St James’s Passage was formerly known as Church Passage.
Church Passage, formerly known as Dark Entry, was a narrow passage that led from Duke Street (now Duke’s Place) to Mitre Square. It gained its earlier name due to its dimly lit nature. The passage started at a width of 18 feet at its entrance in Mitre Square but quickly narrowed to just 5 feet within a short distance.
At the entrance of Church Passage to Mitre Square, there was a wall-mounted gas lamp.
On 1 July 1939, the passage was renamed St James’s Passage. After the Second World War, a footbridge was added between the Kearley & Tonge warehouse on the north side of the passage and the warehouse opposite it. Around 1974, the passage underwent significant widening following the demolition of surrounding buildings.
