South out of Lower Thames Street, east of the Custom House and Wool Quays (P.O. Directory). In Tower Ward.
Other names : "Galy key," 1504 (Ct. H.W. II. 606)., in possession of Wm. Marowe. "Galley Key," 1539 (Lond. I. pm. L. and M. Arch. Soc. VII. p. 64). "Gilly Key" (Rocque, 1746).
One of the Legal Quays, so called from the Act of Parliament, passed 1559, establishing them as quays for the landing of goods, subject to duties.
Derivation of name : So called from the Galleys bringing wine and other merchandize from Genoa and those parts, and unlading there (S. 134-7).
It seems more probable that the designation came into use in the same way as Galley Row, from the name "Petit Wales" or "Petit Gales," given to the eastern end of Tower Street.
See Petty Wales.