Thames Embankment - Thomas (St.) near the Conduit.-

Thames Embankment

On the north side of the river from Blackfriars Bridge to Chelsea Bridge. Commenced 1862. Opened 1870.

Included in Wren's design for rebuilding the City after the Fire, but not then completed.

See Victoria Embankment.

Thames Street

Extended from Tower Hill to Puddle Dock, in Tower, Billingsgate, Bridge Within, Dowgate, Vintry, Queenhithe and Castle Baynard Wards.

Now divided into Lower and Upper Thames Street (q.v.).

Earliest mention the "street of the Thames" by Queenhithe, 49 H. III. (Cal. P.R. H. III. 1258-66, p.467). Near Billingsgate (ib. p.468).

Other names and forms: "Thamisestrate," 56 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2684). Tamesestrate," 1277 (Ct. H.W. I. 28). " Tamestrate," 1282-3 (lb. 62). " Temestret," 1308 (ib. 202). " Tamystrate," 1311 (ib. 223). " Tamistrete," 1315 (ib. 254). " Temisestrete," 1349-50 (Ct. H.W. I. 627).

Strype says of it: "Thames Street begins at Puddle Dock and runs eastward to the Tower, which is above a mile in length ; but is in several Wards. It is a Street, especially Eastward, of a very good Trade, and inhabited by great dealers; besides the Diers, Brewers, Woodmongers, and Timber Yards on the South side, next the Thames. And by reason thereof, and of the several Keys and Wharfs, it is much pestered with Carts, for the lading and unlading of goods" (ed. 1720, I. iii. 229).

Eastern end called "Petty Wales" (q.v.).

So named from its proximity to the river.

The longest street in London (W. Stow, 1722).

At the foot of Lambeth Hill near Blackfriars, during excavations for sewerage, a wall was found at a depth of 9 feet from the present street level, forming an angle with Lambeth Hill and Thames Street, and extending from Lambeth Hill to Queenhithe, 8-10 feet thick, and 8 feet in height (R. Smith, 18). Opposite Queen Street a similar wall was found. The level of the street at the time of the Great Fire of 1666 was 6 feet lower than at the present time.

Remains of an ancient paved causeway have been discovered under the street, and numerous remains of Roman pottery, coins, etc.

The Roman level seemed to be from 20 to 25 feet lower than at present and numerous piles and beams and trunks of oak trees have been found, suggesting the remains of the old embankment of Roman London.

Thames Street Ward

Messuages in parishes of St. Martin le Organs and St. Michael in Crokydlane, described as in the wards of Temystrete and Canwykstrete, 14 H. VII. (Lond. I. p.m. I. 16).

And See Thames Ward.

Thames Tunnel

Under the Thames, two miles below London Bridge, connecting Wapping on the north bank with Rotherhithe on the south bank.

Constructed by Sir Mark Isambard Brunel.

Commenced 1825, closed by inundation for seven years. Recommenced 1835. Opened 1843.

Now used by the railways, connecting lines north and south of the Thames.

Thames Ward

Anc. Deeds, A. 1779, 7 Rich. II.

Qy. =Tower Ward.

See Thames Street Ward.

Thanet House

On the east side of Aldersgate Street, in Aldersgate Ward Without (O. and M. 1677-Strype, ed. 1720 and 1755).

Adjoined the George Inn. This inn is shown in Rocque, 1746, but not Thanet House. The residence of Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, and afterwards the

City of London Lying-In Hospital, founded 1750.

Site now occupied by Shaftesbury Place (q.v.).

Thatched Alley

North-west out of Chick Lane, in Farringdon Ward Without (O. and M. 1677-Boyle, 1799).

"Thatch Alley" in O. and M. 1677.

Site now covered by Charterhouse Street, etc.

Thavie's Inn

South out of Holborn Circus (P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Without.

First mention: A tablet affixed to the first house on the west side says the Inn was founded by John Thavie, temp. Ed. III., and was judged to be extra-parochial. Said to have been demised by Isabella, widow of Robert Clifford, to "apprenticii de Banco," 18 Ed. III.

Called " Davis Inne," 38 H. VIII. (L. and P. H. VIII. XXI. (2), p.416).

Strype says Thos. Thavie by his will 1348 gave a tenement to St. Andrew's Holborn for the fabric of the Church (ed. 1720, I. iii. 251).

The will says "the tenement in which he (John) lived and three shops" (End. Ch Rep. 1898, p.4).

Formerly an Inn of Chancery, appertaining to Lincoln's Inn.

Purchased by the Society of Lincoln's Inn, 1550, for the use of students of the law.

Sold 1771.

Now used for business purposes.

Thavie's Inn Court

In Thavie's Inn (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799).

Not named in the maps.

Thavie's Inn Passage

In Thavie's Inn (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799).

Not named in the maps.

Thomas' (St.) Alley

In Birchen Lane in parish of St. Michael in Cornhill, 1637 (L.C.C. Deeds, Harben Bequest, 1600-1700, No.127).

No later mention.

Thomas (St.) Apostle

At the north-east corner of Great St. Thomas Apostle, on the west side of Queen Street. In Vintry Ward. The parish extended into Cordwainer Ward.

Earliest mention found in records: A grant of the church was made to Stephen the priest and Henry the clerk in 1170 (Hist. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p.24).

Inquisition held in 1181 as to the ornaments, etc., belonging to the Church (ib. 68).

Church restored and rebuilt in 1371 by John Barnes, Mayor, as appeareth by his arms there in stone and glass (S. 247).

Repaired and beautified 1629-30 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii.7).

Burnt in the Fire and not rebuilt, the Parish being united to St. Mary Aldermary (lb. 24).

A Rectory. Patrons: Canons of St. Paul's.

Called St. Thomas the Apostle to distinguish it from the churches dedicated to St. Thomas a Becket, or St. Thomas the Martyr, a not uncommon dedication in England in early times.

Thomas (St.) Apostle (Street)

See Great St. Thomas Apostle.

Thomas (St.) Apostle Churchyard

On the north side of Great St. Thomas Apostle at its junction with Queen Street (O. and M. 1677-O.S. 1880).

Thomas (St.) Apostle Court

In Great St. Thomas Apostle, at No.22, east of Queen Street (Lockie, 1810-Elmes, 1831).

Not named in the maps.

Thomas (St.) Chapel, London Bridge

Erected over the centre pier of the first stone bridge on the east side, 1176-1209.

"Capella beati Thomae Martyris super Pontem," 31 Ed. I., in list of London benefices in Lib. Cust. I. 228.

Peter the chaplain of Colechurch, who commenced the bridge but died before its completion, was buried in the Chapel in 1205.

It had an entrance from the river as well as from the street and was reached by a winding staircase. It had a groined roof springing from clustered pillars (Gent. Mag. Lib. XV. p.303). It was 60 ft. long, 20 ft. wide and 110 ft. high, with an undereroft or vaulted crypt. Prior to its demolition in 1757-8, it had been used for some time as a warehouse and dwelling-house (ib. 301).

In 1433 a question arose as to the oblations, etc., made in the Chapel, and it was agreed that they should all be received by the Chaplain and that he should pay out of them a certain sum yearly to the Rector of St. Magnus, in whose parish the Chapel was situated (Newcourt, I. 396).

The Chapel was dedicated to St. Thomas a Becket of Canterbury.

There seems no reason to doubt that the chapel was dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury from its earliest days, for the chapel and fraternity were founded only about 30 years after his death, and his memory was at that time and for many generations held in the most profound veneration by the citizens of London. Roger of Wendover tells us how in 1190, when the King's fleet on its voyage to Lisbon was in danger of shipwreck, the blessed martyr Thomas of Canterbury appeared to three different persons on board the ship of the Londoners to comfort them, as though the citizens were regarded as especially under his protection (II. p.96).

It is worthy of note that the hospital of St. Thomas at Southwark was founded only a few years later than the chapel on London Bridge, and the chapel of St. Thomas of Acres some years previously by Becket's sister.

Thomas' (St.) Chapel, Temple

Ingress to Bishop of Exeter to and from the Chapel, 12 Ed. III. (Cal. P.R. 1338-40, p.127).

See Temple Church.

Thomas (St.) de Aquino

See Thomas (St.) of Acon.

Thomas (St.) extra Bishopsgate

Master of the hospital of St. Thomas extra Byssopesgat mentioned 20 H. III. 1236, in Cal. Close Rolls, H. III. 1234-7, p.345.

Not identified.

Thomas (St.) near the Conduit.-

See Thomas (St.) of Acon.