Pope's Head Alley, Cornhill

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

North out of Lombard Street, at No.72, to Cornhill at No. 18 (P.O. Directory). In Cornhill and Langbourne Wards.


First mention: 1624 (L. and P. Ed. VI., etc., Dom. S. Vol. XI. p.163).

Former name: "Popes Hedes Entre," 19 H. VII. 1503 (Lond. I. p.m. I. p.20).

Named after the "Popes Heade Tavern," which occupied the site, 9 H. VII. (Anc.. Deeds, A. 644), and as early as 4 Ed. IV. Stow describes it as a stone house having the Royal Arms on it and with two other houses adjoining, one in Cornhill and the other in. Lombard Street, supposed to have belonged to King John (S. ed. 1603, p.200).

Left by Sir William Craven, 1615, to the Merchant Taylors' Company, who still receive The rents of nine houses in the alley.

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