Seething Lane

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

North out of Great Tower Street, at No.53, to 33 Crutched Friars P.O. Directory). In Tower Ward.


Earliest mention in present form: "Sethyng lane" alias "Sydone Lane," 12 Eliz. A Lend. I. p.m. II. 132). " Seeting or Sything Lane " (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 53).

Earlier forms of name : " Shyvethenestrat," 1257 (Anc. Deeds, C. 1202). " Syvid lane," 1258-9 (Ct. Hust. W. I. 2). " Siuethenestrate," 1280-1 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 150). "Seuechenelane," 13 Ed. I. (Ch. I. p.m. 65). " Sivendestret," 1291 (Ct. H.W. I. 101). "Synchenestrate," 1293-4 (ib. iii). (" n" may be an error in transcription for "u") "Syuethenelane," 1309 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p.17'). "Syuethelane," 6 Ed. II. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1847). "Senethene lane," 7 Ed. III. (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A. Box 1, 117). "Seneden lane," 13 Ed. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1844). " Syueden lane," 21 Ed. III. (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A, Box I, 530). "Ceveden lane," 30 Ed. III. (Cal. L. Bk. G. p. 80). "Syvenden-lane," 1367 (Ct. H.W. II. 105). "Cyvyndonelane," 1386 (ib. 255). "Synedene lane," '397 (Cal. P.R. Ric. II. I396~, p.148). " Sevethenlane," 1418 (ib. 415). "Syvedon lane," 1524-5 (ib. 630). "Sydon lane," 1558 (Lond. I. p.m. L. and M. Arch. Soc. VII. 181).

Derivation of name: Skeat suggests that the earliest form of the name was "Siucchene," representing " Sifecan," the genitive case of the A.S. name " Sifeca," or "Seofoca," and that " Seofeca's lane" became " Siveken lane," " Sive'n lane," later " Seevin lane," altered to " Seething" or "Seeding." He puts it forward as a suggestion only (N. and Q. 10th S. XI. p. 485).

Of course the "th" in the earliest forms set out above may easily be an error in transcription for "ch".

See Smethe Lane.

The remains of Roman walls and pavements have been found throughout the street.

Related Words