Abchurch Lane was first mentioned as Abbechurche Lane in 1291.
The name is perhaps a corruption of Upchurch as the church is on slightly rising ground.
In the early 17th century the lane was renowned for the cakes referred to in John Websters Northward Hoe (1607) and sold by Mother Wells who had her shop here.
In the later part of the century and in the early 18th century it was even better known for the French eating house Pontacks whose exact site is uncertain. This was patronized by Evelyn. Wren and Swift.
The new King William Street which was built in the 1830s cut the lane in two.
In 1855 excavations for a sewer revealed an 11-metre length of Roman ragstone wall, probably running northwards up the middle of the lane from its junction with Nicholas Passage.
