Gayspur Lane

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

In the parish of St. Mary Aldermanbury, and seems to have extended north from Aldermanbury to London Wall, in Cripplegate Ward (S. 292 and 296).


It formed the eastern boundary of Elsing Spital in the 15th century (H. MSS. Corn. 9th Rep. p. 2), and so would appear to have formed the northern extension of Aldermanbury at this time and for some time later.

First mention: 1333 (Ct. H.W. I. 386) "Gaysporelane."

Other names and forms : "Gayspor Lane," 1448-56 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 2). "Gay spurre lane," "Gayspur lane" (S. 292 and 296). "Giltspur Street" (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 90). "Jasper Street " (Rocque, 1746).

It seems to have been generally renamed "Aldermanbury" from about the middle of the 18th century.

The origin of the name is obscure, the two later forms are of course merely corruptions and give no clue to its real origin.

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