The City market so called occupied a large tract of ground at the junction of Coruhill, Threadneedle Street, Lombard Street and the Poultry, including not only the site of the old City market called the" Stocks," but also of the church of St. Mary Woolchurch, being 230 ft. long and 108 ft. broad besides waste ground on each side of it (Strype, ed. 1720. I. ii. 199-P.C. 1732).
Earliest mention: In 10 Ed. I. a grant was made to Henry le Waleys, the mayor, of a place adjoining the churchyard wall of the church of Wollecherche on the north side of the said church on which to erect a building for the maintenance of London Bridge. On this place was erected "le Stokkes," ordained as being in the middle of the City for sale of flesh and fish, the rents arising from the stalls to go to the maintenance of London Bridge. The only other markets allowed were in Bridge Street, Elde Fisshestrete and the West Street of the butchers in parish of St. Nicholas as of old (Lib. Cust. I. 275, and Cal. P.R. 17 Ed. II. 1321-4, p.425). Houses erected at Wolchirchehawe called " Hales," Anglice" Stockes," 1282 (Ann. Londonienses, p.90).
Forms of name: "Le Stocke," 28 Ed. I. (Cal. L. Bk. C. p.55). "les Stokkes," 15 Ed. II. (Cal. L. Bk. E. p.179). "les Stockes," 1349 (Ct. H.W. I. 590).
House called " le Stokkes "granted by Henry le Galeys and the Commonalty to John le Benere and others for a certain sum of money paid by them to London Bridge, so that John could demise places to butchers and fishmongers, 5 Ed. II. (Cal. L. Bk. D. 281-2).
House called " le Hales" demised to the Wardens of London Bridge by Sir H. le Galeys in aid of the Bridge, 26 Ed. I. (ib. B. 217).
In 1441-2, when it became necessary to rebuild the church of Wolchirche, viz. St. Mary Woolchurch, careful provision was made in order that the light of the City's market of" le Stokkys "should not be obstructed by the rebuilding of the Church (ib. K. pp.267 and 272).
Rebuilt 1410 (S. 227).
It was ordained in Common Council in 1486-7 that the rector of St. Mary de Wol chirch should receive yearly the sum of 4 marks from the Wardens of London Bridge for offerings for the lower part of the Stocks, where fishmongers and butchers sell their victuals (Cal. L. Bk. L. p.239).
After the Fire it was enlarged and occupied a more extensive site (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 199) as indicated above, and is called in O. and M. 1677, "Woolchurch Market." So called on Tradesman's token, 1670 (Burn, p.211). Fruits, roots and herbs sold there in place of Flesh and fish as before (Strype. ib.).
Removed about 1739 for the erection of the Mansion House (q.v.).
The name "les stokkes" is said to be derived from the City Stocks having been formerly on this site (S. 227).
The house demised by the name of "le Hales" may well have been a market house and the word the equivalent of "les Halles," as the markets are so often designated in French towns.