Wolsies Gate

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

A water gate in the roparie, in parish of All Hallows the Less, of later time called Wolfes Lane, but now out of use (S. 42).


"Wolsieslane "lay between the tenement of Sir John de Pulteneye and the tenement of Bartholomew Denmars and was a public way to the Thames. In 17 Ed. III. complaint was made that it had been stopped up (Lib. Cust. II. p.448).

From this description it would appear to have lain west of the lane called Cold Harbour, between that lane and Haywharf Lane.

Stow says the lower part of the lane was built on by the Earl of Shrewsbury and the other part stopped up and built on by the Chamberlain of London (S. 42).

First mention: "Wolsiesgate," 1300 (Lib. Horn. fol. 299 in R. Mem. xvii.).

Other forms : " Wolsislane," 1307 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 204). " Wolsieslane," 1317 (Ct. H.W. I. 273). "Wolseselane," 1372-3 (ib. II. 153). " Wolsyeslane," 1397 (Ct. H.W. II. 330). " Wolfyeslane," 26 H. VI. (Ano. Deeds, D. 1126). " Wolcylane," 1454-5 (Ct H.W. II. 527). "Wolsey Lane," 29 H. VIII. (Lond. I. p.m. I. 70).

There is a "Wolwicheslane" in the parishes of All Hallows upon the cellar and St. Laurence Est mentioned in a grant of 1276-7 (Watney, p.290).

Watney suggests that this = Wolsies lane.

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