the ruins of old stone buildings found at the eastern end of Thames Street, possibly the remains of a lodging for the Prince of Wales, or of lodgings for merchants, built like a "Gallie, the keele turned upwardes."

It is interesting to note that in 1338 the Mayor petitioned the king to be allowed to remove an embattled house (domum bretagiatam) erected in Pety Wales by the Tower of London for defensive purposes to protect the City against invasion. It is described as a house of wood and stone with palisadoes from the house to the Thames (H. MSS. Com. 8th Rep. 89, and Cal. Pat. R. Ed. III. 1338–40, p. 172).

Could it be the ruins of this house that Stow mentions? If so, it is doubtful whether it could have been of sufficient antiquity to give its name to the street.

It seems more probable that it was so named to commemorate the Conquest of Wales by Ed. I., or that it had some connection with that event.

Petty Wales, the east end of Thames Street, by the Tower.

On the north side as well as on the south of this Thames Street, are many fair houses large for stowage, built for merchants; but towards the east end thereof, namely, over-against Galley-Key, Wool-Key and the Custom House, there have been of old time some large buildings of stone, the ruins whereof do yet remain, but the first builders and owners of them are worn out of memory, wherefore the common people affirm Julius Ceasar to be the builder thereof, as also of the Tower itself. Some are of another opinion, and that a more likely, that this great stone building was sometime the lodging appointed for the Princes of Wales, when they repaired to this City, and that therefore the street in that part is called Petty Wales, which name remaineth there most commonly until this day, even as where Kings of Scotland were used to be lodged betwixt Charing Cross and Whitehall, it is likewise called Scotland [Yard], and where the Earls of Britons were lodged without Aldersgate, the street is called Britain Street, etc. [Little Britain].—Stow, p. 52.