All Hallows the Great

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

On the east side of All Hallows Lane at the corner of Upper Thames Street. In Dowgate Ward (O.S. 1880).


Earliest mention found in records : " All Saints del Heywarf," 19 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1791).

Other names and forms : "All Hallows le grant," 1259 (Ct. H.W. I. 4). "All Hallows de la Heyswarwe," 1269 (ib. 10). " All Hallows at the Hay," 1271-2 (ib. II). " All Saints over Heywharf," temp. H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1707). "All Hallows at le Heywharf," 1283 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p.77). "Om scor sr heywarf" (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, 1285, ff. 115-118). " All Hallows at the Hay towards 'vicum regium cordariorum,' " 1291 (Ct. H.W. I. 99). "Omnium Sanctorum ad Fenum," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 230). "Omnium Sanctorum majorem at le Heywharf," 8 Ed. II. (Ch. I. p.m. m. 60). " All Hallows the Great in la Corderie," 11 Ed. II. 1318 (Cal. L. Bk. E. p. 85). " All Hallows next to the street of the Corders," 1326 (Ct. H.W. I. 318). " All Hallows the Great in the Ropery," 1332 (Ct. H.W. I. 373). " All Hallows called ' le Mechele,' " 1379 (ib. II. 208). " Omnium Sanctorum magna in roperia," 46 Ed. III. (Ch. I. p.m. m. 62). " All Hallows the More in Thames Street," 1537 (Ct. H.W. 11. 643).

A large cloister on the south side (ib.).

Repaired and beautified and steeple repaired 1627-9 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 205). Burnt in the Fire and rebuilt 1683, All Hallows the Less being united to it. Arch. Sir C. Wren. Cost £5600 (ib. 207). Taken down 1876 to widen Upper Thames Street, and the tower removed to the south side. Reopened 1877. Finally removed 1893, and the parishes united to St. Michael Paternoster Royal and St. Martin Vintry (End. Ch. Rep. 1903, p. 10). The fine carved oak screen presented to the church by the Hanse merchants is now in St. Margaret Lothbury.

Site now covered by a brewery, the churchyard only remaining enclosed and undisturbed.

A Rectory, one of the thirteen peculiars belonging to the See of Canterbury.

The advowson of the church was in the hands of Sir Hugh le Despencer the younger, 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 238). From that family it passed first to the Beauchamps, then to the Nevilles, and was by them settled on Henry VII. and his heirs (Newcourt, I. 247). The advowson was given by H. VIII. in 1546 to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the later presentations were made by him.

Derivation of name : " Called Alhallowes the more in Thames streete for a difference from Alhallowes the lesse in the same street ; it is also called " ad fenum in the Ropery," because hay sold neare thereunto at hay wharfe and ropes of old time made and sold in the high street " (S. 236).

See All Hallows Semannescyrce.

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