Romeland

Names

  • Romeland
  • Roume land
  • Romelond
  • Roomland
  • Roomland Lane
  • Room Land

Street/Area/District

  • Romeland

Maps & Views

Descriptions

from A Dictionary of London, by Henry Harben (1918)

Romeland

A large open space at the head of Queenhithe Dock, in the soke of Queenhithe.

Collectors appointed to collect tolls for cost of cleansing and repairing the "Roume-land," 41 Ed. III. (Cal. L. Bk. G. p. 221).

"Romelond" at Queenhithe, 1374 (Ct. H.W. II. 161).

"Roomland in Thames Street, near Townsend Lane, in Queenhithe Ward" (P.C. 1732).

"Roomland Lane" (L. Guide, 1758–Boyle, 1799).

It is stated in a decree of Chancery 37 H. VIII., relating to the Homeland at Billingsgate, that a public market had been held on both these open spaces time out of mind.

See Romelands.

from A Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, by John Strype (1720)

[Romeland or Room Land, Queenhithe.]

This Hith was then so frequented with Vessels, bringing thither Corn, (besides Fish, Salt, Fuel, and other Merchandizes) that all these Men, to wit, the Meeter, and Porters, Thirty seven in number, for all their Charge of Horses and Sacks, and small Stipend, lived well of their Labours. But now that Case is altered; the Bakers of London, and other Citizens, travel into the Countries, and buy their Corn of the Farmers, after the Farmers Price.  
King Edward II. in the 1st of his Reign, gave to Margaret, Wife of Peter de Gavestone, Forty three Pounds, Twelve Shillings, Nine Pence Halfpenny Farthing, out of the Rents in Lvndon, to be received of the Queen's Hith. Lib. Guild.
Certain Impositions were set upon Ships, and other Vessels coming thither; as upon Corn, Salt, and other Things, toward the Charge of cleansing Roomland there, the 41st of Ed. III. Romeland at Queen Hith.
These were the Impositions and the Occasions of them. This Romeland being annoyed with Dung, Filth, &c. so as the Sellers of Corn and Victual there, could not stand to sell their Commodities, as formerly they had done, It was ordered by a Common Councel, An. 41. of King Edw. III. That the Place should forthwith be made clean and paved. And that from thenceforth, towards the perpetual cleansing and reparation thereof, there should be taken for every Quarter of Corn, of what Kind soever, there sold or coming, a Farthing; for every Quarter of Salt, a Farthing; for every Vessel, called a Battel, bringing Rushes, four Pence; for every Vessel called a Shout, bringing Corn or Malt, two Pence; for every Ship bringing other Victuals, two Pence; and of every Person laying Soil there, two Shillings; and the Seller of Rushes, to pay for every Boat of Rushes, four Pence.] Romeland to be paved and cleansed of Filth.

R.