Mentioned in early records as if there were a district so named in the City: Grant by Alan Bursar to Wm., son of Alice, of the moiety of his land towards "le West" in Queenhithe before St. Michael's church (Anc. Deeds, A. 2429).
In Add. MS. 14252, f. 93 (B.M.) in list of rentals belonging to the City: "De alano balun ii sol. de terra proxima versus West paruo vico medio."-" De johanne de Colemere iiij sol. and viijd. de terra proxima versus 'West' quodam vico media longitudo hs. terre e a tamisia usque ad magnum vicum. "-" Item de eodem xxviijd. de terra proxima versus 'West' a tamisia usque tymberhethe."-" De hospitali sancti Egidii vj sol. and iijd de terra quam asce de coleham tenet juxta predictas terras johannis et saeri versus 'occidentem' inter duas portas."-" De asce de Coleham x sol. de porta juxta terra hospitali iij sol. and de terra proxima versus 'West' xj sol. and de altera porta qua inclusa est xijd."