ALDGATE WARD

   With Tower Ward the easternmost ward of the City within the walls (O.S.).

   Earliest mention: " In warda Alegate," c. 1130 (MS. D. and C. St. Paul's, Liber L. ff. 47-50).

   Called also: "Ward of John de Northampton," 1279 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p.206), and 2 and 3 Ed. III. Rot. Hund. I. 420).

   In early deeds and documents the name is always spelt " Algate," "Alegate." "Algatestrete" Ward 9. H. VII. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1588).

   Bounds set out in Stow 140-1, and Strype, ed. 1720. Strype says the ward is coterminous with the soke of Aldgate given by Matilda to the Priory of Holy Trinity in 1108, and he sets out the boundaries from Liber Dunthorne (ed. 1720, I. ii. 55). The boundaries are also given in L. Bk. C. p.224, but they seem there to be confused with the Portsoken given to the Priory by the Knightengild.

   Named after the gate.

   In the Ward: 3 Parish Churches: St. Katherine Creechurch, St. Katherine Colman, St. Andrew Undershaft. 2 Halls of Companies : Fletchers' Hall, Ironmongers' Hall.

   Fletchers' Hall is now used as a warehouse.

   The Prior of Christchurch said to be Alderman of the Ward of Alegate 13 Ed. II.1320 (L Bk. E. p. 8). This seems strange, as he was always ex officio Alderman of Portsoken, not of Aldgate. The Priory of Holy Trinity was in this ward on the site of Duke's Place, etc.