(St.) Mary Axe, Street

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

North out of Leadenhall Street, at No. 116, to Houndsditch (P.O. Directory). Eastern side in Aldgate Ward, western in Lime Street Ward (O.S.).


Earliest mention: "Vicum Sancte Marie Attenaxe," 3 Ed. I. (Rot. Hund. I. 431).

"St. Marie at Axe," 37 Eliz. (1595) (Lond. I. p.m. III. p. 224).

Former name : "St. Mary Street." "Sainte Marie Strate," 44 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2663, and Stow, p. 152).

Named after the Church.

Up to the middle of the 18th century the street only extended as far north as Camomile Street, the extension north into Houndsditch being shown first in Horwood's map, 1799. This northern extension was at first called "New Street" (q.v.).

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