Newgate Street

Newgate Street

West from Cheapside and St. Martin's le Grand to Holborn Viaduct and Old Bailey (P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Within and Without.

First mention: "Newgatestrete," 1311 (Riley's Mem. xiii. L. Bk. D. f. 110).

This name does not, however, appear in Sharp's Calendar of this letter-book, and it seems very doubtful whether it was in use at such an early date.

Further, the name does not appear in Stow, or Agas, but it is shown on a survey of the Greyfriars, 1546 and 1617, as forming the western end of the present street from Warwick Lane to Newgate (Trans. L. and M. Arch. Soc. V. 421).

The eastern end was called "Blowbladder Street" (q.v.) up to and at the time Stow wrote.

The western end to Warwick Lane was known as "The Shambles," "St. Nicholas Shambles lane" and "St. Nicholas Flesh shambles" and "Newgate Market" (q.v.) from the 13th century onwards.

Widened 1841.

See Mount Godard Street.

No. 101 in this street is believed to stand on the site of the entrance to the old church of the Grey Friars Monastery (End. Ch. Rep. Christ Church, Newgate Street, 1902, p. 10).

Newgate Street. See Blowbladder Street, the Shambles, and Newgate Market.

Newgate street, well inhabited by good Tradesmen; it comes out of Cheapside, and Blowbladder street, and runs to Newgate, the City Goal for Malefactors; as also for the County of Middlesex for the like Criminals, and likewise for Debtors. It is a large Prison, and made very strong, the better to secure such Sort of Criminals, which too much fills it. Insomuch that the Debtors are crowded amongst them, except they have large Purses to be in the Press Yard; which is a Place for the better Sort, or such as can well gratify the Keepers extravagant Demands. And 'tis great pity, that many an honest Man, that through Misfortunes of the World, hath contracted Debts more than he can pay, should be confined to such a Place, amongst such ill People, and to hear their Cursings and Blasphemies; and that no other Prison is provided for them. Of this Prison see more in the first Book, where the City Gates and Posterns are mentioned and taken notice of. Adjoining to this Prison, on the North side, is Swan Yard, a pretty long Court, but ordinary. Phenix Court, adjoining to Newgate on the South side, a good handsome Place, with Free-stone Pavement, and good Houses. Oxford Arms Inn and Crown Inn by Warwick lane, both ordinary, and only for the Market Peoples Horses.	Newgate street. Newgate Prison. The Press Yard. Swan Yard. Phenix Court. Oxford Arms Inn. Crown Inn.
The Part of Newgate street, from Cheapside Conduit, a little above St. Martins le Grand, unto the Shambles, was called Blowbladder street, from the Bladders there sold in former Times.	Blowbladder street.
The Butchers inhabiting in this Street, have their Slaughter Houses in Butchers Hall lane, formerly called Stinking lane, from the Nastiness of the Place; but now it is kept pretty clean, and here the Company of Butchers have their Hall. This Lane cometh out of Newgate street, and passing by Christ Church, into which it hath an entrance, falls into Bull and Mouth street, which leadeth to St. Martins le Grand, but this is in Aldersgate Ward.	Butchers Hall lane. Butchers Hall.