1) (Borough)
One of the boroughs in the County of London, outside the City boundary, extending from Holborn Circus to Tottenham Court Road, north to St. Pancras parish, and south to the City of Westminster.
The history of the borough and of its early existence as a manor lies outside the scope of this work, but it may be interesting to note that it comprised one of the prebendal manors of St. Paul's, and the extensive possessions of the bishopric of Ely, known as Ely Place (q.v.).
The original houses of the Templars and of the Dominican or Black Friars were situated in Holborn.
The earliest reference to it is contained in Domesday : "Ad Holeburne habet rex ii cotarios."
A grant of the manor of Holborn temp. Rich. II. is set out in the Trans. of the Lond and M. Arch. Soc. I. 124 et seq.
The land now occupied by Nos. 57-80 (inclusive) Farringdon Street, on the west side, was included in the manor of Holborn 8 Jas. I. when it was given by the Earl of Dorset to St. Bride's parish (End. Ch. Rep. 1901, pp. 15 and 16).
2) (Street)
West from Holborn Circus to Holborn Bars, between High Holborn and Holborn Viaduct, in Farringdon Ward Without (P. O. Directory).
In former times it included the portion now occupied by Holborn Viaduct, formerly Snow Hill, extending into the parish of St Sepulchre.
Other forms : "The King's street," 1274 (Harl. MS. 4015, F. 124b.). "Vico de Holebourn," 31 Ed. I. (I. p.m. 167). The king's street which is called "Holeburne," 19 Ed. I. (Harl. MS. 4015, f. 126b). "Street of Holeburn," 16 Ed. II. (Cal. P.R. Ed. II. 1321-4, p. 180). "Holbornstrete," 1443 (Ct. H.W. II. 502). "Holborn Hill "(1587-O.S. 1848-51). "Holborn" in O. and M. 1677.
First paved 1535.
The street was named after the stream.