![]() ![]() The name Acon is the anglicised version of Acre (now part of Israel), and dates from the Third Crusade between 11, and possibly originates from an order of monks / knights formed during the Crusade and the siege of Acre. The hospital was built on land purchased from the Becket family. Look to the southern end, and to the right of Ironmonger Lane is a block of building and the abbreviation “Cha” for Chapel – this is the area where Thomas a Becket was born and also the site of the Hospital of St Thomas of Acon. Cheapside at the southern end, and Cateaton Street (which would later become Gresham Street) at the northern end. Ironmonger Lane is in the centre of the map. This is John Rocque’s map of 1746, although I have not yet reached the 18th century, the map is helpful in showing the location of some of these 12th century establishments. ![]() The hospital would be important for how we see the southern end of Ironmonger Lane today. The Hospital of St Thomas of Acon was founded in 1227 on land at the southern end of Ironmonger Lane, between ironmonger Lane and Old Jewry, facing onto Cheapside. The Becket family owned part of the land at the southern end of Ironmonger Lane and alongside Cheapside.Īlso in the 12th century, we see the first references to the church of St Olave (roughly half way along the lane), although certainly much older, and also to the Hospital of St Thomas of Acon (dedicated to Thomas a Becket), when hospitals were mainly religious establishments. The churchyard is in the centre of the lane, and Roman bricks were also found during the excavations, providing further evidence of Roman building.Įarly in the 12th century, Thomas Becket, who would become Archbishop of Canterbury and murdered at Canterbury Cathedral at the apparent command of King Henry II, was born in a house on the corner of Ironmonger Lane and Cheapside, a plaque marks the site today: The next traces of occupation in Ironmonger Lane are possible 9th to 11th century foundations found in the churchyard of St. It is intriguing to imagine that Ironmonger Lane was a street in Roman times, and this was the earliest traces of the buildings and people living in this part of the City. The mosaic and house were dated to around the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The excavation was notable at the time as this was the first Roman mosaic that had been found since excavations at the Bank of England. Number 11 is in the centre of the photo below:Īdrian Oswald, working on behalf of the Guildhall Museum excavated the site, and 16 feet below street level the remains of a Roman house and Roman mosaic were found. The bomb damaged remains of number 11 Ironmonger Lane were being demolished after the war and the Guildhall Museum led an excavation of the site. The buildings in the lane are relatively recent, and difficult to photograph due to the width of the lane, however Ironmonger Lane has a fascinating history, so for this week’s post, let me take you on a journey through time starting with the earliest traces of habitation in ironmonger Lane.Īs with many City streets, ironmonger Lane suffered bomb damage in the last war, hence the relatively young age of the buildings that line the lane today. A couple of week’s ago I was in ironmonger Lane in the City of London, a narrow lane running between Cheapside and Gresham Street. ![]()
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