Cordwainer Street

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

Identified with Bow Lane (q.v.), "Cordeweyner Strete," otherwise "Bowe Lane," 18 Eliz. 1576 (Lond. I. p.m. II. p. 202).


Earliest mention: "Corveyserestrate," H. III. (c. 12 or 14 H. III.) (Anc. Deeds, A. 1667). "Cordewanere-strete," 14 H. III. (ib. B. 1971).

Other forms : "Corveisere-strate," H. III. (ib. A. 2156). "Cordewanerstrete," 56 H. III. (ib. A. 10402). "Corneyserestrat," 1273-4 (Ct. H.W. I. 17). "Corneserestrate," 1275 (ib. 24). "Corveisseyestrate," 1278 (ib. 36). "Corduuanerestrete," 1295-6 (ib.126). "Cordwainere strete," 22 Ed. I. I. p.m. "Cordwanestrete," 15 Ed. II. (Cal. P.R. Ed. II. 1321-4, p. 12). "Corwanerstrete," 1365-6 (Ct. W.H. II. 92).

Named after the cordwainers (q.v.), who in early days carried on their trade there.

Stow says that "the Shoomakers and Curriers of Cordwainer Street removed the one to Saint Martins Le Grand the other to London Wall neare unto Mooregate" (S. 82).

It appears from the records relating to a certain tenement called "Ryngedehall," or "Ringed Hall" and the adjoining property, that Cordwainer Street must, at least in the 14th century, have extended south into and included the present Garlick Hill.

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