Langbourn Ward

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

One of the 26 wards of the City, at no point touching the City walls, bounded north by Aldgate, Lime Street and Bishopsgate Wards, west by Bridge Ward, south by Billingsgate and Tower Wards and east by Aldgate Ward.


Earliest mention: "Ward of Langebord," 12th century (Anc. Deeds, A. 5853).

Other forms : "Warda de Langeburne," 3 Ed. I. (Rot. Hund. I. 417). "Ward of Langeford," 1285 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 209). "Ward of Langeborne," 1209-1300 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 57). "Ward of Lambourne," 34 Ed. III. (Anc. Deeds, B. 2123).

Called "Lombard Street Ward," so Ed. III. and 2 H. IV. (L.C.C. Deeds, Harben Bequest, Early Deeds, Nos. 3 and 4.)

Seems to be described as "Longebrod," 37 H. III. 1252 (Cal. Charter Rolls, I. p. 407).

From the notices of the ward set out above it would appear that the earliest forms of the name were : "Langebord," "Longebrod," "bourn" or "burn" being merely a later corruption, and both these forms, together with the description of the ward in later deeds as Lombard Street Ward, suggest that, as in the case of other wards, it took its name from that of the main street intersecting it from east to west. For further notes as to the derivation of the name See under Lombard Street. The derivation from the "Langbourne" (q.v.) given by Stow is inconsistent with the levels in the neighbourhood, as has been shown.

Places of interest in the ward : All Hallows, Lombard Street ; St. Edmund the King and Martyr ; St. Dionis Backchurch ; St. Mary Woolnoth ; St. Gabriel Fenchurch ; All Hallows Staining ; St. Nicholas Acons. The three last are not now existing ; Pewterers' Hall.

See Ward of Nicholas de Wynchester, and Wards.

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