Castle Baynard Ward

Names

Castle Baynard Ward

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Descriptions

from A Dictionary of London, by Henry Harben (1918)

Castle Baynard Ward

One of the twenty-six wards of the City of London, to the south. Bounded on the north and west by Farringdon Ward Within, east by Queenhithe and Bread Street Wards, and south by the Thames.

First mention: Cal. Letter Book B. p. 257, 1275. See Episcopi (Warda).

Called "Ward of Peter de Edelmeton," 3 Ed. I. (Rot. Hund. I. 423 and 433).

Baynardscastle Ward," 11 Rich. II. (Anc. Deeds A. 1848). "Warda Castri," 1291–2 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 137).

Described by Stow as the soke or ward of Robert Fitzwater, Castillon and Banner bearer of London (S. 367).

So named of an old Castle there (S. 364).

See Baynard's Castle.

In Stow's time it contained four parish churches, viz.: St. Andrew by the Wardrobe; St. Benet Paul's Wharf; St. Mary Magdalen, Old Fish Street; St. Gregory by St. Paul's. Of these the first two alone remain. Two Halls of Companies: Woodmongers Hall, Blacksmiths Hall. No longer in existence.

The ward has been materially altered by the formation of Queen Victoria Street, intersecting it from east to west. See Wards.

from A Topographical Dictionary of London and Its Environs, by James Elmes (1831)

CASTLE-BAYNARD WARD, derives its name from a once celebrated castle, built on the north bank of the Thames, by Baynard, a brave and noble soldier, who came over with William the Norman, who bestowed upon him many marks of his favour. Among these he gave him the barony of Little Dunmow, which being forfeited to the Crown in 1111, by the traitorous practices of William Baynard, his successor, was given, together with the honours of Baynard Castle, by Henry I., to Gilbert, Earl of Clare, and his successors. From this nobleman, it descended in the female line, to Robert Fitzwalter, Castellan and Banner-bearer of London, in 1213. King John, making criminal overtures to the Castellan's daughter, aroused him and his brother barons, who made war upon the king, but being defeated, Fitzwalter and his more immediate associates were banished, Baynard's Castle, and two other dwellings belonging to him were demolished, and his daughter, Matilda the Fair, for rejecting the tyrant's unlawful suit, was poisoned. John afterwards invaded France in 1214, with a powerful army, when a truce was made between the kings of England and France for five years. There being a river or arm of the sea between the rival armies, and English knight called to those on the French side, and challenged any one to come over and take a joust or two with him. Robert Fitzwalter, who was with the French army, ferried over, and mounting his steed, accepted the challenge. At the first course he struck his adversary so violently with his long spear, that both man and horse fell to the ground. Fitzwalter's spear having been broke by the concussion, he returned to the French king. John exclaimed, "By God's tooth," his usual oath, "he were a king indeed who had such a knight;" and on being informed it was his injured subject, Fitzwalter, he concluded a peace with France, restored the Castellan to his honours and estates, and gave him permission to rebuild his castle of Baynard.

This brave baron died in 1234, and was buried in Dunmow. He was succeeded by his son Walter, who dying and leaving his son under age, it fell under the wardship of King Henry, who reclaimed them formally in 1303, before John Blount, then Mayor of London.

The ancient castle was destroyed by fire in 1428, and was rebuilt by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. At his death, Henry VI. gave it to Richard, Duke of York, who resided here with his armed followers, to the number of four hundred men, during the important convention of the great men of the nation in 1458, the forerunner of the civil wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster.

Baynard Castle was also the residence of Richard III. when he assumed the title of king; it was afterwards beautified and made more commodious by Henry VII., who frequently resided within its walls, and the Privy-council met here, on the 19th of July, 1553, for the purpose of proclaiming Queen Mary, at which time it was the property and the residence of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke.

No trace now remains of this ancient and once magnificent edifice, the scene of so many strange and eventful transactions. A similar fate has attended most of the splendid castles and baronial residences that once crowded this interesting part of the city; such as the castle of Mountfichet, and another castle built by Edward II., which being afterwards appropriated for the reception and residence of the Papal legates, was called Legate's-inn; and also Beaumont's-inn, afterwards Huntingdon-house, a very nobel mansion built in the 30th year of Edward IV., in Thames-street, opposite St. Peter's-hill; the city mansion of the family of Scroop, on the west side of Paul's-wharf; Berkeley's-inn or palace, in Addle-street; the stately palace belonging to the priors of Okeburn, in Wiltshire, which stood in Castle-lane, and many others of inferior note in this neighbourhood.

Castle-Baynard Ward is bounded on the west and north by the ward of Farringdon Within; on the east, by that of Queenhithe; and on the south, by the river Thames. Its principal streets are the western end of Upper Thames-street, St. Peter's-hill, St. Bennett's-hill, Addle-hill, Knight Rider-street, Paul's Chain, part of St. Paul's Church-yard and Ludgate-street, and the east sides of Creed-lane, Ave Maria-lane, and Warwick-lane, with a part of the western end of Paternoster-row. Its most remarkable public buildings are, the parish churches of St. Bennett's, Paul's Wharf; St. Andrews', Wardrobe; and St. Mary Magdalen, and the Colleges of Heralds and Doctors' Commons.—[See those several Places and Buildings.