Pickaxe Street

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

The northern continuation of Aldersgate Street from Long Lane to the Bars and Goswell Road (W. Stow, 1722-Boyle, 1799).


W. Stow speaks of it as an old name disused, but it apparently continued in use until the end of the 18th century. It is called "Aldersgate Street" in O. and M. 1677 and at the present time.

Formerly the name seems to have been applied to the street even further north, namely, beyond the Bars to Rotten Row and Old Street, for in 1640 Bell Alley east out of Goswell Street is described as lying between" Pickhatch " and Golden Lane (L. and P. Chas. I. XVI. p.221).

In N. and Q. (I. S. 1. 484) " Pickhatch " is described as a street at the back of Middle Row (formerly Rotten Row), opposite the Charterhouse Wall in Goswell Street, the name being preserved in Pickax Yard, Middle Row.

In the Middlesex Sessions Rolls, 18 Eliz. I. 97, " Pyckthatche" is described as in the liberty of Fynnesbury.

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