Chancery Lane, WC2A

Chancery Lane has formed the western boundary of the City of London since 1994, having previously been divided between the London boroughs of Westminster and Camden.

City of London
Credit: User unknown/public domain

Chancery Lane originates from before 1161 as a ’new lane’. It was created by the Knights Templar from the ’Old Temple’ on the site of the Southampton Buildings on Holborn, in order to access their newly acquired property (the present Temple).

The street takes its name from the historic High Court of Chancery established in 1161 when Robert de Chesney, Bishop of Lincoln, acquired the ’old Temple’.

On the eastern side was the original site of the Domus Conversorum (House of the Converts), a residence and chapel for Jews who had converted to Christianity, founded by King Henry III in the 13th century.

The site later became the Public Record Office designed by Sir James Pennethorne in 1851. In the latter half of the 20th century, records relocated to Kew. In 2001 it underwent renovation and became the Maughan Library.

Lincoln’s Inn occupies most of the western side of Chancery Lane north of Carey Street.

Some of the side streets are named after their associations with now defunct legal practices, such as Rolls Buildings and Cursitor Alley.

...

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

None so far :(

LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Parkers Row, SE1 Added: 9 Jan 2025 18:51 GMT	Parkers Row, SE1 My great great grandmother, and her soon to be husband, lived in Parker’s Row before their marriage in St James in June 1839. Thier names were - Jane Elizabeth Turner and Charles Frederick Dean. She was a hat trimmer and he was a tailor. Reply
Lindsay Trott Lockside, E14 Added: 1 Jan 2025 17:55 GMT	Lockside not on 1939 Register I have the Denby family living in Lockside in 1938 but it does not appear on the 1939 Register. Reply
Janelle Robbins Blossom Place, E1 Added: 27 Dec 2024 18:47 GMT	Harriet Robbins Please get in touch re Harriet Robbins Reply
Dave Hinves Bacon Street, E1 Added: 27 Nov 2024 03:55 GMT	he was a School Teacher Henry sailed from Graves End 1849 on ’The Woodbridge’ arrived South Australia 1850. In 1858 he married Julia Ann Walsh at Burra, South Australia, they had 3 children, and 36 grand children. Died 24 June 1896 at Wilmington, South Australia. He is my 1st cousin 3x removed. Reply
Kevin Pont St George’s Square, SW1V Added: 23 Nov 2024 17:03 GMT	St Georges Square This is rather lovely and well worth a visit! Reply
Simon Chapman Blossom Place, E1 Added: 22 Nov 2024 17:47 GMT	Blossom Place My Great Great Grandmother, Harriett Robbins lived in 2 Blossom Place in 1865 before marrying my Great Great Grandfather. They moved to 23 Spitall Square. Reply
Mark G Skidmore Street, E1 Added: 26 Oct 2024 21:54 GMT	Skidmore Street, E1 Skidmore Street was located where present day Ernest Street and Solebay Street now stand. They are both located above Shandy Street and Commodore Street. Reply
Alan Russell Cheshire Street, E1 Added: 26 Oct 2024 14:36 GMT	Cheshire Street, London E2 - 1969 Cheshire Street, London E2 - 1969 Reply

NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

City Temple The City Temple is a Nonconformist church on Holborn Viaduct.

City Temple

Houghton Street (1906) A greengrocer’s on the corner of Houghton Street and Clare Market (behind The Strand) in 1906 just before demolition.

Houghton Street (1906)

Lisle’s Tennis Court Lisle’s Tennis Court was a building off Portugal Street in Lincoln’s Inn Fields in London.

Lisle’s Tennis Court

Old and New London: Temple Bar Temple Bar was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, in 1670–72.

Old and New London: Temple Bar

St Andrew The Church of St Andrew, Holborn stands within the Ward of Farringdon Without.

St Andrew

Staple Inn Staple Inn is London’s only surviving sixteenth-century domestic building, situated on the south side of High Holborn.

Staple Inn

Thavie’s Inn Thavie’s Inn was a former Inn of Chancery, associated with Lincoln’s Inn, established near the site of the present side street and office block still known as Thavies Inn Buildings.

Thavie’s Inn

The 1860s map of London "Stanford’s Library Map of London and its Suburbs" was published in 1862

The 1860s map of London

NEARBY STREETS

Andrews Crosse, EC4A Andrews Crosse stood on the site of the courtyard of the former Andrews Crosse Inn (City of London)

Andrews Crosse, EC4A

Barnard’s Inn, EC4A Barnard’s Inn lies near Holborn Circus (City of London)

Barnard’s Inn, EC4A

Bartlett’s Buildings, EC4A Bartlett’s Buildings was the name of a street situated off of Holborn Circus (City of London)

Bartlett’s Buildings, EC4A

Bell Yard, EC4A Bell Yard is a small lane off the Strand where the Bell Inn once stood (City of London)

Bell Yard, EC4A

Bishop’s Court, WC2A Bishop’s Court lies off Chancery Lane (Chancery Lane)

Bishop’s Court, WC2A

Bolt Court, EC4A Bolt Court is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Bolt Court, EC4A

Bouverie House, EC4A Bouverie House is a block on Fleet Street (City of London)

Bouverie House, EC4A

Breams Buildings, EC4A Breams Buildings is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Breams Buildings, EC4A

Carey Street, WC2A Carey Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Aldwych)

Carey Street, WC2A

Chancery House, WC2A Chancery House is a block on Chancery Lane (Chancery Lane)

Chancery House, WC2A

Chancery Lane, WC2A Chancery Lane has formed the western boundary of the City of London since 1994, having previously been divided between the London boroughs of Westminster and Camden (City of London)

Chancery Lane, WC2A

Chichester Rents, WC2A Chichester Rents is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Westminster)

Chichester Rents, WC2A

Clare Market, WC2A Clare Market is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Aldwych)

Clare Market, WC2A

Clements Inn Passage, WC2A Clements Inn Passage - also know as St Clement’s Passage - is a narrow connecting street (Aldwych)

Clements Inn Passage, WC2A

Cliffords Inn Passage, EC4Y Cliffords Inn Passage is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Cliffords Inn Passage, EC4Y

Cliffords Inn, EC4A Cliffords Inn is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Cliffords Inn, EC4A

Cowdray House, WC2A Cowdray House is a building on Portugal Street (Aldwych)

Cowdray House, WC2A

Crane Court, EC4Y Crane Court lay beside the Two Crane Inn Tavern. (City of London)

Crane Court, EC4Y

Cursitor Street, EC4A Cursitor Street is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Cursitor Street, EC4A

Daniel House, EC4A Daniel House is a block on Fleet Street (City of London)

Daniel House, EC4A

Dr Johnson’s House, EC4A Dr Johnson’s House is a block on Gough Square (City of London)

Dr Johnson’s House, EC4A

Dyer’s Buildings, EC1N This is a street in the EC1N postcode area (City of London)

Dyer’s Buildings, EC1N

East Harding Street, EC4A This is a street in the EC4A postcode area (City of London)

East Harding Street, EC4A

Fetter Lane, EC4A Fetter Lane is corrupted from ’Fautre’ which was the name for a spear rest - spears were made close by (City of London)

Fetter Lane, EC4A

Fleet Street, EC4A Fleet Street is one of the streets of London in the EC4Y postal area (City of London)

Fleet Street, EC4A

Fleur De Lis Court, EC4A Fleur De Lis Court was situated off Fetter Lane (City of London)

Fleur De Lis Court, EC4A

Furnival Street, EC4A Furnival Street commemorates Furnival’s Inn, which used to stand opposite (City of London)

Furnival Street, EC4A

Gough Square, EC4A Gough Square is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Gough Square, EC4A

Great New Street, EC4A Great New Street is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Great New Street, EC4A

Great Turnstile, WC1V This is a street in the WC1V postcode area (Holborn)

Great Turnstile, WC1V

Gunpowder Square, EC4A Gunpowder Square is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Gunpowder Square, EC4A

Hardwicke Building, WC2A Hardwicke Building is a block on Hardwicke Building

Hardwicke Building, WC2A

Hare Place, EC4Y Hare Place is one of the streets of London in the EC4Y postal area (City of London)

Hare Place, EC4Y

Hat and Mitre Court, EC4Y Hat and Mitre Court is a road in the EC1M postcode area (City of London)

Hat and Mitre Court, EC4Y

Hill House, EC4A Hill House is sited on Little New Street (City of London)

Hill House, EC4A

Hind Court, EC4Y Hind Court is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Hind Court, EC4Y

Holborn Circus, EC1N Holborn Circus is a junction of five highways in the City of London, on the boundary between Holborn, Hatton Garden and Smithfield (City of London)

Holborn Circus, EC1N

Hood Court, EC4Y Hood Court is one of the streets of London in the EC4Y postal area (City of London)

Hood Court, EC4Y

Houghton Street, WC2A Houghton Street is a street which has been ’demoted’ over time (Aldwych)

Houghton Street, WC2A

Lakatos Building, WC2A Lakatos Building is a block on Portugal Street (Aldwych)

Lakatos Building, WC2A

Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A Lincoln’s Inn Fields is the largest public square in London, laid out in the 1630s under the initiative of the speculative builder William Newton (Westminster)

Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A

Lionel Robbins Building, WC2A Lionel Robbins Building is sited on Portugal Street (Aldwych)

Lionel Robbins Building, WC2A

Little New Street, EC4A Little New Street is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Little New Street, EC4A

London Silver Vaults, WC1V London Silver Vaults is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Chancery Lane)

London Silver Vaults, WC1V

New Fetter Lane, EC4A New Fetter Lane was formerly Fewter Lane - a medieval term for an idler and stemming originally from the Old French ‘faitour’ (lawyer) (City of London)

New Fetter Lane, EC4A

New Penderel House, WC1V New Penderel House is a block on High Holborn (Holborn)

New Penderel House, WC1V

New Square Passage, WC2A This is a street in the WC2A postcode area

New Square Passage, WC2A

New Square, WC2A New Square is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area

New Square, WC2A

New Street Square, EC4A New Street Square is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

New Street Square, EC4A

Norwich Street, EC4A Norwich Street is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Norwich Street, EC4A

Old Building, WC2A Old Building is a building on Houghton Street (Aldwych)

Old Building, WC2A

Old Buildings, WC2A Old Buildings lies off Old Square

Old Buildings, WC2A

Old Square, WC2A Old Square gained this name after the building of New Square in 1682.

Old Square, WC2A

Pemberton Row, EC4A Sir James Pemberton was Lord Mayor of London in 1611, and a member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths (City of London)

Pemberton Row, EC4A

Pleydell Court, EC4A Pleydell Court runs off Pleydell Street - formerly Silver Street (City of London)

Pleydell Court, EC4A

Pleydell House, EC4Y Pleydell House is a block on Pleydell Street (City of London)

Pleydell House, EC4Y

Pleydell Street, EC4Y The Pleydell-Bouveries, Earls of Radnor, were landlords of this area (City of London)

Pleydell Street, EC4Y

Plough Place, EC4A Plough Place is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Plough Place, EC4A

Ploughs Place, EC4A Ploughs Place is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Ploughs Place, EC4A

Portsmouth Street, WC2A Portsmouth Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Aldwych)

Portsmouth Street, WC2A

Portugal Street, WC2A Portugal Street was named in honour of Charles II’s Portuguese queen Catherine of Braganza (Aldwych)

Portugal Street, WC2A

Quality Court, WC2A Quality Court is a courtyard, built around 1700 (Chancery Lane)

Quality Court, WC2A

Queen’s Building, WC2R Queen’s Building is sited on Grange Court (Aldwych)

Queen’s Building, WC2R

Red Lion Court, EC4A Red Lion Court forms part of labyrinth of little passages behind the shops on the north side of Fleet Street. (City of London)

Red Lion Court, EC4A

Rolls Buildings, EC4A Rolls Buildings is a block on Rolls Buildings (City of London)

Rolls Buildings, EC4A

Rolls Passage, WC2A Rolls Passage is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Rolls Passage, WC2A

Sardinia Street, WC2A Sardinia Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Westminster)

Sardinia Street, WC2A

Serle Street, WC2A Serle Street is a road in the WC2A postcode area

Serle Street, WC2A

Sheffield Street, WC2A Sheffield Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Aldwych)

Sheffield Street, WC2A

Shoe Lane, EC4A Shoe Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Shoe Lane, EC4A

Silver Vaults, WC1V Silver Vaults is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Chancery Lane)

Silver Vaults, WC1V

Southampton Buildings, WC2A Southampton Buildings marks the site of the house of the 4th Earl of Southampton, son of Shakespeare’s patron. (Chancery Lane)

Southampton Buildings, WC2A

St Andrew Street, EC4A St Andrew Street is the northern extension of Shoe Lane (City of London)

St Andrew Street, EC4A

St Andrew’s House, EC1N St Andrew’s House is a block on St Andrew Street (City of London)

St Andrew’s House, EC1N

St Clement’s Building, WC2A St Clement’s Building is a block on Clare Market (Aldwych)

St Clement’s Building, WC2A

St Clements Lane, WC2A St Clements Lane has also been known as Clements Lane (Aldwych)

St Clements Lane, WC2A

Star Yard, WC2A Star Yard is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Westminster)

Star Yard, WC2A

Sterling House, EC1N Sterling House can be found on Holborn (City of London)

Sterling House, EC1N

Stone Buildings, WC2A Stone Buildings is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Chancery Lane)

Stone Buildings, WC2A

Thavies Inn House, EC1N Thavies Inn House (Thavies Inn Buildings) is on New Fetter Lane (City of London)

Thavies Inn House, EC1N

Thavies Inn, EC4A Thavie’s Inn - after which the street was named - was a former Inn of Chancery, associated with Lincoln’s Inn (City of London)

Thavies Inn, EC4A

Thomas More Building, WC2A Thomas More Building is a building on Strand (Aldwych)

Thomas More Building, WC2A

Took’s Court, EC4A Took’s Court is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Took’s Court, EC4A

Twining Street, WC2A Gilbert Street was renamed Twining Street after 1895 (Aldwych)

Twining Street, WC2A

Whetstone Park, WC2A Whetstone Park is a road in the WC2A postcode area (Holborn)

Whetstone Park, WC2A

William Sinkins House, WC2A William Sinkins House is a block on Carey Street (Westminster)

William Sinkins House, WC2A

Wine Office Court, EC4A Wine Office Court is one of the streets of London in the EC4A postal area (City of London)

Wine Office Court, EC4A

Click here to explore another London street
We now have 682 completed street histories and 46818 partial histories

LOCAL PHOTOS

Click here to see map view of nearby Creative Commons images
Click here to see Creative Commons images near to this postcode
Click here to see Creative Commons images tagged with this road (if applicable)

Smithfield Market TUM image id: 1620388545 Licence:	The old wooden Temple Bar Credit: Walter Thornbury TUM image id: 1523115955 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Hopton’s Almshouses, Hopton Street, Bankside (1957) TUM image id: 1470953421 Licence:	Waterloo Bridge on an 1836 map. TUM image id: 1556885410 Licence:	Middle Temple Lane looking towards Victoria Embankment (2008) The buildings are mainly occupied by barristers’ chambers Credit: Wiki Commons/J D Mack TUM image id: 1660223325 Licence: CC BY 2.0
The Castle on Cowcross Street, EC1 is the only pub in England that, alongside its pub sign, is permitted to display the three balls of a pawnbroker. Credit: Wiki Commons/oxyman TUM image id: 1653994847 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Illustration of Fleet Market Credit: William Henry Prior TUM image id: 1530111646 Licence: CC BY 2.0	William Davenant had Lisle Credit: Henry Herringman, London, 1673 TUM image id: 1522758368 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Mount Pleasant Sorting Office on the north-east corner of Farringdon Road (1910) The present building is on the site of the Coldbath Fields Prison where the punishments were particularly cruel in that they were not only long and physically hard but also pointless. The pub at the back used to open at 9am to serve postal workers. TUM image id: 1620296515 Licence:	The original, Brunel-built Hungerford Bridge. TUM image id: 1544479084 Licence:
Royal Festival Hall and Shot Tower c.1959 The photo was taken from Hungerford Bridge. The tower was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the Queen Elizabeth Hall Credit: Wiki Commons/David Wright TUM image id: 1698943233 Licence:	On the wall of the Dolphin Tavern pub on the corner of Red Lion Street and Lambs Conduit Passage, there is an old clock with its hands stuck at 10:40. The clock stopped on the evening of 8 September 1915, when the pub was completely destroyed in a Zeppelin bombing raid. The clock was found in the rubble and the pub was rebuilt. Credit: Wiki Commons TUM image id: 1718276239 Licence:	Saint John’s Gate, Clerkenwell, the main gateway to the Priory of Saint John of Jerusalem. The church was founded in the 12th century by Jordan de Briset, a Norman knight. Prior Docwra completed the gatehouse shown in this photograph in 1504. The gateway served as the main entry to the Priory, which was the center of the Order of St John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitallers). Credit: Henry Dixon (1880) TUM image id: 1557226611 Licence:	At the southern end of Carmelite Street in the City of London stood the Victorian-era Whitefriars Fire Station. Credit: Wiki Commons TUM image id: 1623066010 Licence:	Clerkenwell Green (1898) The water fountain shown here became public toilets. TUM image id: 1620298544 Licence: