A street forming a square, west out of New Street, St. Katherine's lane and running north to St. Katherine's Churchyard. In St. Katherine's precinct (Strype, ed. 1720-Horwood, 1799).
Other forms of name : "Hamsdons Gaines" (Survey of St. Katherine's, 1686, and P.C. 1732). "Hanson's Gains " (Lockie, 1810).
Name said to be derived from the towns of Hammes and Guisnes in Flanders, from which towns many strangers came over to England in Q. Elizabeth's reign to escape from religious persecutions. They were assigned a small district in St. Katherine's precinct in which to reside and to carry on their occupation as weavers (Strype, quoting Gibbon, Bluemantle, ed. 1720, I. ii. 8).
Removed for the construction of St. Katherine's Docks, 1827.