CROOKED LANE

   South out of King William Street to Miles' Lane (P.O. Directory). In Candlewick Ward and formerly in Bridge Ward Within.

   First mention: "la Crokedelane," 6 Ed. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2001).

   other names : "Venella torta," 1303 (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 192). "la Crokydlane," 1349 (Ct. H.W. I. 561).

   Called Crooked lane of the crooked windings thereof (S. 217).

   The appearance of the lane has been greatly changed by the alterations effected in the City in the early part of the 19th century, and being now quite straight, it has completely lost the distinctive characteristic to which it owed its appellation.

   In Stow's time the lane extended east out of St. Michael's lane winding south and south-east to Fish Street Hill, into Bridge Ward Within, and it so remained down to the end of the 18th century. But in Horwood's map, 1799, it is more extensive and occupied the northern end of St. Michael's Lane extending south out of Great Eastcheap and east to Fish Street Hill. This northern end is the only portion now existing, the whole of the southern and eastern portions forming the original street having been removed for the formation of King William Street and the new approaches to London Bridge soon after 1831. Here are most Haberdashers of small wares and bird-cage makers (W. Stow, 1722).