Bartlett's Buildings

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

1) On the south side of Holborn Circus at Nos. 4, 5, and 6 (P.O. Directory.) In Farringdon Ward Without.


First mention: Hatton, 1708.

In O. and M. 1677 "Bartlet's Court." Occupies the site of both Bartlett's Buildings and Bartlett's Court of the later maps, and it is mentioned by this name in the parish registers as early as 1615. The buildings seem to have been rebuilt after the formation of Holborn Circus, when some of the houses were removed. Described by Hatton, 1708, as a pleasant square court, near against Hatton Street.

Thomas Bartlett, King's printer, 2 Ed. VI., possessed "the Plow" in Fetter Lane, and the buildings and Court were named after him or his descendants, who still held the property.

He also had a tenement and garden in Crokehorne Alley (q.v.) in 2 and 3 P. and M., which Alley adjoined Thavies Inn on the east, and therefore must have occupied the site or some part of the site of the present Bartlett's Buildings.

There is a stone tablet on No.28 with the date 1685, which is not the date of erection, but possibly indicated the date of a rebuilding (perhaps of Bartlett Street, q.v.). This tablet was originally on No. I, on the north-west side of the street at its junction with Holborn, but when that house was pulled down in 1866 the stone was given to the then owner of No.28 (H. Co. Mag. No.23, p. 244).

2) On the west side of Nightingale Lane in East Smithfield (Elmes, 1831), the first turning from Upper East Smithfield.

Site now occupied by warehouses, etc., belonging to the Docks.

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