Porters Key: Then Galley Key, where the Galleys were used to unlade, and land their Merchandizes and Wares; and that part of Thames street was therefore of some called Galley Row, but more commonly Petty Wales.

On the North Side, as well as on the South of this Thames street, are many fair Houses, large for Stowage, builded for Merchants, towards the East End thereof, namely, over against Galley Key, Wool Key, and the Custom House. There have been of old time some large Buildings of Stone, the Ruins whereof do yet remain, but the first Builders and Owners of them are worn out of Memory: Wherefore the common People affirm Julius Cæsar to be the Builder thereof, as also the Tower it self; but thereof I have spoken already. Some are of another Opinion, and that a more likely, that this great Stone Building was sometime the Lodging appointed for the Prince of Wales when they repaired to this City, and that therefore the Street in that Part is called Petty Wales, which Name remaineth there most commonly until this Day; even as where the Kings of Scotland were used to be lodged betwixt the Charing cross and Whitehall, it is likewise called Scotland: And where the Earls of Britain were lodged without Aldersgate, the Street is called Britain Street, &c.

The said Building might (of old time) pertain to the Princes of Wales, as is aforesaid, but is since turned to other Use.

It is before noted of Galley Key, that the Gallies of Italy, and other Parts, did there discharge their Wines and Merchandizes brought to this City. It is like therefore that the Merchants and Owners procured the Place to build upon for their Lodgings and Store Houses, as the Merchants of the Haunce of Almaine were licensed to have an House, called Guilda Teutonicorum, the Guild-Hall of the Germanes.

Also the Merchants of Burdeaux were licensed to build at the Vintry strongly with Stone, as may yet be seen, and seemeth old, though often repaired. Much more Cause have these Buildings in Petty Wales (though as lately builded, and partly of the like Stone brought from Cane in Normandy) to seem old, which for many Years, to wit, since the Gallies left their course of landing there, hath fallen to Ruin, and been letten out for Stabling of Horses, to Tipplers of Beer, and such like. Amongst others, one Mother Mampudding (as they termed her) for many years kept this House, or a great part thereof, for victualling; and it seemeth, that the Builders of the Hall of this House were Shipwrights, and not House Carpenters: For the Frame thereof (being but low) is raised of certain principal Posts of main Timber, fixed deep in the Ground, without any Groundsel, boarded close round about on the Inside, having none other Wall from the Ground to the Roof; those Boards not exceeding the length of a Clap-board, about an Inch thick, every Board with ledging over other, as in a Ship or Galley nailed with Ship Nails called rough and clenches, to wit, rough Nails with broad round Heads, and clenched on the other side with square Plates of Iron. The Roof of this Hall is also wrought of the like Board, and nailed with rough and clench, and seemeth as it were a Galley, the Keel turned upwards; and I observed that no Worm or Rottenness is seen to have entred into either Board or Timber. And therefore, in mine Opinion, of no great Antiquity.

I read in the 44th of Edward III. that an Hospital in the Parish of Barking Church was founded by Robert Denton Chaplain, for the Sustentation of poor Priests, and other both Men and Women, that were sick of the Phrenzy, there to remain till they were perfectly whole, and restored to good Memory.

Also I read, that in the sixth of Henry V. there was in the Tower Ward a Messuage, or great House, called Cobham's Inn; and in the 37th of Henry VI. a Messuage in Thames street, pertaining to Richard Longvile, &c. Some of the Ruins before spoken of may seem to be of the foresaid Hospital, belonging peradventure to some Prior Alien, and so suppressed among the rest, in the Reign of Edward III. or Henry V. who suppressed them all.

Now for the modern State of this Ward, in relation to the Streets, Passages, and Places of Habitation, since the Fire of London. It contains these principal Streets and Lanes, as hath been taken by a careful Survey; viz. Tower Street, Thames Street, Mark Lane, Mincing Lane and Seething Lane, St. Olave Hartstreet; then Idle Lane, St. Dunstan's Hill, Harp Lane, Water Lane, and Beer Lane, in which Places are several Courts and Alleys.

Tower Street, of which there is the Great and the Little; of which latter, but some part is in this Ward, beginning about the middle near unto St. Margaret Pattons Church, and falls into great Tower Street, which runs Eastwards unto Tower Hill, or Dock, and is a spacious Street, well built and inhabited by able Tradesmen, and the rather as being so great a Thorough-fair to and from Wapping, the Tower, St. Katharine's, and those Parts bordering upon the Thames, replenished with Seafaring Persons.

The Courts in this Street are, Mercers Court, seated on the North Side, very long, with turning Passages, and but indifferently inhabited. Carpenters Hall Court, a square Place, with an open Passage into it, sufficient for a Cart. Fowks Court, very handsome and open, with a Free Stone Pavement, and hath good Houses, which are well inhabited. Black Swan Court, a pretty handsome open Place, with indifferent Houses. Red Cross Court also pretty good. Beckford Court, a very handsome, airy Place, with large Houses, well inhabited, especially the upper End. White Lyon Court, seated over against Barking Church, is both small and ordinary, and hath a Passage into Chitterling Alley. Priests Alley, both narrow and ordinary, which with a turning Passage falls into Tower Dock: In this Alley are two small Courts, very ordinary, and without Names. Rose Alley, over against Barking Church, being long and ordinary, and hath a Passage down Steps into Chitterling Alley, as also into Glocester Court. Then Barking Church, a Peculiar to the Archbishop of Canterbury; to which Church the Abbot of Barking was anciently Patron. The Dismes 10s. 8d.

On the back side of Barking Churchyard is an Alley, or Passage into Tower Hill, with Houses on the one Side, which have a Prospect of the Church and Churchyard; and on this part, being the North side, was anciently the fair Barking Chapel, long since dissolved. On the South East Corner of Tower Street is a Row of Houses fronting the Tower, and leadeth to Thames Street, being pleasantly situated, having also the Prospect of the Thames.

Thames Street is a Place of considerable Trade, and taken up by great Dealers, as well by Wholesale as Retale: And altho' the Street (since the new building of it) is broad enough; yet, by reason of the Custom House, and the several Keys and Wharfs, is extremely pester'd with Cars, to the great Annoyance of the Inhabitants and Paasengers through it. This Street runneth a very