Fleur de lis Court

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

1) East out of Fetter Lane at No. 9, and north to Trinity Church Passage (P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Without.


First mention: "Flower de luce Alley" (O. and M. 1677).

Other forms : "Flower de Luce Court," "Flower de lyz Court" (Hatton, 1708-Strype, ed. 1720, and P.C. 1732). " Flower de lis Court" (Rocque, 1746).

In the I 17th and 18th centuries this was a long court extending south to Fleet Street, but when the southern end of Fetter Lane was widened, this southern portion of the court was absorbed into Fetter Lane, as clearly shown in O.S. 1848-51.

In Lockie, 1810, it is described as at 179 Fleet Street, behind the houses Nos. 1-16 on the east side of Fetter Lane.

In 3 Ed. VI. there was a house in the parish of St. Dunstan, Fleet Street, called the "Flowerdeluce" (Lond. I. p.m. II. 88). This may well have given its name to the court.

It does not seem to have been a desirable locality in the 18th century, for Strype describes it as of some note for the Mousetrap House, a receptacle for lewd persons (ed. 1720, I. iii. 277).

Dryden resided in the Court at No. 16, and there is an interesting description of the contract for the erection of this and the two adjoining houses in 1670 in H. Co. Mag. No. 25, p. 70.

2) South out of Carter Lane at No. 79 (P.O. Directory).

Formerly "Shoemaker Row."

In Farringdon Ward Within, within the former precinct of Blackfriars.

First mention: "Flower de lis Court" (O. and M. 1677).

Name derived from the sign of the Fleur de lis. Said to have been taken from the quartering of the French arms with the English, or set up as a compliment to private families who bear this charge in their arms, or as a crest.

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

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