The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 3

Allen, Thomas

1827

This ward, as well as that of Farringdon without, is named from William Farendon, citizen and goldsmith of London, who, with his son Nicholas, were possessors of it for a great number of years. In ancient times, these wards had but alderman, and that not by election, but by purchase or inheritance, as appears from the following abstract of a deed made in the reign of king Edward I.

Thomas de Ardene, sonne and heire to sir Ralph Ardene, knt. granted to Ralphe le Feure, citizen of London, one of the sherriffs, in the year 1277, all the aldermanrie, with the appurtenances, within the city of London, and suburbs of the same, between Ludgate and Newgate, and also without the same gates; which aldermanrie Ankerinus de Averne held, during his life, by the grant of the said Thomas de Ardene; to have and to hold, unto the said Ralph, and to his heires, freely, without all challenge; yielding, therefore, yeerely, to the said Thomas, and his heires, one clove (or slip) of gillflowers, at the feast of Easter, for all secular service and custome, with warrantie unto the said Ralph le Feure, and his heirs, against all people, Christians and Jews, in consideration of twenty markes, which the said Ralph le Feure did give, before-hand, in name of a gersum, or fine, to the said Thomas, &c.

Dated the 5th of Edward I.

Witnesse, G. de Rokesley, maior.

R. Arrar, one of the sheriffes.

H. Wales.

P. le Taylor.

T. de Bassing.

J. Horn.

N. Blackthorn, alderman of London.

After this, John le Feure, son and heir to the said Ralph le Feure, granted to William Farendon, citizen and goldsmith of London, and to his heirs, the said aldermanry, with the appurtenances, for the service thereunto belonging, in the of Edward I. in the year of Christ, .

Anthony Munday, Stow's continuator, contradicts this statement, and quotes

an especial deed

in his own possession, to prove that

523

the entire aldermanry was granted by William de Farendon (citizen and alderman) to Nicholas, son of Ralph le Feure,

in the very same manner and form as hath been recited,

for ,

and not markes,

with the same

warrantie or defence against all people for ever.

On comparing the dates, it will be seen that Stow's veracity is not impeached by Munday's deed, the latter being dated,

Anno Reg. Ed. fil. R . Hen. xxj.

and consequently referring to a period about years subsequent to the date of the abstract given by the prior historian. There must, however, have been a re-grant made to William de Farendon, which has not been noticed by either author, for Stow says,

this aldermanry descended to Nicholas Farendon, sonne to the said William, and to his heires, which Nicholas (also a goldsmith) was

four

times maior, and lived many years after, and it continued under their government by the space of

eighty-two

years, and retaineth their name until this present day.

As the population of the city increased, it became expedient to divide this extensive aldermanry into wards, which was done by parliament in the of Richard II, and an alderman was assigned to each, under the same authority.

This ward contains eighteen precincts, viz. St. Peter, St. Matthew, Goldsmiths'-row, Sadler's-hall, , St. , St. Michael le Quern, north and south; St. Faith, ; St Faith, Church-yard ; St. Martin, Ludgate, north and south; and precincts of , St. Ewin, St. Sepulchre, , and St. Anne Blackfriars; its inhabitants return members to the common council.

This ward is bounded on the east by and Castle Baynard wards, on the north by Aldersgate and Cripplegate-wards, on the west by the ward of Farringdon without, and on the south by Castle Baynard-ward and the river Thames.

Before the great fire in , there were churches in this ward, viz. St. Augustin, Christ-church, St. Martin, Ludgate ; St. Matthew, : St. Vedast, ; St. Anne, Blackfriars; St. Michael, le Querne; St. Peter, Cheap. The churches were rebuilt.

 
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 Title Page
 Dedication
 CHAPTER I: The site, extent, buildings, population, commerce, and a view of the progressive increase of London
 CHAPTER II: List of the parishes and churches in London, with their incumbents, &c
CHAPTER III: History and Topography of Aldersgate Ward
CHAPTER IV: History and Topography of Aldgate Ward
CHAPTER V: History and Topography of Bassishaw Ward
CHAPTER VI: History and Topography of Billingsgate Ward
CHAPTER VII: History and Topography of Bishopsgate Ward, Without and Within
CHAPTER VIII: History and Topography of Bread-street Ward
CHAPTER IX: History and Topography of Bridge Ward Within
CHAPTER X: History and Topography of Broad-street Ward
CHAPTER XI: History and Topography of Candlewick Ward
CHAPTER XII: History and Topography of Castle Baynard Ward
CHAPTER XIII: History and Topography of Cheap Ward
CHAPTER XIV: History and Topography of Coleman-street Ward
CHAPTER XV: History and Topography of Cordwainer's-street Ward
CHAPTER XVI: History and Topography of Cornhill Ward
CHAPTER XVII: History and Topography of Cripplegate Ward Within
CHAPTER XVIII: History and Topography of Cripplegate Yard Without
CHAPTER XIX: History and Topography of Dowgate Yard
CHAPTER XX: History and Topography of Farringdom Ward Within
CHAPTER XXI: History and Topography of Farringdon Ward Without
CHAPTER XXII: History and Topography of Langbourn Ward
CHAPTER XXIII: History and Topography of Lime-street Ward
CHAPTER XXIV: History and Topogrpahy of Portsoken Ward
CHAPTER XXV: History and Topography of Queenhithe Ward
CHAPTER XXVI: History and Topography of Tower Ward
CHAPTER XXVII: History and Topography of Vintry Ward
CHAPTER XXVIII: History and Topography of Wallbrook Ward