All Hallows, London Wall

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

On the north side of London Wall at No. 85 (P.O. Directory). In Broad Street Ward. Parish extends into Aldgate and Bishopsgate Within Wards.


Earliest mention found in records : Temp. H. I. (Strype, I ii. p. 5) included in grant to Holy Trinity of soke of Aldgate (See below).

" Omnium sanctorum super murum," 1241-59 (Register of Fulk Basset, Bishop of London, in D. and C. St. Paul's MSS. W.D. 9, fo. 48b).

It seems to have been described in various ways : " All Hallows by the Wall," 1285 (Ct. H.W. I. 73). " Omnium sanctorum de Bradstte," 1285 (D. and C. St. Paul's MS. liber. L. fo. 117a). " Omnium scor secus murum " (Ed. I.) (Anc. Deeds, A. 2012). " Omnium Sanctorum ad Murum," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 230). " All Hallows near London Wall," 1313 (Ct. H.W. I.243). " All Hallows under the Wall " (ib. II. 33), 1361. " All Hallows atte Walle," 1388 (ib. 268). " All Hallows within the gate of Bishopesgate," 1344-5 (ib. I. 476). " All Hallows opposite the Augustine Friars," 1350-1 (ib. 645).

Chapel of Allhallows in the Church.

Church of St. Augustine Pappey incorporated with it 1441 (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1441-6, p. 3).

New aisle built 1528-9. Repaired 1613, 1627. Escaped the Fire. Taken down and rebuilt 1765. Arch. Dance. Patrons : Prior and Convent of Holy Trinity (Lib. Cust. I. 230).

Strype says that Maud, Queen of H. I. gave the church to the prior and convent of Holy Trinity (ed. 1720, I. ii. 5), and it was probably included in the grant of the soke of Aldgate, which she made to the Prior (Lansdowne MS. 448, p.9). Since the dissolution, in the hands of the Crown. A Rectory (Newcourt, I. 256). The portion of the parish in Aldgate Ward is detached and formed, prior to 1441, the parish of St. Augustine Papey.

There was a fraternity of Brewers connected with the church in 1361 (Ct. H.W. II. 26), and a brotherhood of St. Sith (Churchwardens' Accounts, Welch, 1912).

"So called of standing close to the wal of the Citie" (S. 177).

Many interesting details relating to the church and parish are contained in the transcript of the Churchwardens' Accounts of the parish for '455 to 1536, edited by Charles Welch (Pub. L. and M. Arch. Soc. Trans.), and not the least interesting are the particulars relating to the famous ankers or anchorites and the anker-hold connected with the church and parish which are so frequently referred to in early London records.

It has been found, in the course of recent excavations in 1905, that the church was built on the Wall of London, and that the foundations of the bastion here were used in the rebuilding of the circular vestry in the 18th century. This was exposed to view in 1905 by the removal of houses, and the excavations and discoveries made are set out in Arch. lx.

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