South out of Cornhill at 35 to No.62 Lombard Street (P.O. Directory). In Cornhill and Langbourn Wards.
Earliest mention: 1473 (Ct. H. Wills, II. 571).
Former names and forms : "Bercheruere lane," c. 1190-1212 (Add. Ch. 1046). "Berchvereslane," 1260 (Ct. H.W. I. 7). "Bercheruerelane," 1320 (ib. 286). "Berchereslane," 1332 (Ct. H.W. I. 381). "Bercheverlane," 1349 (ib. II. 80). "Berchernerislane," 1361 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1361-4, p. 138). "Bercherlane," 1372-3 (Ct. H.W. II. 153). "Birchenlane," 1386 (Ct. H.W. II. 260). "Bircheyn lane," 17 Rich. II. 1393 (Cal. P.R. Rich. II. 1391-6, p. 345). "Byrcherslane," 1401 (Ct. H.W. II. 351). "Bircherlane," 1486 (ib. 486). "Byrchyn lane," 1602-3 (ib. 728). "Burchen Lane," 1618 (ib. 743). "Burcheouer lane, so called of Birchouer, the first builder and owner thereof, now corruptly called Birchin lane" (S. 199), and See Bergereslane.
From the forms set out above, it appears that "Bercheruere" and "Berchever" were the earliest forms of the name, so that if Stow's surmise is correct the name of the builder or owner would appear to have been Bercheruere or Berchevere. It is interesting to note that the early form of Andover was Andevere.
Very little reliance can be placed upon the form "Berchernerislane," as in all probability the letter "n" was written "u" in the MS., and the "n" is an error in transcription.
Roman walls found under Nos. I, 12, 13 and 15, 20 and 22 and at the south-western corner of the lane. Pavements of tesserae and chalkstones (at a depth of 14 ft.) found under Nos. 2, 11 and 22 (Arch. VIII. 119 and 128).