Blackwell Hall: translation
On the west side of Basinghall Street at No. 6 with a passage west to the Guildhall and south to Cateaton Street (Gresham Street). In Bassishaw Ward.
On the east side of Guildhall Yard (Lockie, 1816).
Earliest mention: "Bakkewellehalle," 1356 (Cal. L. Bk. G. p. 67).
Other forms : "Bakwellehalle," 1396 (Cal. P.R. Rich. II. 1396-9, p. 23) and 1395 (Harl. Ch. 57 E. 37, 9 Rich. II.). "Bakwelhalle," 1 H. IV. (Cal. L. Bk. I. p. 6). "Selde of "Blakwelhalle," 15th cent. (Cal. L. Bk. D. p. 200). "Blakewell hall," 4 Ed.VI. (Pat. R. Pt. 9). "Blackwell Hall," 1566 (Lond. I. p.m. II. p. 79). "Bay Hall" (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 59).
It appears from the Hustings Roll 22 (55) of the year 1293 that the Communa of the City granted to John de Banquell property near the Guildhall, which formerly belonged to Sir Roger de Clifford (Cal. L. Bk. C. pp.12 and 13).
Dispute in 1304 as to ownership of a wall between the tenements of Sir John de Banquell and Roger le Viroler decided in favour of Sir John de Banquelle (ib. 121).
Referred to as chamber formerly belonging to John de Bankewelle 1336-9 (Cal. L. Bk. E. 304).
The tenement seems to have remained in possession of this family throughout the 14th century and in a Harl. Charter 57 E. 37, 9 Rich. II. the "man'ii" of Bakwellehalle appears as formerly the property of Robert Bakwelle, rector of the church of All Hallows, Bread Street, who had acquired it from his brother Wm. de Bakwelle (Hust. Roll. 124 (57)).
In 1396 a messuage called Bakwellehalle and a garden in the parishes of St. Michael de Bassyngeshawe and St. Laurence in the Jewry were conveyed with the royal licence by John Fressh, Wm. Parker and Stephen Speleman, mercers, to the Mayor and Commonalty (ib. 125 (65)).
It seems thenceforth to have been used as a market place for woollen-cloths and foreigners were directed to bring their woollen cloth for sale to Bakwellehalle (Cal. L. Bk. H. p. 449).
The oath of the keeper of the selde of Blakwelhalle in the 15th century relates to the selling of cloth, etc. (Cal. L. Bk. D. p. 200).
Stow describes it as a market place for cloths and says it was rebuilt at the end of the 16th century (S. 115-16).
Burnt in the Fire 1666 and rebuilt 1672. Removed 1820 to make way for the new Courts of Law at the Guildhall.
There seems to be little doubt from the original forms of the name set out above that the hall derived its name, as Sharpe suggests, from the family of "Banquelle," "Batquelle," "Bauquelle," the former owners of the property, and that Stow is probably in error in identifying it with the "haugh" or "hawe" of the Basings.