Early Inns and Taverns through tradesmens tokens - Baldwins gardens to Birchin lane
This is a historical site about early London coffee Houses and Taverns and will also link to my current pub history site and also The London street directory
LONDON TRADERS, TAVERN, AND COFFEE-HOUSE TOKENS, CURRENT 1649-1672. :
## Letter B - Baldwins gardens to Birchin lane
Index of Tradesmens tokens.
BALDWINS GARDENS.
A wheatsheaf in Baldwins gardnes, in 1666, a halfpenny, with initials N, H. S. (Nicholas Smith)
#103 NICHOLAS SMITH . 1666 A wheatsheaf, in the field.Rev. IN BALDWYNS GARDEN In the field, N, H. S. 1/2.
"Baldwins gardens, neare Grayes-inn lane," is said to have derived that name from Richard Baldwin, who erected some houses here in 1589.
Sugar loaf in Baldwin Gardens, in 1666, a halfpenny, with Hercules Whithill
Hercules Whithill, halfpenny in 1666, Sugar loaf###Hercules Whithill, Sugar loaf
Rev His Half Penny, Baldwin Gardens 1666
BANKSIDE, Southwark.
Feltmakers Arms on ye Bankside, a halfpenny, with Melchisedeck Fritter
#104 MELCHISEDECK FRITTER Feltmakers' arms, in the field.Rev. ON YE BANKE SIDE BREWER HIS HALFE PENY.
Melchisedeck Fritter's name occurs in the churchwardens accompts of St. Margarets, Westminster, in 1643, when an abatement of 2s. 6d., for weekly payments, and contributions to the outworks constructed in that year, was allowed in the rent due for premises in Turnmill street, Clerkenwell. The building on the Bankside, from the sign, would seem to have been previously occupied by a felt-maker, and although converted into a brewery, the sign it had hitherto borne, the Hat, continued.
Leathersellers Arms at Bankside, with initials R. E. P.
#105 AT THE EARLE OF ESSEX A stag, in the field.Rev. ARMES AT BANCKSIDE R. E. P.
A stag is the crest of the Leathersellers Arms. The allusion is evidently to the parliamentary general, Robert D'Evreux, Earl of Essex, who died in 1646. R. P. was doubtless a partizan of the Commonwealth authorities.
The Haberdashers Company arms at the Bankside, with initials W. E. B.
#106 WILLIAM BOORMAN The Haberdashers Company arms.Rev. AT THE BANKSIDE In the field, W. E. B.
A token at the Bankside, Southwark, a halfpenny, with William Chapman
#107 WILLIAM CHAPMAN ON A corn-bushel measure, in field.Rev. THE BANK SIDE SOVTHWARK HIS HALF PENY.
A token at the Bankside, with initials T. E. M. (Thomas Martin)
#108 THOMAS MARTIN A hedge-hog, in the field.Rev. ON THE BANKSIDE In the field, T. E. M.
The hedge-hog is seldom used in heraldry, though as a symbol the animal may becompared to an expert industrious man., who seizes every opportunity of improving his fortune or preventing poverty. It may be considered the emblem of frugality.
An unicorn at the Bankside, in 1658, with initials H. E. S. (Handrey Stroud)
#109 HANDREY STROVD ON An unicorn, in the field.Rev. THE BANKSIDE . 1658 In the field, H. E. S.
See Manning and Bray's History of Surrey, vol. iii. p. 590.
A token at the Bankside, with initials G. F. V. (George Vavasour)
#110 GEORGE VAVASOVR Arms, Vavasour; with a crescent.Rev. ON THE BANKE SIDE In the field, G. F. V.
A Plough at the Bankside, with initials W. B. W. (William Wiliams)
#111 WILLIAM WILLIAMS In the field, a plough. Rev. ONTHE BANCKSIDE In the field, W. B. W.
A crooked billet?, OR Watermens arms at the Bankside, in 1668, a halfpenny, with John Ludgall
#112 JOHN LUDGALL AT Y BANKE A crooked billet? IN SOUTHWARK.Rev. SIDE . HIS HALF PENY . 1668 Watermens arms, in the field.
Cross keys at the Bankside, a halfpenny, in 1668, with Elizabeth Port
#113 Elizabeth Port at the Banckside, in three lines, script type.Rev. HER HALF PENY In field, two keys crossed; 1668.
Octagonal in shape. The sign termed the Cross or Crossed Keys. Bankside was anciently within the jurisdiction of the bishops of Winchester, and the keys are part of the charge on the arms of that see. The house had doubtless been long employed for other purposes ; yet " the Cross Keys/' apparent on the token, were still its distinctive sign.
The stews on the Bankside were, in 1506, inhibited by King Henry the Seventh, but a decreased number subsequently permitted, till King Henry the Eighth, in 1546, suppressed them wholly. Stow mentions these allowed stew-houses as having ' ' signs on their fronts towards the Thames, not hanged out, but painted on the walls, as the Cross Keys, the Gun, the Castle, the Crane, the Cardinals Hat, the Bell, the Swan," and others.
* Skelton, in his Why come ye not to Cowrte, a bitter invective on Wolsey, written in 1523, or before, alludes to " the sygne of the Cardinall Hat/' being then closed. Later, in the accompt of William Colle, citizen and grocer, receiver of the rents of the hospital of St. Bartholomew in Smithfield, 1581-2, credit is given for a quit-rent of 37s., paid by the governors of St. Thomas's hospital, from " the Cardinal's Hat."
Sir John Howards stewards accounts, 1465, has the following : " Item, the xxiiij day of May, my mastyre lent to my lord of Norffolke, whan he lay at the stewe, xxs." My lord of Norfolk was John Mowbray, the last Duke of Norfolk of that family: he died in 1475.
The original regulations of the stews on Bankside, by which the bishops of Winchester in the fifteenth century exercised control over them, are extant, written on parchment, in the Bodleian library, Oxford.
BANK END, Southwark.
A castle at Bank end, a halfpenny, a halfpenny, with initials A. B. C. (Anthony Craven)
#114 ANTHONY CRAVEN AT THE A castle, in the field.Rev. BANKE END IN SOVTHWARKE HIS HALFE PENNY. A. B. C.
Bank-end stairs, near London Bridge, appear to have been the nearest place of landing to Shakespeare's or the Globe Theatre, now involved in the site of Barclay and Perkins's great brewery.
BARBICAN.
A horse-shoe in Barbican, with initials E. M. A. (Edmond Alexander)
#115 EDMOND ALEXANDER A horse-shoe, in the field.Rev. IN BARBYCAN In the field, E. M. A.
A token in Barbican, in 1653, with initials E. B. (Elizabeth Babington)
#116 ELIZABETH BABINGTON In the field, E. B.Rev. IN BARBICAN 1653, in the field.
A Figtree in Barbican, in 1653, with initials S. P.
#116 AT THE FIGTRE A fig-tree, in the field.Rev. IN BARBIK[A]N . 1653 In the field, the initials S. P.
A Bull in Barbican, in 1655, with initials W. A. R. (William Rudd)
#117 WILLIAM RUDD IN A bull, in the field.Rev. BARBICANN . 1655 In the field, W. A. R.
The Bull was, and is almost everywhere, a prevalent sign. Boys, quoting the town records, in his Collections for the History of Sandwich, pp. 685, 687, states that, " in 1540, information was taken before the burgesses upon oath, a certain person at church said, ' the sacrament of the altar was but a signification and a sign, as the sign of a bull, or the sign of a rose, set up at taverns' " ; rather a ticklish assertion for the town magnates to construe : and it appears to have been somewhat dangerous to the heterodoxical assertor ; as later, in 1550, when Henry the Eighth had been gathered to his fathers, the same volume records that a deposition was entertained against a certain person, who had said, l ' the King's Majesty that dead is, was an heretick !" This was too much ; the luckless defamer was immediately sentenced to the pillory, and the loss of both his ears.
A token in Barbican, in 1655, with initials T. A. C. (Thomas Cooper)
#118 THOMAS COOPER In the field, T. A. C.Rev. IN BARBICAN . 1655 CHANDLER, in the field.
The Bowyers arms in Barbican, in 1665, with initials E. G. G. (Edward Grove)
#119 EDWARD GRO . The Bowyers arms, in the field.Rev. IN BARBICAN . 1665 In the field, E. G. G.
The Stationers Arms in Barbican, in 1665, a farthing, with initials E. G. G. (Edward Grove)
B115. Obverse. Edward . Grove = The Stationers’ Arms.R. IN . BARBICAN . 1665 = E . G . G. 1/4
Sultan Morals head Coffee House in Barbican formerly in Pannyer Ally
#120 ROBERT HAYES AT YE COFFE HOYS Sultan Morals head, in the field.Rev. In Barbican formerly in Pannyer Ally.
Robert Hayes at ye Coffee House in Barbican, formerly in Panier alley. His Half Penny. And a Turks Head .
The sultan Morat, or Amurath the Fourth, whose head is figured on various coffee-house tokens, was raised to that dignity in 1623, amid the general acclamations of the people ; but, intoxicated with the power he held, he became with no redeeming quality the most detestable tyrant that ever ruled the Ottoman empire. Addicted to brutal excesses, he was his own assassin in 1640.
Morat figures as a tyrant in Drydens Aurengzebe.
Hayes was burned out from Panier alley in September 1666, and pursuing his course in a northward direction, appears to have reestablished himself in Barbican. The house seems to have attained considerable notoriety, and to have been the scene of the outrage recorded by Richard Smith, in his Obituary : " April llth, 1672, Mr. Brand, an old stocking seller in Barbican, died this night, of a blow on his head the day before, from an earthen drinking pott or jug, by one Kitchen, as is commonly reported, at a coffee-house in Barbican."
See No. 880.
a naked child ? in Barbican with James Leech
#121 JAMES LEECH BODIS MAKER, in the field.Rev. IN BARBICAN -In the field, a naked child ?
A bodice or stay maker. The memorable Tom Paine was a ladys stay-maker. O'Keefles Jemmy Jumps is a character, as a calling, now extinct.
A token in Barbican in 1666, with initials W. E. M. (William Milton)
#122 WILLIAM MILTON MEAL MAN, in the field.Rev. IN BARBICAN . 1666 In the field, W. E. M.
John Milton, father of the author of Paradise Lost, by profession a scrivener, but who had retired from business many years before his death, died about 1647, at his house in the Barbican, and was buried in Cripplegate church.
Query, Was this William Milton in any degree related to the poet ?
The Royal oak in Barbican in 1668, a halfpenny, with initials F. M. M. (Francis Morley)
#123 FRANCIS MORLEY AT THE The royal oak, the Boscobel oak tree, bearing three crowns, in the field.Rev. IN BARBICAN . 1668 HIS HALFE PENY. F. M. M.
Crossed keys in Barbican, a farthing, with initials H . I . B. (Henry Brand)
B109. Obverse. HENRY . BRAND . AT . THE . CROSS = Crossed keys.R. KEYES . IN . BARBICAN = H . I . B. 1/4
Three sugar-loaves in Barbican, a halfpenny, in 1668, with initials I . B. (Joseph Brooks)
B110. Obverse. JOSEPH . BROOKS . AT . YE . 3 . l668 = HIS HALFE PENY. I . B.R. Suger . loaves . in . barbycan = Three sugar-loaves. 1/2
A bear in Barbican, a halfpenny, with Robert Dawson
B112. Obverse. ROBERT . DAWSON . AT . THE = A bear.R. BLACK . BEAR . IN . BARBICAN = HIS HALFE PENY.
Jacobs Well in Barbican, a halfpenny, with initials S . I . D. (Samuell Dippar)
B113. Obverse. Samuell . Dippar . at . the = A covered well.R. JACOBS . WELL . IN . BARBACAN = HIS HALFE PENNY. S . I . D. 1/2
Five full-blown roses in Barbican, in 1664, a farthing, with initials R . D . G.
B114. Obverse. at . the . five . roses = Five full-blown roses.R. IN . BARBICAN . l664 = R . D . G. 1/4
St. George and the Dragon in Barbican, in 1656, , a farthing, with initials W . I . L. (William Larkin)
B117. Obverse. William . Larkin = St. George and the Dragon.R. IN . BARBICAN . 1656 = W . I . L. 1/4
The Lamb in Barbican, a farthing, with initials R . S.
B123. Obverse. at . the . LAMBE = The Paschal Lamb couchant.R. IN . BARBICAN = R . S. 1/4
An Golden anchor in Barbican, a farthing, with initials W. M. S. (Will Sanders)
B124. Obverse. WILL . SANDERS . AT . THE = W . M . S.R. Golden . barbican = An anchor between W . S. 1/4
The Weavers Arms in Barbican, a farthing, with initials W . I . S. (Will Satchwell)
B125. Obverse. Will . Shatchwell = The Weavers’ Arms.R. IN . BARBECAN = W . I . S. 1/4
The Salters Arms in Barbican, a farthing, with initials B . W. (Brigget Woolley)
B126. Obverse. Brigget . Woolley = The Salters’ Arms.R. IN . BARBICAN = B . W. 1/4
Barnaby, see BERMONDSEY STREET.
BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE, Smithfield.
Coffee House, in Bartholomew close, in 1671, with William Russell
#124 WILLIAM RUSSELL. 1671 HIS COFFEE HOUSE, in field.Rev. IN ST. BARTHOLOMEWS CLOSE A coffee-man pouring coffee.
Turks head, in Bartholomew close, a halfpenny, in 1671, with initials R . K. (Richard Kempe)
B129. Obverse. Richard . Kempe . 1666 = A Turk’s head between R . K.R. IN . S . BARTHOLOMEW . CLOSE = HIS HALFE PENNY.
BARTHOLOMEW LANE, Threadneedle Street.
Ed Heath in Bartholomew lane
Sir Thomas Gresham, in Bartholomew lane, Threadneedle Street, a halfpenny, in 1671, with initials E. M. H. (Ed Heath)
#125 ED : HEATH AT SR THO . GRESHAM His head, in field.Rev. IN BARTHOLMEW LANE HIS HALF PENY. E. M. H.
A dolphin, in Bartholomew close, a farthing, in 1671, with initials H . A. (Hugh Adderley)
B131. Obverse. Hugh . Adderley = A dolphin.R. BARTHOLMEW . LANE = H . A. 1/4
The issuer of this token was a relation of the gaoler of Coventry gaol, as appears from the following advertisement :
“Upon the 3d Instant, one by the name of Charles Blocks brake the Goal at Coventry; Lozv-statured, Pale-faced, Crook-Back'd, about 25 years of age, in a Sand-coloured Suit and Coat : Whoever shall apprehend or make stay of him, and give notice thereof to Gilbort Adderly , Coaler of Coventry , ... or to Hugh Adderly, at the Dolphin-Tavern, in Bartholomew-Lane, shall have 40 shillings for his Peyns.”
—The Newes , No. 46, June 9, 1664, p. 372.
Sir Thomas Gresham, a name ever to be remembered with lasting honour by the citizens of London, is here represented with the flat cap-like form on his head ;
his left hand resting on his sword-hilt.
A ship, in Bartholomew close, a farthing, with initials W . M . L. (Wiliam Levett)
B133. Obverse. WILLIAM . LEVETT = A ship.R. IN . BARTHOLMEW . LANE = W . M . L. 1/4
Vide Collections for Improvement, 1692:—“Ship Tavern against Bartholomew Lane, by the Royal Exch.”
Bartholomew the Less, see THREADNEEDLE STREET.
BASINGHALL STREET.
A token, in Basinghall street, a halfpenny, in 1668, with Thomas Armstrong
#126 THO: ARMESTRONGE AT YE An official in civil costume.Rev. IN BASING-HALL STREET HIS HALFPENY. 1668.
A token, in Basinghall street, a halfpenny, in 1668, with Thomas Armstrong
B134. Obverse. Tho . Armestronge . at . ye = A man standing holding a book.R. IN . BASING . HALL . STREET = HIS HALF PENY. 1668. 1/2
A token, in Basinghall street, a halfpenny, with George Starckey
#127 GEORGE STARCKEY AT THE A horse current, in field.Rev. IN BASINGHALL STREET HIS HALFE PENY.
The White or Saxon Horse.
The German chiefs, according to Krantz, bore on their shields the figure of the beast whose name they assumed, which served to distinguish the warriors in the hour of conflict ; and, on the subversion of the Roman empire by the Germanic races, these emblems became the hereditary badges of tribes and families, forming the basis on which the armorial bearings of modern nations are founded. The White Horse may, without exaggeration, be styled the Saxon emblem ; for, from the earliest to our own time, it has constituted the peculiar badge of the race.
Tacitus notices that while they roved in their native woods in Germany, the White Horse was considered sacred, and was typified in the religious ceremonies of the Saxons. It doubtless gave name to the hardy warriors, who, fourteen hundred years since, migrated in accordance with their policy, bearing the standard of their nation unfurled before them ; and, landing on the shore of Kent, caused the White Horse to have been ever since recognised as the insignia or arms of the county in which they settled. The Saxon Chronicle, under anno 871, also records the repulse of the Danish invader by Alfred the Great, at the memorable battle of Ethandune, (Edington, Wilts,) The commemorative trophy, the colossal White Horse, hewn out in the chalk on Berkshire downs, has, like his glory, continued unharmed and uninjured, indestructible amid the lapse of ages.
A Turk seated smoking, in Basinghall street, with Richard Buckland
B135. Obverse. Richard . Buckland . in . Basinghall . Street (in four lines).
R. A Turk seated smoking; a man standing presenting him a cup.
Nags Head, in Basinghall street, a farthing, with initials R . E . L. (Rich Lem)
B136. Obverse. Rich . Lem . Nags . Hed = A horse’s head.R. BASING . HAL . STRt . END = R . E . L. 1/4
St. George and the Dragon, in Basinghall street, a farthing, with initials T . I . M.
B137. Obverse. at . the . George . in = St. George and the Dragon.R. BASINGHALL . STREET = T . I . M. 1/4
White Horse, in Basinghall street, a farthing, with initials G . S.
B138. Obverse. at . the . White . Horse = A horse prancing.R. IN . BASINGHAL . STREET = G . S. 1/4
A token, in Basinghall street, a farthing, with initials W . T . T. (Will Timberlacke)
B140. Obverse. WILL . TIMBERLACKE = W . T . T.R. Basinghall . streete = A bearded figure standing, holding a book in one hand, and his hat in the other. 1/4
This has been struck on a large-sized blank.
BASING LANE.
A token, in Basing lane, with Ralph Eversley
#128 RALPH EVERSLEY IN An arched crown, in the field.Rev. BASING LANE IN[N] In the field, IARETS HALL.
Gerard's, a perversion of Gisors hall, or mansion, is thus described by Stow :
" On the south side of Basing lane is one great house, of old time built upon arched vaults, and with arched gates of stone brought from Caen in Normandy." As he had read, it was originally owned by John Gisors, mayor of London in 1245, who appears from the name to have been of a Norman family, was a Pepperer or member of the now Grocers company; and in 37 Henry III. is named on the Patent Rolls of that year, as the kings chamberlain of London, empowered to regulate the prices of wines. He was sheriff in 1240, and mayor in the years 1245, 1246, 1250, and 1259. In 1250, he had the honour of being the first mayor presented to the Barons of the Exchequer, and admitted by them to that office. He was alderman of Vintry ward, and coroner for the city of London, from 1281 to 1284, and was deceased in the reign of Edward the Second, as in the fourteenth year of that monarch, Sir John Gisors, as son and heir, was called on, to answer for his father, as king's coroner of London.
Sir John Gisors, who was mayor in 1311, though here named the son, was possibly the grandson of the mayor of 1245 ; the long period of years between seems to justify this supposition. Sir John was created Constable of the Tower in 1327, on the accession of King Edward the Third : see Close Roll, 1 Edw. III., p. 1, m. 23. He died in 1329 ; and it is apparently to him the particulars of the sepulture is referable in the chapel of St. Mary, in the Gray Friers, " ad dexterum cornu altaris, sub prima parte fenestrae, sub lapide elevato*."
This Sir John Gisors left two sons; Henry, the elder, who was sheriff in 1330; and John, who had issue, and who became the heirs and owners of Gisors' hall. By a John Gisors, according to Stow, a feofment of this property was made in 1386, and it then probably passed to the military order of St. John of Jerusalem ; as, on December 1, 1406, Walter Grendon, then prior, gave a receipt for four pounds, from Margaret, widow of Sir John Philippot, knight, Thomas Goodlak, and their partners, "in full payment of all arrears for rent due to us from their tenement called Jesores hall in the city of London."
In 1598, Stow finds that " the same is now a common hostery ;" banters Grafton for his credulity, or worse, in asserting Gisors' hall to have been the abode of a giant named Gerard ; and the may -pole of the bygone day fictionized into the giant's spear-staff, " when, even at the first building of Gisors' hall, were made divers arched doors, yet to 'be seen, which seem not sufficient for any great monster, or other than men of common stature to pass through."
In September, 1666, the great fire destroyed the building, but on its reconstruction, all of the stone wall that could be retained was made available, and it then stood some ten or twelve feet above the ground. On the east and south sides was perceptible the stone-work of the windows, to the arched vaults below the ground, since denominated the crypt ; and if they were blocked up in Stows time, certainly had the appearance of " divers arched doors," insufficient for the passage of any except a man of common stature ; but, on the demolition of the Gerards-hall tavern, in April, 1852, and the bricked stoppings being forced through, the iron mullions of the windows were shown to have been greatly injured by the operation of the fire, and the stone work evinced the destructiveness of the ravages the building had sustained during the conflagration ; even the supporting columns in the crypt, as it was termed, were greatly damaged.
The figure of the Giant Gerard, carved from a twisted block of timber, distorted and ill at ease, that stood between the first-floor windows, and faced the doorway of the house now numbered twenty-four, on the north side of Basing lane, was in March, 1852, moved from its position, and is now deposited in the crypt or vaults below the Guildhall. The building materials of the tavern were sold by auction on April 8th and 1 Oth following, and, ere the month had closed, it was, with the south side of Basing lane, wholly demolished. The vaults remained for some months to gratify the public curiosity ; but the crown of the arched roof being two feet or more above the level of the roadway, was in its turn cleared out, with considerable attention to the preservation of the stone in its several proportions, and will be reconstructed, as one of the innumerable attractions contemplated by the proprietors of the Crystal Palace, on Anerley hill near Sydenham.
Seven Stars, in Basing lane, in 1650, with initials A. A. P.
#129 AT THE SEAVEN STARES In the field, seven stars.Rev. IN BASIN LANE . 1650 A. A. P., in the field.
Seven Stars, in Basing lane, in 1666, with initials V. F. F. (Vincent Fletcher)
#130 VINCENT FLETCHER Seven stars, in the field.Rev. IN BASING LANE . 1666 In the field, V. F. F.
Fletcher was apparently the successor of A. P. at the Seven Stars. In the great fire of September, 1666, Basing lane was wholly destroyed.
White Horse, in Basing lane, in 1652, with initials I. G.
#131 AT THE WHIT HORS In the field, a horse caprioling.Rev. IN BASEN LANE. 1652 I. G., in the field.
A ball, in Basing lane, in 1659, a farthing, with initials B . A.
B142. Obverse. AT . THE . BALL . 1659 = A ball.R. IN . BASSING . LANE = B . A. 1/4
Grocers Arms, in Basing lane, in 1650, a farthing, with initials I . I . B. (John Benet)
B143. Obverse. John . Benet . in = The Grocers’ Arms.R. BASAN . LANE . 1650 = I . I . B. 1/4
A bear, in Basing lane, in 1656, a farthing, with Samuel Broxon
B144. Obverse. Samvel . Broxon = A bear.R. IN . BASEN . LANE . 1656 = SYLK SHOP. 1/4
A still, in Basing lane, a farthing, in 1666, with initials I . E . C. (John Cock)
B145. Obverse. JOHN . COCK . 1666 = A still.R. IN . BASING . LANE = I . E . C. 1/4
Vide No. 141.
White Horse, in Basing lane, in 1652, a farthing, with initials I . G.
B148. Obverse. at . the . Whit . Hors = A horse galloping.R. IN . BASEN . LANE . 1652 = I . G. 1/4
A bunch of grapes, in Basing lane, in 1671, a penny, with Rich Read
B149. Obverse. O. RICH . READ . IN . RED . LION . COVRT = A bunch of grapes.R. IN . BASING . LANE . COOPPER . 71 = 1 D
Harts Horns, in Basing lane, a halfpenny, with initials G . S . (George Sherley)
B150. Obverse. GEORGE . SHERLEY . AT . YE . HARTS = A pair of harts’ horns.R. horns . in . basing . lane = G . S . 1/2 and four stars.
BATTLE BRIDGE, Southwark.
Battle bridge was so named from being situated on ground, and over a water course flowing from the Thames, belonging to the abbot of Battle abbey ; the
place is now called Mill lane.
Brood Hen at Battle bridge, Southwark, with initials L. E. S.
#132 THE BROOD HEN AT BATLE Hen sitting on nest, in field.Rev. BRIDGE IN SOUTHARKE In the field, L. E. S.
An Angel at Battle bridge, Southwark, with initials A. M. F.
#133 CHESMOVNGER AT In the field, an angel.Rev. BATTEL BRIDG A. M. F., in the field.
A Castle at Battle bridge, with initials I. E. H. (John Holland)
#134 IOHN HOLLAND AT A castle, in the field. Rev.BATEL BRIDG . SOUTHWARK In the field, I. E. H.
A Peacock at Battle bridge, with initials R. S. S. (Richard Sapp)
#135 RICHARD SAPP AT BATLE Peacock, the tail displayed.Rev. BRIDG IN SOWTHARKE In the field, R. S. S.
"Alexander of Macedonia imposed a great penaltie on him that killed a peacocke. Quintus Hortensius the Romane oratour first set it upon the table, beeing himself a perfect glutton." Henry Buttes's Dyets dry Dinner, 1599, sign. K 6.
BEAR ALLEY, Southwark
A Bell at Bear Alley, Southwark, a halfpenny, with Rowland Pennifather
#136 ROWLAND PENNIFATHER A bell, HIS 1/2 in the field.Rev. IN BEARE ALLY . BRIDGFOOT IN SOVTHWARK.
BEARBINDER LANE (St. Swithin’s Lane).
A lobster at Bearbinder lane, with initials T . H.
B151. Obverse. AT . THE . LOBSTER . IN = T . H.R. BEAREBINDER . LANE = A lobster.
The Bear at Bearbinder lane, with initials I . S . P. (John Pullin)
B152. Obverse. John . Pullin . at . the . beare = A bear passant.R. in . beare . binder . lane = I . S . P. divided by a knot.
BEDFORDBURY, Chandos Street.
A token at Bedfordbury, with initials E. R. (Eliz Rowuperend)
#137 ELIZ: ROW.VPER EN[D] A skittle ball and two pins.Rev. OF BEDFORDBERY In the field, E. R.
Skittles, under the appellation of kayles or nine-pins, was, with other games, denounced as an unlawful amusement in the reign of King Edward the Fourth, and the magistrates commanded to seize and burn them. Strutt, while noticing the general failure of such enactments, adds " I remember, about twenty years back (1780), the magistrates caused all the skittle frames, in or about the city of London, to be taken up, and prohibited the playing at Dutch pins, nine pins, or in long bowling alleys, when in many places the game of nine holes was revived as a substitute, with the new name of ( Bubble the Justice, because the populace had taken it into their heads to imagine the power of the magistrates extended only to the prevention of such pastimes as were specified by name in the public acts, and not to any new species of diversion." Sports and Pastimes, edit. 1810, 4to. Introd. p. xliv.
Two lions supporting a crown at Bedfordbury, a farthing, with initials F . P . C. (Frances Clare)
B153. Obverse. Frances . Clare . in . bed = Two lions supporting a crown.R. FORD . BEREY . IN . ST . MARTIN = F . P . C. 1/4
A half-moon at Bedfordbury, a farthing, with initials T . I . W. (Thomas West)
B155. Obverse. Thomas . West . 1663 = A half-moon, and a stick of candles.R. IN . BEDFORDBERRY = T . I . W. 1/4
BEDFORD STREET, Covent Garden.
Cross Keys Tavern at Bedford street, Covent Garden, with initials G. G. G.
#138 THE CROS KEYES TAVERN Two crossed keys, in field.Rev. IN COVENT GARDEN In the field, G. G. G.
Most of the early parochial rate books of St. Paul, Covent garden, are supposed to have been destroyed in the fire of September, 1795 ; all that remain are the rectors rate books of 1650, and the poor-rate assessment books of the years 1651 (the eastern division only), 1657, and 1663. There are no others till 1697; and recently, some heartless wretch has purloined the volume of vestry minutes, from 1640 to 1681 ; certainly one of the most interesting of all the metropolitan records.
The Crossed-keys tavern appears to have been in Bedford street, between Henrietta street and King street. GEOKGE GASCOIGNES name is noticed in the rate books of 1657 ; but he was doubtless an older inhabitant, as in the burial register that commences October 27, 1653, are recorded in April 24, 1654, the sepxilture of Debora Gascoigne, and on May 8th, Dorothy Gascoigne. The burial of George Gascoigne, the issuer of the token, follows on January 23, 1660-61.
Two crossed keys in Bedford street, Covent Garden, with initials S. G. H. (Samuell Hoare)
#139 SAMVELL HOARE AT THE CROS Two crossed keys, in field.Rev. IN BEDFORD STREET COVENT GARD In the field, S. G. H.
Samuel Hoare possibly married the widow of George Gascoigne, the middle initial being the same. Hoare's name appears on the rate book of 1663. The burial register notices him, October 14, 1668, as " Captain Samuel Hoare, buried in the church ;" and later, possibly of the same family, is recorded, August 2d, 1695,
"Elizabeth, wife of Charles Hoare, esq., from St. Ann's; buried in the church."
These interments were in the vaults.
King Charles II in Bedford street, Covent Garden, 1660, with initials W. S.
#140 TOUCH NOT MINE ANOINTED Head of King Charles II.Rev. FEARE GOD. HONOR THE KING: A bible, between W. S., the date 1660, above.
King Charles II in Bedford street, Covent Garden, 1664, with initials W. M. S.
#140* TOUCH NOT MINE ANOINTED Head of King Charles II.Rev. FEARE GOD . HONOR THE KING A bible, between W. M. S., and the date 1664, above.
William Sheares, bookseller, at the Bible in Bedford street, Covent garden, in 1661, as a frontispiece to some of his publications, prefixed an engraving of his sign, a Bible, with W. S., surrounded by the motto " FEARE GOD . HONOR THE KING," as on the token.
Richard Smith, in his Obituary, has a notice ; " Sept. 21st, 1662, Mr. Sheires, bookseller in Covent garden, buried." Where, does not appear; his name is not in the parish register. Margaret Sheares is found in imprints, three or four years later.
The burial register of St. Paul, Covent garden, records, " March 26, 1673, Mrs. Margaret Sheares buried."
Token in Bedford street, Covent Garden, 1654, with initials W. F. (William Farncombe)
#141 WILLIAM FARNCOMBE In the field, OYLE MANE . 1654.Rev. IN COVENT GARDEN W. F., in the field.
William Farncombe appears on the rate book of 1657, in Bedford street ; and in the burial register, February 3, 1660-61, is recorded the interment of " William, son of William Farncombe." The name again occurs in the assessment book of 1663.
Tallowchandlers Arms in Bedford street, Covent Garden, farthing, with Thomas Batcheler
B156. Obverse. Thomas . Batcheler = cheesmonger (in three lines).R. in . bedfold . street = The Tallowchandlers’ Arms. 1/4
Sugar Loaf in Bedford street, Covent Garden, farthing, with initials G . D.
B157. Obverse. AT . THE . SHVGER . LOFE = A Sugar-loaf.R. IN . BEDFORD . STREETE = G . D. 1/4
A token in Bedford street, Covent Garden, halfpenny, with Thomas Lathwell
B159. Obverse. Thomas . Lathwell . in . bed = A man dipping candles.R. FORD . STREET . COVENT . GARDEN = HIS HALF PENY.
A token in Bedford street, Covent Garden, farthing, with initials H . K . P.
B160. Obverse. at . the . Bellconey . in = Three people looking from a balcony.R. BEDFORD . STREET =H . K . P. 1/4
Three birds in Bedford street, Covent Garden, halfpenny, in 1664, with initials C . E . S. (Christopher Seward)
B161. Obverse. Christopher . Seward . at . the = Three birds. C . E . S.R. IN . BEDFORD . STREET . COVENT . GARDN = HIS HALFE PENNY. 1664.
BEDLAM, Bishopsgate Without.
A newspaper, dated Saturday, March 14th, 1752, states that " This week workmen began to pull down four houses in the front of Bishopsgate street, adjoining to Old Bedlam, and several others down the said place, in order to make that passage to New Broad street more commodious, the new houses being to be built ten feet backwards."
Simon Fitz-Mary*, sheriff of London in the years 1233 and 1246, out of his
singular and especial devotion to the church of the glorious Virgin Mary at
Bethlehem, gave, as the deed of gift recites, " all that land of mine, which I
possess in the parish of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate, namely, whatsoever I
have there, or whatsoever I ought to have there, in houses, gardens, fish-ponds,
ditches, pits, and all their appurtenances, included within the bounds ; the
which extend in length from the king's way on the east, to the ditch called
Depediche on the west ; and in breadth, towards the land which was Ralph
Dunnynges on the north, to the land of the church of St. Botolph on the south ;
in clear, free, and perpetual alms, and especially for building the same into a
priory." The grant, dated on Wednesday, October 23, 1247, was witnessed by Peter
Fitz-Alwyn, supposed to have been the grandson of Henry Fitz-Alwyn, draper, of
London Stone, first may or of London; Nicholas Bat, sheriff and alderman of
Bishopsgate ward; Ralph Sparling, and others.
Not otherwise endowed, and failing of other assistance, the priory lingered till
1523, when Stephen Jennings, a merchant tailor, bequeathed forty pounds towards
purchasing the right of adapting it to the reception of lunatics. Skelton, in
his Why come ye not to Cowrie, written in or about 1523, in his abuse of
Cardinal Wolsey, thus describes him :
" He grinnes and he gapes
As it were Jacke Napes,
Such a mad Bedlem."
In 1546, on the dissolution of popish religious houses, the priory, with all its
revenues, passed to the city authorities, as a hospital for insane persons.
Aggas, in his map, 1560, particularizes the buildings, with the church in the
midst, demolished in 1562, doubtless for the purpose of laying out lines of
small houses, which were soon after erected. Sir Thomas Roe, in 1569, inclosed,
as a place of burial for the neighbourhood, about an acre of the land belonging
to the said hospital, on the west, on the bank of the deep ditch, the boundary
of the hospital land from Moorfields. This inclosed portion constitutes the
north-west corner of Liverpool street and Blomfield street, next Finsbury
circus.
Contiguous to the metropolis, it became a suburban receptacle for lawless and
low characters ; the lunatics were of the worst description, and maintained by
public charity, but scantily bestowed. Streets of small tenements creeped up
almost imperceptibly, and became the pestilential abode of dissolute persons.
Chettle, in his Kind Hearts' Dreame, printed at latest in 1593, notices the
bowling-alleys in Bedlam. Stow, in 1598, observes, "from this hospital
northward, upon the street's side, many houses have been built with alleys
backward, of late too much pestered with people, a great cause of infection, up
to the bars ;" and Ben Jonson, in his Alchemist, 1610, has an allusion to the
beggarly condition of the precinct :
" Lovewit. The world's turn'd Bethlem !
Face. These are all broke loose
Out of St. Katherine's, where they use to keep The better sort of mad folks."
Act v. sc. 1.
The attempt by the city authorities, in 1644, to renovate the place and
institute order, was, from the density of the population, abandoned, until the
new hospital, on the south side of Moorfields, begun in April, 1675, and
completed in July, 1676, became the home of the lunatics; and their former
receptacle was either pulled down or rendered habitable for more supposed sane
persons. Strype, in 1720, describes it as containing several courts and alleys,
under the appellation of Old Bethlem ; it continued so till 1829, when the main
street, so named, was widened, and the name changed to Liverpool street.
Salutation, in Bedlam, in 1658, with initials G. A. H.
#142 AT THE SALUTATION In the field, two men greeting.Rev. IN BEDLAM . 1658 G. A. H., in the field.
The transmutation of the tavern signs at this period was the theme of numerous writers. Richard Flecknoe, in his Enigmatical Characters, 1658, 8vo, speaking of " your fanatick reformers," observes, " as for the signs, they have pretty well begun their reformation already, changing the sign of the Salutation of the Angel and our Lady into the Souldier and Citizen, and the Catherine-wheel into the Cat and Wheel. Such ridiculous work they make of their reformation, and so zealous are they against all mirth and jollity, as they would pluck down the sign of the Cat and Fiddle too, if it durst but play so loud as they could hear it."
* Leland names him Simon Fitz-Moris ; and he is elsewhere called Maury.
Sun, in Bedlam, in 1658, with initials E. G. C. (Ephraim Clitherow)
#143 EPHRAIM CLITHEROW The sun in rays, in the field.Rev. AT THE SVNE IN BEDLAM E. G. C.
Half Crescent, in Bedlam, with initials T. B.
#144 THE SINE OF THE HALF A crescent, in the field.Rev. MOVN IN BEDLAME In the field, T. B.
Sir Thomas Browne was of opinion that the human faces pourtrayed on ale-house signs, and in coats of arms, for the sun and moon, were reliques of paganism, and that these visages originally implied Apollo and Diana.
Butler, who waggishly asks,
"Tell me but what's the nat'ral cause,
Why on a sign, no painter draws
The full moon ever, but the half ? "
Hudibras, part ii. canto 3.
maybe fairly answered on the rule of common sense ; was the moon represented full faced, as the Baptist's head on the Irish half-pennies and farthings of King John, the more than half fuddled mooney-eyed customers, by an optical illusion, on retiring, might mistake the moon's disc for a sun in glory ; fancy it another haven of bliss ; return ; and become lunatically drunk.
Three tuns, in Bedlam, a farthing, with initials C . H . A.
B178. Obverse. at . the . three = Three tuns.R. TVNS . IN . BEDLAM = C . H . A. 1/4
At the Three Tuns in Bedlam. Initials C H A . And Three Tuns (Barrels)
A half-moon, in Bedlam, a farthing, with initials T . B.
B179. Obverse. the . sine . of . the . half = A half-moon.R. MOVN . IN . BED LAME = T . B. 1/4
A half-moon, in Bedlam, a halfpenny, in 1668, with initials R . E . B. (Ralph Badgett)
B180. Obverse. RALPH . BADGETT = A patten.R. IN . BETHELAM . 1668 = HIS HALFE PENY. R . E . B. 1/2
The Cloth workers Arms, in Bedlam, a halfpenny, in 1667, with initials T . M . B. (Thomas Bonny)
B181. Obverse. Thomas . Bonny . at . the = The Cloth workers’ Arms.R. IN . BEDLAM . 1667 = HIS HALFE PENNY. T . M . B.
A hand pouring coffee into a pot, in Bedlam, a penny, in 1669, with John Clapton
B182. Obverse. John . Clapton . at . the = A hand pouring coffee into a pot.R. COFFEE . HOVSE . IN . BETHELEM = HIS PENNY. 1669.
Three pattens, in Bedlam, a farthing, with Elizabeth Ground
B184. Obverse. Elizabeth . Ground = Three pattens.R. in . bethlehem = A legging. 1/4
A bull, in Bedlam, a halfpenny in 1666, with Will Hilton
B186. Obverse. Will . Hilton . at . black = A bull, and a small animal.R. IN . BETHLEM . l666 = HIS HALF PENY.
Three pattens, in Bedlam, a farthing, with initials E . B . H. (Elias Holloway)
B187. Obverse. ELIAS . HOLLOWAY . AT . THE = A pump.R. IN . BEDLAM = E . B . H. 1/4
White Hart, at Bedlam Gate, a halfpenny in 1657, with E . E . K
B188. Obverse. at . the . White . Hart = A hart lodged.R. AT . BEDLAM . GATE . 1657 = E . E . K. 1/4
Erected, according to the date formerly on the front, in 1480. Stow, in 1598, says, “Next unto the parish church of St. Buttolph without Bishopsgate, is a fair inn for receipt of travellers.”
In the European Magazine for March, 1787, is a view of the front ; and on June 3 and 4, 1788, the whole of the furniture, plate, linen, and effects were sold
by auction on the premises. The advertisements described it as “ the White Hart Tavern, of eminent resort for upwards of three centuries.”
In January, 1819, the freehold of the White Hart Tavern, the houses in White Hart Court, etc., then producing on the old low long-leasehold rents £524 per annum, were announced for sale on the 17th ; particulars were to be had of Mr. John Long, Christ’s Hospital. The White Hart Tavern was rebuilt in 1829, when the entrance into Old Bedlam, formerly called Eedlam-gate , was widened, and the street re-named Liverpool Street.
The Mirror , vol. xv., has a wood-cut view of the exterior of the White Hart tavern, showing the alterations subsequent to 1787 for improving the entrance to White Hart Court, taken almost immediately before the demolition in 1829.
White Hart Court appears to have been built on the old inn yard.—[Beaufoy.]
A crescent moon, at Bedlam , a farthing in 1662, with initials T . L. (Thomas Leare)
B189. Obverse. Thomas . Leare . in = A crescent moon.R. BEDDLAM . l662 = T . L. 1/4
A shield of arms, at Bedlam , a farthing in 1658, with initials W . F . M.
B190. Obverse. ...Sirpony. hovs = A shield of arms.R. IN . BEDLAM . 1658 = W . F . M. 1/4
Blacksmiths Arms, at Bedlam , a halfpenny in 1667, with initials R . S . P. (Ralph Panke)
B191. Obverse. Ralph . Panke . at . ye . = The Blacksmiths’ Arms.R. IN . BETHELAM . 1667 = HIS HALFE PENY. R . S . P. 1/2
Ye Swan, at Bedlam , a halfpenny, with Bartholomew Peele
B192. Obverse. BARTHOLOMEW . PEELE . AT . YE = A Swan.R. BLACK . SWAN . IN . BETHELEM = HIS HALF PENY.
A plough, at Bedlam , a farthing, with initials I . S . R. (James Reddall)
B193. Obverse. JAMES . REDDALL . AT = A plough.R. THE . PLOW . IN . BEDLAM = I . S . R. 1/4
A fleur-de-lis, at Bedlam , a farthing, with initials I . S. (James Sanderson)
B194. Obverse. James . Sanderson = A fleur-de-lis.R. IN . BEDLAM = I . S. 1/4
The Bakers Arms, at Bedlam , a halfpenny, with initials H . M . T. (Henry Turner)
B195. Obverse. Henry . Turner . baker = The Bakers’ Arms.R. IN . BETHELEM . 1668 = HIS HALFE PENY. H . M . T.
BEECH LANE.
Beech lane is mentioned in early records, as the way lying " versus le Beche," the shore of the great water. A red cross, in contrast with the white or stone
cross towards Cripplegate, stood at the west corner, both afterwards giving names to the respective streets on their sites. The Roman watch-tower, the
Barbican, stood near the red cross, and was subsequently the site of the town mansion of the Bridge water family ; that in its turn has given place to Bridge
water square.
Goldsmiths Company arms, in Beech lane , in 1656, with initials E. W. (Elizabeth Wood)
#145 ELIZABETH WOOD Goldsmiths Company arms, in the field,.Rev. IN BEACH LANE. 1656 In the field, E. W.
Three crowns, in Beech lane, a halfpenny, in 1668, with initials E. I. M. (Edward Marshall)
#146 EDWARD MARSHALL In the field, three crowns.Rev. IN BEECH LANE . 1668 HIS HALF PENY. E. I. M.
A token, in Beech lane , a halfpenny, in 1669, with initials H. A. G (Henry Green)
#147 HENRY GREEN NEXT DORE TO GLOVERS HALL.Rev. IN BEECH LANE . 1669 . A HALFE PENEY. H. A. G.
A dog and duck, in Beech lane , a farthing, in 1658, with initials P . M . B. (Peter Baker)
B162. Obverse. Peter . Baker . in = A dog and duck.R. BEICH . LANE . 1658 = P . M . B. 1/4
A harts horns, in Beech lane , a farthing, with initials E . B. (Elez Butterfield)
B163. Obverse. ELEZ . BUTTERFIELD . AT = A hart’s horns.R. IN . BEECH . LANE = E . B. 1/4
Three crowns, in Beech lane , a farthing, with Samuell Elce
B164. Obverse. Samuell . Elce . in = Three crowns.R. BEECH . LANE . CHANDLER = S . E. 1/4
The Bakers Arms, in Beech lane , a farthing, in 1659, with initials R. E. H. (Robert Halls)
B166. Obverse. Robert . Halls . at . the = The Bakers’ Arms.R. IN . BEECH . LANE . 59 = R . E . H. 1/4
The Butchers Arms, in Beech lane , a halfpenny, in 1668, with initials T . S . T. (Thomas Taylor)
B168. Obverse. Thomas . Taylor . in = The Butchers’ Arms.R. BEECH . LANE . 1668- HIS HALF PENY. T . S . T.
BELL YARD, Fleet Street.
Bell yard derived that appellation from a messuage or tenement called " the Bell, " in the parish of St. Dunstan's, Fleet street, " lately belonging to the
priory of St. John of Jerusalem." On the dissolution of the priory, King Henry the Eighth granted the said messuage to Anthony Stringer, from whom, in 1543, it
passed to John Hornby. The Inquisitio post mortem, instituted on Hornbys decease in 1558, elicited these facts.
Key and Half-moon, in Bell yard, a halfpenny, in 1667, with Victor Drew
#148 VICTOR DREW IN BELL Key within crescent, in field.Rev. YARD NEAR TEMPLE BARR HIS HALF PENY. 1667.
The sign of the Key and Half-moon.
Ye drake, in Bell yard, a halfpenny, in 1667, with Will Johnson
#149 WILL. JONSON AT YE DRAKE IN A drake, in the field.Rev. BELL YARD NEARE TEMPLE BAR HIS HALFE PENY. 1667.
Will Johnson at Ye Drake in Bell Yard, near Temple Bar. His Half penny 1667. And A Drake.
The Bakers Arms, in Bell yard, a halfpenny, in 1667, with initials M . E . F. (Mathew Fann)
B171. Obverse. Mathew . Fann . in . bell . yeard = The Bakers’ Arms.R. NEARE . TEMPLE . BAR . 1667 = HIS HALFE PENY. M . E . F.
Harts horns and portcullis, in Bell yard, a halfpenny, in 1660, with initials T . A . L. (Thomas Lawrence)
B173. Obverse. Tho . Lawrence . in . bell . yard = Hart’s horns and portcullis.R. WITHIN . TEMPLE . BARR . 60 = HIS HALF PENY. T . A . L.
Turks head, in Bell yard, a halfpenny, in 1666, with initials I . L. (Jacob Lions)
B174. Obverse. Jacob . Lions . in . bell . yard = A Turk’s head, between I . L.R. NEARE . TEMPLE. BARR . l666 = HIS HALF PENY.
ye Nags head, in Bell yard, a halfpenny, in 1667, with Stephen Porter
B175. Obverse. Stephen . Porter . at . ye . Nag = A horse’s head bridled.R. TAVERN . IN . BELL . YARD . NEAR = 1667. TEMPL . BAR. 1/2
A portcullis, in Bell yard, a farthing, with initials W . L . R.
B176. Obverse. THE . PERCULIS . IN . BELL = A portcullis.R. YARD . NERE . TEMPLE . BAR = W . L . R. 1/4
A portcullis, in Bell yard, a halfpenny, with Thomas Ryves.
B177. Obverse. THOMAS . RYVES . IN . BELL = HIS HALFE PENY.R. YARD . WITHIN . TEMPLE . BARR = A portcullis. 1/2
BENET or BAYNARD CASTLE, Thames Street.
A windmill, at Benet Castle, Thames Street, with initials E. G. O. (Edward Oakes)
#150 EDWARD OAKES AT BENET A windmill, in the field.Rev. CASTLE . THAMES STREET In the field, E. G. O.
A Harrow, at Benets Hill, a penny, with Mathew Tunstale
ST. BENNET'S HILL, Thames Street.#151 MATHEW TVNSTALE AT THE A harrow, in the field.
Rev. HARROW ONE ST BENNETS HILL In the field, 1D
Large brass, for pence, were chiefly issued by coffee-house keepers on their re-establishment after the great fire.
BERMONDSEY STREET, Southwark.
White Swan, at Barnabey street, a penny, with initials W. A. T.
#152 AT THE WHITE SWAN IN A swan with collar and chain.Rev. BARNABEY STREET In the field, W. A. T.
The Mandevilles, earls of Essex, bore for arms, gules, a swan arg. ducally collared and chained or. The Bohuns, descended from them by a female line, bore
the same badge.
The White Swan was a device borne by King Edward the Third on his shield, at a tournament., with the legend in the vernacular English dialect, the first recorded instance of its use in a motto :
" Ha ! ha ! the Whyte Swan !
By Goddes soule I am thy man !"
Prior to this time, the English language was a commixture of speech, of Anglo-Saxon and Norman -French.
The White Swan was also the badge of his son King Richard the Second.
Red Bull Inn, at Bermondsey street, a penny, with initials D. ?
#153 AT THE RED BULL IN A bull passant, in the field.Rev. BERMONDSEY STREETS In field, . . D. ? indistinct.
Crossed keys, at Bermondsey street, with initials R. A. M. (Richard Melton)
#154 RICHARD MELTON IN Crossed keys, in the field.Rev. BARNIBE STREETE In the field, R. A. M.
The sign of the Crossed Keys is yet extant in Bermondsey street. ,
A token, at Bermondsey street, a halfpenny, in 1666, with initials N. M. S. (Nicholas Shelley)
#155 NICHOLAS SHELLEY IN HIS HALFE PENNY, in field.Rev. BARMONDICE CHESEMONGER In the field, N. M. S. 1666.
A token, at Bermondsey street, a halfpenny, in 1666, with initials I. A. S. (John Stevens)
#156 IOHN STEVENS IN BARMONSI In the field, I. A. S. 1666.Rev. STREET IN SOVTHWARKE HIS HALF PENY.
BILLINGSGATE.
Queens Head, at Billingsgate, with initials R. A. C.
#157 AT THE QVEENES HEAD Queen Elizabeth, with high ruff.Rev. AT BILLINGSGATE In the field, R. A. C.
Queens Head, at Billingsgate, farthing, with initials R. A. C.
B197. Obverse. at . the . Queens . Head = Bust of the Queen of Bohemia.R. AT . BILLINGS . GATE = R . A . C. 1/4
Antecedent to the fire, was the Boar's Head in Billingsgate, that gave name also to Boar's-head alley. Machin, in his diary, a chronicle of the cardinal virtues of Catholicism, mentions, on May 11th, 1555, one Hall, a lighterman, of Boar's-head alley, who, while the faithful of Machin's religion were going in procession through Cheapside, was bound to a post there and whipped, as they passed, for his heretical opinions. Well might the accession of Queen Elizabeth induce her sign to be raised, as an expression of general joy.
A lion rampant, at Billingsgate, halfpenny, with John Eldridge
#158 John Eldridge at Billingsgate, in four lines, on obverse.Rev. His HALF PENY A lion rampant, and still, in field.
John Eldridge at Billingsgate. His Half Penny. And A lion rampant, and still, in field.
Octangular in form. A distiller of strong water ; burned out in the great fire in September, 1666. He appears to have re-established himself in Drury lane, at the sign of the Eagle and Crown, whence he issued a half-penny token, bearing date 1667.
Queens Head, at Billingsgate, farthing, with initials S . M . B.
B196. Obverse. at . the . Queens . Head = Bust of the Queen of Bohemia.R. AT . BILLINGSGATE = S . M . B. 1/4
A mermaid, at Billingsgate, farthing, in 1663, with initials R . A . C. (Rob Cash)
B198. Obverse. Rob . Cash . 1663 = A mermaid.R. AT . BILLINGSGATE = R . A . C. 1/4
A mermaid, at Billingsgate, farthing, in 1650, with initials V . I . H.
B200. Obverse. the . mairmead . tavern = A mermaid.R. AT . BILLIN . GATE . 1650 = V . I . H. 1/4
Salutation tavern, at Billingsgate, farthing, with initials R . S . M.
B201. Obverse. the . Salutation . tavern = Two men saluting.R. AT . BILLINGS . GATE = R . S . M. 1/4
The Salutation Tavern at Billingsgate. Initials R S M. And two men saluting.
Here were headquarters of Freemasons in Anne’s reign.
A White lion, at Billingsgate, farthing, in 1658, with initials W . P. (Will Potter)
B202. Obverse. Will . Potter . white = A lion passant.R. LION . BY . BILLINSGAT = W . P. 1658. 1/4
A ship, at Billingsgate, farthing, with initials T . E . W.
B203. Obverse. AT . THE . DARK . HOVSE = A ship.R. NERE . BILLINGSGATE = T . E . W. 1/4
See Notes and Queries October 1863, p. 308.
“ We were now at a stand which way to move ; at last my Companion propos’d the Dark-House at Billingsgate: Where he told me, we need not question, among the various humours of the Maritime Nobility, but to find abundance of Diversion. . . . Besides, we could then have the conveniency of a bed to repose our weary Members.”—The “ London Spy,” by Ned Ward, 1718 (originally published in 1698), part ii., p. 33.
A token, at Billingsgate, halfpenny, with initials E . B . W. (Everard Wild)
B204. Obverse. EVERARD . WILD . AT . THE = HIS HALF PENY.R. BASKET . AT . BILINGSG. = E . B . W. 1/2
A ship, at Billingsgate, farthing
B205. Obverse. THE . 4 . YEOMEN . OF . THE = A ship.R. waterside . tokens = A scallop-shell. 1/4
A lobster, at Billingsgate, farthing
B206. Obverse. YEWMEN . OF . THE . WATER = A lobster.R. SID . AT . BILLINGS . GATE = A SCallop-shell. 1/4
This token fixes the locality of the preceding.
BILLITER LANE.
" The narrow way called Bellezeters lane is noticed as a boundary, in a survey
of lands and quit-rents belonging to London Bridge, in the fifteenth century.
Harl. MS. 6016. Billiter lane is now Billiter street.
A token, at Billiter lane, in 1657, with William Wickins
#159 WILLIAM WICKINS . 1657, in three lines, on obverse.Rev. IN BILET[E]R LANE A man dipping candles.
A crooked billet, at Billiter lane, with initials W. E. P. (William Phillips)
#160 WILLIAM PHILLIPS A crooked billet, in the field.Rev. IN BILLITER LANE In the field, W. E. P.
An anchor, at Billiter lane, halfpenny, in 1668, with A Bacheler
B207. Obverse. A . Bacheler . at . ye (in three lines). An anchor.R. IN . BILLITER . LANE . HALF . PENY . 1668 (in five B200. Obverse. lines).
An angel, at Billiter lane, farthing, with initials G . H . G.
B208. Obverse. at . the . Angell . in = An angel, holding a scroll.R. BILETTER . LANE = G . H . G. 1/4
A crooked billet, at Billiter lane, farthing, with initials I . S . H. (John Howkins)
B209. Obverse. John . Howkins = A crooked billet.R. IN . BILLITER . LANE = I . S . H. 1/4
The Holy Lamb, at Billiter lane, farthing, in 1648, with initials W . K . L.
B210. Obverse. Brovns . Ally . in = The Holy Lamb with the nimbus.R. BILLETER . LANE . 1648 = W . K . L. 1/4
BIRCHIN LANE, Cornhill.
" The kings way called Berchers lane, in the parish of St. Edmund in Lombard strete," is noticed as a boundary, in a survey of lands and quit -rents
belonging to London Bridge, in the fifteenth century. Harl. MS. 6016.
Bercher appears to be a perversion, or misnomer. " Birchover lane," according to
Stow, edit. 1603, was " so called of Birchover, the first builder and owner
thereof, now corruptly called Birchin lane. This lane, and the high street near
adjoining, were formerly for the most part inhabited by wealthy drapers ; but in
the reign of Henry the Sixth, from Birchover lane on that side of the street, to
the stocks, the most part dwelling there were fripperers or upholders, who sold
old apparel and household stuff. ' ' What would now be termed a broker's alley.
So, in the Returne from Parnassus, 1606, 4to, it is said, "And you, Master
Amoretto it's fine, when that puppet-player Fortune must put such a Birchin-lane
post in so good a suit such an ass in so good fortune."
A cock, in Birchin lane, with initials I. E. F. (James Forde)
#161 IAMES FORDE AT THE A cock, in the field.Rev. COCKE IN BVRCHING LANE In the field, I. E. F.
A ship, in Birchin lane, with initials E. A. D.
#162 AT THE SHIP IN A ship, in the field.
Rev. BVRCHEN LANE In the field, E. A. D.
A bull, in Birchin lane, a farthing, with initials I . E . C. (John Cooke)
B213. Obverse. JOHN . COOKE . At . BLAC = A bull.R. IN . BURCHIN . LANE = I . E . C. 1/4
A cock, in Birchin lane, a halfpenny, in 1667, with Roger Forth
B216. Obverse. Roger . Forth . at . the = A cock ; above it a bell.R. IN . BURCHEN . LANE . 1667 = HIS HALFE PENNY.
A Bull, in Birchin lane, a halfpenny, with Robert White
B217. Obverse. ROBERT . WHITE . AT = THE BVLL ORDINARY.R. IN . BURCHEN . LANE = HIS HALF PENY.
### Next is streets Bish, starting with Bishopsgate
As ever I am appreciative of the archive.org site and google books for showing old and non-copyright scripts which can be used for research (copied).