Sermon Lane

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

South out of Carter Lane, at No. 13, to Knightrider Street (P.O. Directory). In Castle Baynard Ward.


First mention: " Sarmoneres lane," H. III. (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. pp.13 and 19). "Sarmouneris Lane," 1315 (ib. 26). " Sermeneres lane," 1366 (Ct. H.W. II. 93). " Sharmoneres lane," 1380 (ib. 215). " Sermon Lane," 32 H. VIII. (Lond. I. p.m. 33 H. VIII. I. 67). " Sermon Lane" for " Sheremoniers Lane " (S. 371).

Stow says the lane may be supposed to take the name of Sheremongers, who cut and rounded the plates to be coined into Estarling pence (ib. 370).

It seems more likely, however, that the name of the lane was derived from the family of Sarmoner, who held property there, for in a Deed 12 Hen. III. certain land in parish of St. Mary Magdalene is described as "apud pisconariam inter venellam regiam occidentalem," land of the hospital of St. Bartholomew east, and extending to " vico regio" south, and to land of Ade Sermocinarii north (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Press A Box I 7, No.354), while in a later Deed of 1278 boundaries of property are given as " venellam vocatam 'Sarmonereslane'" west and a tenement "ejusdem domini Pni qoud quondam fuit Ade le Sarmoner " north and " vicum regium " south (ib. 355), which suggests that the lane had been named "Sarmoneres lane" after "Adam le Sarmoner" in the interval between 12 H. III. and 1278.

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