Aldgate High Street

Aldgate High Street

From Duke Street at 19 and 20 Aldgate to Middlesex Street at 146 Whitechapel High Street. In Portsoken Ward.

Formerly called also: "Whitechapel Street" (O. and M. 1677–Rocque, 1746). "Aldgate Street without Aldgate" (L. Guide, 1758). "Aldgate High Street without Aldgate" (Lond. Rev. 1728). But the form "Aldgate High Street" seems to have been the one in general use from the beginning of the 18th century.

It must not be forgotten that Aldgate High Street forms part of one continuous thoroughfare extending from the junction of Leadenhall Street and Fenchurch Street to Mile End, and beyond the boundary of the County of London and indeed of Middlesex.

The part included within the City boundary is now known as: "Aldgate," from the east end of Leadenhall Street to Duke Street (in Aldgate Ward) and "Aldgate High Street," from Duke Street to Middlesex Street (in Portsoken Ward).

But in early days the name "Aldgate" or "Alegatestrete" (as it was more often called) had a much wider application, and was variously used to denote the high street extending from Lime Street to Whitechapel and Stepney beyond the City boundary, as well as apparently some part of Fenchurch Street or Jewry Street and Crutched Friars.

Thus mention is made in old documents of: Tenements and rents in "Alegatestrete" in parish of St. Katherine Colman in 1334–5 (Cal. of Wills, Ct. Hust. I. 401). Tenements in "Algatestrete" in par. of Allhallows Stanyngechurche 1367 (Cal. Pat. Rolls, Ed. III. 1364–8, p. 338). "Little Jewry in Algatestrete," 14 Rich. II. 1391 (Cal. Pat. Rolls, Rich. II. 1388–92, p. 417). Surrender at Court of Stebenhuthe (Stepney) manor of reversion of three shops, etc., in parish of St. Mary in "Algatestret," 9 H. V. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2630). (This must be St. Mary Matfellon or St. Mary Whitechapel.) "Whitechapel in Algatestrete," 36 Ed. III. (Cal. Feet of Fines, Lond. and Midd. I. p. 139).

Stow, in his Survey of London (ed. 1603, p. 140), describes the street of Aldgate as extending from Aldgate Pump to Lime Street.

It should be noted that in all the early forms, the name is written without the "d."

"Alegatestrete" 10 Ed. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1950). "Allgaitestrate," 13 Ed. I. (Chancery, I. p.m. (65)). "Allegatestrate," 1309 (Cal. Wills. Ct. H. I. 207). "Algatestret," 1349 (Cal. Wills. Ct. Hust. I. 596). Named after the Gate of Alegate.

White-chapel, a very extraordinary spacious str. betn White chapel bars (to which the freedom reaches) W. and Road to Mile end E. L. 1300 Yds being very broad also) and from T L. 750 Yds NEly.

Whitechapel is a spacious fair Street for Entrance into the City Eastward, and somewhat long, reckoning from the Laystall East unto the Bars West, where the Ward ends. It is a great Thorough fair, being the Essex Road, and well resorted unto, which occasions it to be the better inhabited, and accommodated with good Inns for the Reception of Travellers, and for Horses, Coaches, Carts and Waggons.

Here on the South Side is a Hay Market three times a Week.

The South Side within the Bars, as well as a little way without, is taken up by a great many Butchers, who drive a considerable Trade, and kill excellent Beef, Veal, Mutton and Lamb; lying conveniently for driving and carrying Cattel from Rumford Market.

On the North Side are divers considerable Inns much resorted unto, as the Three Nuns, the Crown, the Black Bull, the Blue Boar; with several Shopkeepers, who have a good Retail trade out of the Country.

Here, about the Bars, ply a great Number of Stage Coaches, for the conveniency of bringing to Town, or carrying into the Country, such as please to make use of them. Coaches there are, tending there for this Purpose, that belong to Stratford Bow, Stratford Langton, Low Leyton, Leyton Stone, West Ham, East Ham, Walthamstow, Woodford, Wansted, Barking, and other Places.

Whitechapel, a long and broad street which extends from the north east corner of the Minories, to Mile-end. It derived its name from St. Mary's church, which was originally a chapel of ease to St. Dunstan's Stepney, and from its whiteness called the White chapel.

Aldgate High-Street,—the E. continuation of Leadenhall-st. and Fenchurch-st. extending from the pump to Somerset-st. and Petticoat-lane.

Aldgate High-St., is the continuation of Leadenhall-street and Fenchurch-street, and extends eastward from the Pump to Somerset-street and Petticoat-lane. It gives its name to the ward, which is governed by an alderman (Thorpe) and six common-councilmen.

Aldgate High Street. The main street from Leadenhall Street to Jewin Street, the site of the ancient City gate, is known as Aldgate; the street eastward to Mansell Street and Petticoat Lane (now Middlesex Street), where Whitechapel High Street commences, is called Aldgate High Street. At the north-west corner of Aldgate High Street is St. Botolph's Church. The Three Nuns' Inn, and the Pye Tavern, over against the end of Houndsditch, are mentioned by De Foe in his History of the Plague. The Three Nuns continued to be a busy coaching inn till coaches were superseded by railways. It has lately been rebuilt on a large scale. The Bull was another large coaching inn. In Aldgate was the Saracen's Head—the site marked by Saracen's Head yard. A token was issued from "The Pye without Aldgate" as early as 1648.—Burn, p. 14. The Pye was one of the old inns "in which plays were occasionally acted. In 1661 was published The Presbyterian Lash, or Noctroffe's Maid Whipped; a tragi-comedy as it was lately acted in the great room at the Pye Tavern at Aldgate." When Foxe, the martyrologist, returned to London in 1559, the Duke of Norfolk received him at his "Manor House, Christ Church, Aldgate." The south-side of Aldgate High Street is lined with butchers' shops, and known as Aldgate Market.