Steelyard

Steelyard

A place on the Thames extending north to Upper Thames Street lying between Dowgate west and All Hallows Lane east in Dowgate Ward (O. and M. 1677), occupied for many centuries by the merchants of the Hanseatic League.

First mention: "Le Steelyerde," 8 Rich. II. (Cal. I. p.m. (77)). Other forms: "Stilehof" or "stileyerd," 1475 (Cal. P.R. Ed. IV. 1467–77, p. 509). "Styleyard," 1484 (Jupp's History of the Carpenters' Co., p. 142). "Stiliarde," 1555 (Ct. H.W. II. 659). "Still Yard" (O. and M. 1677). "The Stylliard," 1720 (Strype).

The site was originally occupied by the Gildhall of the merchants, known as Haus zu Cälner in London," 1157 (Lappenberg, Urkundliche Geschichte des Hansischen Stahlhofes, Pt. 2, p. 4).

Called: "Gildhalle die Cälner," 1194 (ib. 5). "Gildhalle Teutonlcorum," 1224 (ib. I. ii) and 1260 (Cal. P.R. H. III. 1258–66, p. 77). "Guyhaldæ Coloniensium" (Lib. Albus, I. 241). "Gildhalla of the Teutonics," 9 Ed. I. (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 41). "Stalhof," 1320 (Lappenberg, Pt. II. p. 119). "Esterlingeshalle," 1409 (Lappenberg, I. 58) and 1456 (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1452–61, p. 286).

The earliest mention of the German merchants of the Hanse in England occurs in the "De Institutis Londonie" of Ethelred, 978–1016, where they are referred to, not, as the other merchants, by the names of the towns they came from, but as "Homines Imperatoris, qui veniebant in navibus suis" (Thorpe, Anc. Laws and Institutes, I. 300).

It seems probable that they possessed a house on the banks of the Thames on or near the site of the Steelyard from very early times, perhaps prior to the date of these laws, and the friendly relations existing between King Canute and the Emperor Conrad II. were distinctly advantageous to the interests of the German merchants in England.

There were other similar guilds of merchants from Bruges and other Flemish towns, but they do not seem to have been formally recognised in the same way by the English kings, although they traded in England, and they seem to disappear from English history about the 14th century.

The first mention of the house, contained in a charter of Henry II., 1157, confirming to the "homines et cives Colonienses" ... "domo sua London" (Lappenberg, Pt. 2, p. 3), shows it in the possession of the merchants of Cologne, but subsequent records prove that this house was certainly on a part of the site occupied later by the "Gildhalle der deutschen und des hansischen Stalhofes" (ib. Pt. I, p. 7).

The charter of Richard I., 1194, freed "die Cälner" from payment of rent for their "Gildhalla" (ib. Pt. 2, p. 5), and gave them liberty to buy and sell throughout the kingdom.

These privileges were confirmed and additional ones granted by charters from King John and subsequent sovereigns, probably as an acknowledgment of the services rendered by the vessels of the Hanseatic merchants in time of war, the only condition made being, that the merchants should undertake the repair and upkeep of the Gate of Bishopsgate (Cal. L. Bk. A. 228; B. 242; and see Lib. Albus, I. 485).

In the early years of Henry III., namely, about 1224, these merchants came to be known comprehensively as merchants from "Alemannien," instead of Deutschland, called "Deutsch," or "Teutonic," in common speech, and this term included those formerly known as merchants of Cologne, as well as the "Teutonicorum."

By this time they had obtained the privilege of electing their own aldermen, and in 1251 this position was occupied by the well-known figure of Arnold, Thedmar's son.

By charter of 1260, H. III. confirmed their privileges to the "Kaufleuten des Reiches Alemennien welche in London das Hans besitzen welehes gewähnlich die 'Gildballe der Deutschen' genanat wird" (Lappenberg, Pt. I, p. 12), and it was at this date that the German merchants commenced to mak that series of purchases of the property adjacent to their Guildhall, which, in after days, made them the owners of such a considerable estate.

These purchases, made during the 13th and 14th centuries, included houses, etc., in and near Windegose lane, the quay of Richard Lyons, and two houses of John de Norhampton, besides other lands.

They seem to have been in occupation of the site of the "Stilehof" or "Steelyerde" as early as 1320, but it was not until 1475 that they succeeded in acquiring the grant of a place called the "Stilehof" or "Stileyerd" lately belonging to John Reynwell in the parish of Alhalowen the More in Thamystrete in the ward of Dowgate (Cal. P.R. Ed. IV. 1467–77, p. 509).

It was at the west end of this "Stahlhofes" that the "Guildhalle Theutonicorum" stood (Lappenberg, I. 79).

The Gildhall was sometimes called the "Esterlynges Halle," a term made use of to distinguish it from the Guildhall of the City (Lappenberg, Pt. I, 56).

The number and extent of their privileges excited the jealousy of many of the English trade-guilds, and from the 15th century onwards they had to sustain and combat numerous hostile attacks and to resist the attempts made to deprive them of their privileges.

They contrived successfully to withstand these attacks and to enjoy their property and privileges until the year 1551 when, in consequence of the weighty complaints laid against them, the liberty of the Steelyard was seized into the King's hands and their special privileges were revoked (Lappenberg, Pt. 2, 178).

The chief complaint made against them was that they had abused their privileges by admitting into their Guild merchants who were not qualified to be members.

They continued to reside here and to make use of the Hall, however until the year 1598, when they were peremptorily commanded to quit the Steelyard and leave the kingdom forthwith (ib. 188), the Hall being then taken possession of by the Queen for the purposes of a Navy Office.

Serious efforts were made by letter and deputations from the Hanse towns to persuade James I. to rescind this order and to restore the merchants' privileges. But he proved obdurate, and although many of the merchants continued to reside in the Steelyard, and to carry on their trade, they never succeeded in regaining their former security of tenure, although they retained possession of the property. The Hall was destroyed in the Fire, but the merchants rebuilt many of their houses, and received from Chas. II. a grant of the site of the church of Holy Trinity the Less, on which to erect a church for the exercise of their faith.

They obtained favour from Wm. III., so far that he gave them exemption from the payment of taxes in recognition of their former privileges.

In later times the trade of the Stillyard (which had been general in character) was almost confined to the iron trade, which was busily carried on there.

The houses and warehouses erected 1751, together with the street known as Steelyard Lane, in which the name survived to the end, were sold in 1853 to the South Eastern Railway Company and demolished about 1865 for the erection of Cannon Street Station.

The origin of the name is somewhat obscure and has given rise to a good deal of discussion.

Minsheu in his Dictionary gives the meaning as "so called of a broad place or court wherein steele was much sold," while other writers derive the name from the king's steelyard or beam kept there for weighing the tronage of goods imported into London, prior to its transference to Cornhill.

There is not much to be said in support of the first suggestion, more especially as steel does not seem ever to have been an important item in the trade of the place, although in later times the trade in iron and iron goods was considerable.

Lappenberg makes the following suggestion as to the derivation of the name: That it came from the tax levied on the stalls where goods were sold, the right to levy this "Stoilgeld" being known in England as "Stallagium," from A.S. "stal," Scot. "Stallangium," Fr. "etalage." Count Thomas of Flanders freed the burghers of his town of Dam, "de quodam censu annuo, qui vocatur ' stalpeneughe,' ita ut possint habere Hallam ad utilitatem villæ." The "Stahihof" was the old "Stell" or "Marktplatz" opposite the Gildhalle der Deutschen in which there was not room for the stalls on which the wares could be shown (Pt. 2, p. 174). Compare the Dutch word "stael" = sample, pattern.

The tax was not only for the space occupied, but also for the privilege of exhibition, under the names "Ostensio," "Skeawing," "Scavagium."

The name "Esterlingeshalle" was given to the Hall, the members of the Hanseatic League being known as "Easterlings," as coming from the eastern parts of Germany.

"Dyneshemanhall" in the parish of All Hallows at the Hay, 1313–14 (Ct. H.W. I. 246), may be another name for this hall.

There are some interesting views of the later buildings occupying the site in Archer's Vestiges of Old London, and a very careful account of the later history of the site and its owners is to be found in Archæologia, Vol. LXI. Pt. 2, p. 389 et seq.

The Wharf, Key, and Stairs of the Stilliard, "Appointed to be a Landing and Discharging Place of all manner of Merchandizes, appertaining to any Merchant Stranger free of the said House of the Stilliard, commonly called Guilhalda Theutonicor, for the time being, and for no other Person or Persons" in the Order for the Wharfs, 1559.—Strype (1720), book 2, chapter 3, p. 49.

Still yard, on the N. side of the Thames, betn Alhallows lane and Dowgate dock. This place may more properly be called Steel yard; and no doubt but 'tis the right name, vast quantities of Steel having for many years past been here landed, and deposited in this yard.

Still-Yard, a little Wd from London Bridge in London. (See the Statute 19 Hen. 7. Ch. 23.) vast quantities of Iron and Steel are here Landed by the Merchants; this place with Dyers Yard (almost close by it) being prodigious Markets for these Commodities.

The Stylliard, or Steelyard, a large open Place with a wide Passage for Carts to the River side, where there is a Crane for the landing of Iron and other Merchandizes thither brought; for which there is a great Conveniency, by Warehouses, &c. And in this Yard there are some good Houses for Merchants that trade therein, for which this Place is of Note, but formerly of greater from the Merchants of Almain.

Steel yard, in Thames street above the Bridge. Here was originally the hall of the Anseatic merchants, and the warehouses where they used to stow their steel, flax, hemp, pitch, tar, masts, cables, linen cloth, wheat, rye and other grain. And in this place are still large warehouses for iron, in bars, &c.

Steelyard, Steleyard, or Stilliard in Upper Thames Street, in the ward of Dowgate (facing the river), where the Cannon Street Railway Station now stands. "Their hall," says Stow, "is large, built of stone, with three arched gates towards the street, the middlemost whereof is far bigger than the others, and is seldom opened; the other two bemured up; the same is now called the old hall."¹

The Steelyard, a place for merchants of Almaine, that used to bring hither as well wheat, rye, and other grain, as cables, ropes, masts, pitch, tar, flax, hemp, linen cloth, wainscots, wax, steel, and other profitable merchandises.—Stow, p. 87.

Steelyard, a place in London where the fraternity of the Easterling Merchants, otherwise the Merchants of the Hannse and Almaine are wont to have their abode. It is so called Stilliard of a broad place or court, wherein steele was much sold.—Minsheu, ed. 1617, and H. Blount both in his Law Dictionary and his Glossographia.

The Steelyard was lately famous for Rhenish Wines, Neats' Tongues, etc.—Blount's Glossographia, ed. 1670.

Other writers derive the name from its being the place where the King's steelyard, or beam, for weighing the tonnage of goods imported into London, was erected before its transference to Cornhill.

Lambecius explains the name Steel-yard (or as he calls it Stealhof) to be only a contraction of Stapelhof, softened into Stafelhof, and synonymous with the English word Staple, which is in the civil law Latin style of Edward III. termed Stabile emporium, a fixed port depôt.—Herbert's Twelve Livery Companies, p. 12, note.

This latter derivation is by far the most likely; Minsheu is without doubt wrong, as steel until long after the adoption of the name Steelyard for their guild by the Merchants of the Hanse was only quite a secondary item in their trade.

In their hall were the two great pictures by Holbein, the triumphs of Riches and Poverty, thus described by Walpole: "The former was represented by Plutus riding in a golden car; before him sat Fortune scattering money, the chariot being loaded with coin, and drawn by four white horses, but blind and led by women, whose names were written beneath; round the car were crowds with extended hands catching at the favours of the god. Fame and Fortune attended him, and the procession was closed by Crœsus and Midas, and other avaricious persons of note. ... Poverty was an old woman, sitting in a vehicle as shattered as the other was superb; her garments squalid, and every emblem of wretchedness around her. She was drawn by asses and oxen, which were guided by Hope and Diligence, and other emblematic figures, and attended by mechanics and labourers. It was on the sight of these pictures that Zucchero expressed such esteem of this master. ... The large pictures themselves Felibien and Depiles say were carried into France and Flanders, whither they were transported I suppose after the destruction of the Company. The Triumph of Poverty was engraved by Vosterman, and copies of both are now at Strawberry Hill."—Walpole's Anecdotes, ed. Dallaway, vol. i. p. 152.

The merchants of the Steelyard formed a branch of the great Hanseatic League, and probably originally gave rise to this League. As early as 967 a regulation of King Ethelred ordains that "the emperor's men, or Easterlings, coming with their ships to Belingsgate, shall be accounted worthy of good laws." In the first charter of which we have record as being granted to the members of the Steelyard was that given by Henry III. in the following words:—

Henry by the Grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitain, etc. To the citizens of London to whom these Presents shall come, greeting: Know ye that, at the Instance of the most Serene Prince of the Roman Empire, our Brother, we have granted to these Merchants of Almain who have a House in our City of London, which is called commonly Guilda Aula Theutonicorum, that we will maintain them all and every one, and preserve them through our whole Kingdom, in all their Liberties and free Customs, which they have used in our Times, and in the Times of our Progenitors, and will not withdraw such Liberties and free Customs from them, nor suffer them to be at all withdrawn from them, etc. Witness my Self at Westminster the 15th of June in the 44th year of our Reign.

It is thus clear that at that date the Merchants of the Hanse were a fully recognised body possessed of distinct privileges. The term Steelyard as applied to the Guildhall of these merchants came into use towards the end of the 14th century.

Other privileges were granted to them by the citizens of London, on condition of their maintaining one of the gates of the City, called Bishopsgate, in repair, and their sustaining a third of the charges, in money and men to defend it, "when need were." These privileges remained unimpaired till the reign of Edward VI., when, on the complaint of a society of English merchants called "The Merchant Adventurers," "sentence was given that they had forfeited their liberties and were in like case with other strangers."² Great interest was made to rescind this sentence, and ambassadors from Hamburg and Lubeck came to the King, "to speak on the behalf of the Stilliard Merchants."³ Their intercession was ineffectual. "The Stilliard men," says the King, "received their answer, which was to confirm the former judgment of my council."⁴ This sentence, though it broke up their monopoly, did not injure their Low Country trade in any great degree, and the merchants of the Steelyard still continued to export English woollen clothes, and to find as ample a market for their goods as either the Merchant Adventurers or the English merchants not Merchant Adventurers. The trade, however, was effectually broken by a proclamation of Queen Elizabeth, by which the merchants of the Steelyard were expelled the kingdom, and commanded to depart by February 28, 1597–1598.⁵ The after history of the building I find recorded in the Privy Council Register of the year 1598–1599, wherein, under January 30 in that year, the register records that a letter was sent to the Lord Mayor, requiring him to deliver up the house of the Steelyard to the officers of Her Majesty's navy, "after the avoydinge and departinge of the strangers that did possess the house. That the said house of the Stiliards should be used and employed for the better bestowing and safe custodie of divers provisions of the navy. The rent to be paid by the officers of the navy."⁶ In the church of Allhallows the Great, adjoining, is a handsome screen of oak, manufactured at Hamburg, and presented to the parish by the Hanse Merchants, in memory of the former connection which existed between them and this country. Sir Thomas More held the office of agent for the associated merchants.

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¹ Stow, p. 88.
² King Edward's Diary, in Burnet, February 23, 1551.
³ Ibid., May 2.
⁴ Ibid., February 28.
⁵ Egerton Papers, p. 273.
⁶ Harl. MS., 4182 fol. 185 B.