Fore Street

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

East out of Redcross Street at No. 34 to No. 9 Finsbury Pavement (P.O. Directory). In Coleman Street Ward and Cripplegate Ward Without.


First mention: "le Forstrete," 4 Ed. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 7930).

Other forms : "le Forestrete," 1348 (Ct. H.W. I. 504). "le Vorestret," 1361 (ib. II. 18). "Foorstreet," 1594 (Lond. I. p.m. III. 220).

In Stow (pp. 293 and 432) and O. and M. 1677 the eastern end is called "The Posterne" because, as Stow says, it hath a door at eyther end to be shut at night, and in Strype, "The Posterne Street." The western end in Strype is called "Moore Street," and in the maps of Coleman Street Ward, the street running north and south, on the west side of Moorfields, is called "Fore Street."

See Little Moorfields.

The name seems to have the sense of the A.S. "fore" = "before," in front of, as facing London Wall, and this meaning is borne out by the constant use of the article "le" before the name in early records.

It is suggested in the Gentleman's Magazine Library (London), XV. 205, that there was a Roman forum here, which gave name to the street, but there is no evidence of this.

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

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