PATERNOSTER ROW

Paternoster Row: translation

   West from Cheapside, at No. 4a, to Warwick Lane and Ave Maria Lane (P.O. Directory). In Farringdon Ward Within and Castle Baynard Ward.

   First mention: "Pater Noster Rowe," 12 Ed. III. (H. MSS. Corn. 9th Rep. p.20). Former names: " Paternosterstrete," 1312 (Ct. H.W. I. 234) and 1331 (ib. 370). "Paternoster Lane," '4 Ed. II. (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p.49).

   Other forms : " Paternosterrowe," 1349 (Ct. H.W. I. 591).

   Richard Russell, dwelling there, 1374, is described as a " paternosterer " (ib. II. 160).

   In Strype's time inhabited by Stationers and Booksellers as now.

   Handsome signs hung out there (Strype, Ed. 1720, I. iii. 195).

   The paternosterers were turners of beads and lived here, hence the name of the street

   A stone wall was found under this street at a depth of 18 feet, running towards the centre of St. Paul's. A few yards from this wall in the direction of St. Martin's le Grand wooden piles were found covered with planks, at a depth of 20 feet (Arch. XXVII. 150).

   A pavement was also found at a depth of 12 feet 6 ins. extending for a distance of 40 feet (R. Smith, p.57).