Holborn Bridge
Names
- Holborn Bridge
- Bridge of Holeburne
- Holeburne Bridge
- Holebournebregge
- Portpulbrigg
- Holbourn Bridge
Street/Area/District
- Holborn
Maps & Views
- 1553-9 Londinum (Braun & Hogenberg, 1572): Holborn Bridge
- 1553-9 London ("Agas Map" ca. 1633): Holburne bridge
- 1560 London (Jansson, 1657): Holborn Bridge
- 1666 London after the fire (Bowen, 1772): Holborn Bridge
- 1666 Plan for Rebuilding the City (Wren), 1724: Holborn Bridge
- 1666 Plan for Rebuilding the City (Wren), 1809: Holborn Bridge
- 1677 A Large and Accurate Map of the City of London (Ogilby & Morgan): Holborn Bridge
- 1720 London (Strype): Holborn Bridge
- 1746 London, Westminster & Southwark (Rocque): Holbourn Bridge
Descriptions
from A Dictionary of London, by Henry Harben (1918)
Holborn Bridge
At the east end of Holborn Hill and north end of Fleet Market over the Fleet, at its junction with the Holborn, when the streams flowed openly through the City.
Shown in maps: Leake, 1666–Strype, 1755.
First mention: "Bridge of Holeburne," 45 H. III. (Hust. Roll 2, No. 170). "Holeburne Bridge," 1291 (Ct. H.W. I. 97). "Holebournebregge," 1336 (ib. 416). "Portpulbrigg," 1380 (Cal. Pat. Rolls, Rich. II. 1377, p. 87). "Holborn Bridge," 1554 (Lond. I p.m. I. 132).
Rebuilt, 1674.
Built of stone before the Fire, now much enlarged and beautified (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 280).
The river Fleet was covered over about 1737 and the bridge consequently disused.
Arch of the bridge disclosed at some depth below the roadway during the formation of Farringdon Street in the 19th century (Gent. Mag. Lib. XVI. 235 and 273).
from A New View of London, by Edward Hatton (1708)
Holbourn Bridge, is built of Stone, it leads from Holbourn to Snow Hill; over the N. end of the Fleet Brook, where a little Rivulet called Wells, falls by Hockley Hole, running a little Ed of Saffron Hill, crossing near the W. end of Chick Lane and so into this Brook. It was built in the year 1674, Sir William Hooker Mayor.
from A Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, by John Strype (1720)
[Holbourn bridge] And whereas the Way or Passage of Holborn Bridge is now too strait and incommodious for the many Carriages and Passengers daily using and frequenting the same; and is therefore necessary to be enlarged: Be it therefore enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and Commoners of the City of London, so to enlarge and make wider the same, as that the said Way and Passage may run in a Level Line, from a certain Timber House on the North Side thereof, commonly called or known by the Name or Sign of the Cock; unto the Front of the Buildings of a certain Inn, called the Swan Inn, situate on the North Side of Holborn Hill, as aforesaid.
…
Holbourn bridge and Snow hill. This part of Holbourn goes to Lamb's Conduit, and there begins Snow hill; … and both these Places are graced with good Buildings, well inhabited by noted Tradesmen, and is a Place of great Resort. The South Side by the Bridge, lieth open to the Canal [Fleet Ditch], already treated of.
from London and Its Environs Described, by Robert and James Dodsley (1761)
Holborn bridge, a bridge erected over Fleet ditch, at the bottom of Holborn hill, where the river of Wells, also called Turnmill brook, fell into it.
from Lockie's Topography of London, by John Lockie (1810)
Holborn-Bridge, Fleet-Market,—at the N. end, the space between Snow-hill and Holborn-hill.
from A Topographical Dictionary of London and Its Environs, by James Elmes (1831)
Holborn-Bridge, is the valley at the north end of Farringdon-street, between Skinner-street and Holborn-hill. It derives its name from the bridge that was formerly on its site, over Fleet-ditch, where the river Wells, called also Turnmill-brook, fell into it.
from London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions, by Henry Benjamin Wheatley and Peter Cunningham (1891)
Holborn Bridge, the bridge which crossed the Fleet river at the foot of Holborn Hill. In a Corporation Letter Book (A. 87) is a record of the lease in 1293 of a tavern near Holborn Bridge, with free access to the "wardrobe and herbary [garden] there."1 [See Fleet River.] In Charles II.'s Proclamation for the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire—
It is ordered that a postern shall be made on the north side of Newgate for conveniency of foot passengers, and that Holborn Bridge shall be enlarged to run straight on a level line from the timber house on the north side thereof, known by the name of the Cock, to the front of the buildings at the Swan inn on the said north side of Holborn Hill.
Publications associated with this place
- A true and plaine genealogy or pedigree of Antichrist, wherein is cleerely discouered that hee is lineally descend from the diuell. Printed at London: For Samuell Rande, dwelling at Holborne Bridge, 1634. ESTC No. S116765. Grub Street ID 136452.
- The christian svvord and buckler. Or, A letter sent by Dr. Sprint, to a man seuen yeares grieuously afflicted in conscience, and fearefully troubled in mind. Very comfortable and commodious to withstand the assaults of Sathan. London: printed for Samuell Rand, at Holborne-bridge, 1636. ESTC No. S124366. Grub Street ID 143741.
- A watch for a wise-mans observation. The emperor, king, noble, and beggar all, must yeeld to death, and come when he doth call. Where is Alexander? Where is Plato? Where is Crosus?. London: printed by R[obert]. I[bbitson]. for Samuel Rand dwelling at Holborne-Bridge, 1650. ESTC No. R171940. Grub Street ID 65987.
- Hull, William. The third work of mercy. Or, The sinners entertainement of harbourlesse Christ. Set forth in sixe sermons, whereof the 1. is, The patterne of patience. 2. The knocke of the spirit. 3. The bride-groomes voyce. 4. Mans heart Christs home. 5. The blessed inne-mate. 6. Mutuall loue-feasts betweene God and Man. By W. Hull Doctor of Diuinity. London: Printed by N. O[kes] for Samuel Rand, dwelling at Holborne-bridge, 1612. ESTC No. S118890. Grub Street ID 138535.