Lothbury

Lothbury

West from Throgmorton Street, at No. 39, to 43 Coleman Street, on the north side of the Bank of England (P.O. Directory). In Broad Street and Coleman Street Wards.

Earliest mention: "Lodebure," 1181–1203 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 15a).

In another MS. belonging to the D. and C. St. Paul's (ib. p. 66), c. 1130, mention is made of "Terra Alberti Loteringi quam tenet Ranulfus canonicus in warda Haconis."

From other entries in the MS. it is probable that this ward is to be identified with the ward of Broad Street, also called the Ward of Lotheberi, and it is not impossible that the name is derived from this Albert Loteringi who held property here. On the other hand the earliest form of the name is "Lodebure," "Lothebiri," while Lothyngebire is exceptional, as shown below.

Other forms of name: "Lothebiri," 1232 (Cal. Charter Rolls, I. 168). "Lohdeber," 1241–52 (Anc. Deeds, A. 10391). "in Lothyngebire," 1275 (Ct. H.W. I. 20). "Lothebire," 1277–8 (Cal. L. Bk. B. 272). "Lutteburg," "Luttheburgh," 8 Ed. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 178 and 540). (Identified with Lothbury in Calendar). "Lodingeberi," 1282 (Cal. L. Bk. A. 209–10), and 1293–4 (Ct. H.W. I. 113). "Lothebery," 1285 (ib. 74). "Lotheberi," 1294 (ib. 114). "Lodebure," 1295 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 193). "Lodebiri," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 229). "Lothebiry," 1308 (Cal. L. Bk. B. p. 206). "Upon Lodebury," 1311–12 (Ct. H.W. I. 226). "Lothburi," 1312 (Ct. H.W. I. 234). "Lothebyri," 1318 (Cal. L. Bk. E. p. 85). "Lothebury," 1321 (Ct. H.W. I. 292). "Lodbyry," 1349 (ib. 608).

According to Stow, it took its name "(as it seemeth) of Berie, or Court of olde time there kept, but by whom is growne out of memorie" (ib.), or of "Noise made by the Founders (who lived there in Stow's time) turning their works, loathsome to the passers by who were not used to it and by them disdainfully called Lothberie."

This latter explanation cannot be regarded as satisfactory.

It has also been suggested that the name is derived from the word "lode" = a cut or drain leading into a large stream, "Lothbury" leading over the Walbrook.

"Lode" = a way, path, A.S. (ge)lad, a way, path, from "lidan" = to go (Mayhew and Skeat). "Lade" = a ford (Haliwell).

Another and perhaps the most probable derivation is from the personal name "Lod," "Loda."

The Roman remains found under the street have been as follows: Roman pavement found at a depth of 12 ft. (Arch. XVII. 141), and a tessellated pavement opposite Founders' Court (ib. XXVII. 147). Copper bowls also found during excavations for the erection of the London and Westminster Bank at a depth of about 10 ft. in wet, boggy soil (Arch. XIX. 367, and LX. 236).

Lothbury,—on the N. side the Bank of England, or the first on the R. along the Old-Jewry, from 81, Cheapside.

Lothbury, is on the north side of the Bank of England, and extends from Cateaton-street to Throgmorton-street, and derives its ancient name Lathebury, from being inhabited by brass and other turners, who plied the lathe in their business.

Lothbury, a street on the north side of the Bank of England. The name of Lothebiri occurs in the City books as early as 1278. Stow gives a very fanciful derivation of the name: but, as is frequently the case with him, his derivation is some centuries after date. Dr. Edwin Freshfield suggests that the name is derived from the word Lode, which still means in some parts of the country a cut or drain leading into a large stream. Lothbury runs over the corner of the Wall Brook.¹

The street of Lothberie, Lathberie, or Loadberie (for by all these names have I read it) took the name as it seemeth of berie, or court, of old time there kept, but by whom is grown out of memory. This street is possessed for the most part by founders, that cast candlesticks, chafing dishes, spice mortars, and such like copper or laton works, and do afterward turn them with the foot and not with the wheel, to make them smooth and bright with turning and scrating (as some do term it), making a loathsome noise to the by-passers that have not been used to the like, and therefore by them disdainfully called Lothberie.—Stow, p. 104.

Lothbury was in Stow's time much inhabited by Founders, but now by Merchants and Warehouse-keepers, though it is not without such like trades as he mentions.—Hatton, 1708, p. 49.

Sir Epicure Mammon. This night I'll change
               All that is metal, in my house, to gold:
               And early in the morning, will I send
               To all the plumbers and the pewterers,
               And buy their tin and lead up; and to Lothbury
               For all the copper.—Ben Jonson, The Alchemist, Act ii., sc. I.

Bless the sovereign, and his seeing,—
            *    *    *    *
From a fiddle out of tune,
As the cuckoo is in June,
From the candlesticks of Lothbury,
And the loud pure wives of Banbury.
Ben Jonson, The Gipsies Metamorphosed.

The wish of Sir Epicure Mammon has been carried out, and the copper of Lothbury converted into gold, for the candlestick-makers have left their old locality, the Bank of England occupies one entire side of it, and on the other are the London and Westminster and other wealthy and eminent banks. In early days the name was suggestive of a joke, as witness Tusser—

Though such for woe by Lothbury goe
For being spide about Cheapside.

Dr. Johnson used Lothbury as a synonym for the City. In writing to Mrs. Thrale he hopes that some new married couple will "stick to Lothbury;" and again

He is not to be either wit or statesman: his genius, if he follow his direction, will bid him live in Lothbury, and measure brandy.—Letters, vol. i. p. 195.

Thomas Killigrew, Charles II.'s jester, and groom of the bedchamber, was "born at Lothbury, London," February 7, 1611–1612.¹ William Copeland, one of our early printers, lived here.

Adam Bel, Clym of the Clough, and Wyllyam of Cloudesle: Imprynted at London in Lothburye over against Sainct Margarytes Church, by Wyllyam Copland.
     So much for fires, only amongst many that may be mentioned, I cannot forget a lamentable accident that happen'd to a family to which I was nearly related, one Mr. De Laune, that liv'd in Lothbury, a merchant, who above twenty years ago, with his wife (who was then ready to lie in) the daughter of Sir Thomas Allen of Finchley, and all their family, were burnt in the house there, and no account but conjectures can be given how the fire came.—De Laune, Ang. Met., 1690, p. 391.

No. 43 is the banking house of Jones and Co. It was rebuilt in 1857 from the designs of P.C. Hardwick. No. 44, the London and Westminster Bank, was built 1837–1838 from the designs of C.R. Cockerel!, R.A., and Sir W. Tite. The interior was remodelled in 1852–1854, and later the front and premises were extended eastward to include the adjoining house.

Here was. a noted tavern, the Feathers, or the Prince's Feathers, which gave the name to Prince's Court, now a part of the Bank of England. Observe.—The church of St. Margaret's, Lothbury; next it is the Imperial Bank, and close by Founders' Court [which see].

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¹ Archæologia, vol. xlv.

¹ Thorne, Environs (Hanworth), p. 314.