Shaft's Court

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

North out of Leadenhall Street at No.133 (P.O. Directory). In Lim~ Street Ward, opposite East India Avenue.


Earliest mention: Rocque, 1746.

Former names: " Shaft Alley " (S. ed. 1598, p.123). " Sharp's Alley" (Tradesman's Tokens, 1657, Burn, 165-Strype, 1755).

Derivation of name: From the great shaft or Maypole, which was laid under pentises of one row of houses and the Alley gate, called of the shaft " shaft alley" (S. 145).

"The Schafft in Cornhill" is mentioned in a deed of the 15th century in H. MSS Com. 9th Rep. 285.

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