Mincing Lane

In addition to the Company Hall, The Clothworkers’ Company also held two houses on Mincing Lane. On the Treswell plans, the houses sit either side of the Hall gate, with one standing alone and the other adjoining the Hall. The origin of these houses is not known, but it would appear that they were in place prior to the building of the second Hall on the Mincing Lane site. A 1538 reference to a house at the Hall gate records the granting of a lease of the house to John Halliday, the Mayor’s Officer. John  Gyle was noted as the previous tenant in the property.[1] It is most likely that these houses came into the possession of the newly formed Clothworkers’ Company from the estate of their predecessor, The Shearmen Company. The houses do not appear to have been rebuilt at the same time as the Hall in 1548.

The properties and the cellars beneath them were constantly in demand for rental purposes, and the Court Orders record a significant turnover of leaseholders for both houses during the early modern period. The Company ensured the privacy of the Hall throughout, issuing specific orders for the restricting of access from these houses into the Company Hall yard.  In 1551, the Hall Gate property was occupied by Dunston Ann. The Company agreed with Ann to undertake repairs to the house, which included the closing of two doors from the property into the hall yard.[2] In 1552, the Company struck an agreement with Ann that he would pay half the cost of these repairs, in exchange for a new lease of the property for six years.[3] Similarly, in 1556, the Company made a similar repair to the house leased to Mr. Holte, but occupied by Richard Gardiner, to ensure that his property only exited onto Mincing Lane.[4]

Treswell described both properties in his 1612 survey.[5] The property adjoining the Hall was by this time occupied by Thomas Holt, the Beadle of The Clothworkers’ Company. It consisted of four storeys, with a cellar underneath. The first story served as his shop and workshop. The Hall Gate tenement was occupied by John Domlawe, and was also four storeys in height, with a shop on the ground floor. The house stood on top of a large vault, which extended under the Hall courtyard, and joined up with the cellars underneath Clothworkers’ Hall.[6]

By the 1620s and 1630s, the two houses had become properties occupied by Company officials. In the 1620s and early 1630s, the Domelawe family remained as occupants of the Hall Gate tenement. Elizabeth Domelawe, the widow of John Domelawe, retained the lease of the house and the cellar below until 1638. At this point, Elizabeth Domelawe was succeeded by Thomas Rogers, who gained a lease of the property, with Elizabeth as a resident.[7] By 1642, the property had come into the possession of the Company Clerk, Mr. Blount, who received a lease at the will of the Company at an annual rent of £12.[8] Repairs were carried out intermittingly during their history, and additions such as new lights were made to surrounding lands in the 1660s.[9]  The properties appear to have been retained for use by Company officers for the remainder of the seventeenth-century.

The Mincing Lane properties were noted extensively in the Company accounts. Taken at twenty year intervals the monies accrued from the property can be noted. In 1600, the Company received a rental income of £7 10s. from Mincing Lane, with expenditure of £203 17s. 6d.[10]  In 1620, the annual rental income from Mincing Lane was £10, while £180 8s. 11d.[11] By 1640, the annual income from Mincing Lane had risen to £12 10s., with the annual expenditure noted as £125 1s. 3d.[12] By 1660, the annual income was £20, with expenditure reaching £193 15s. 4d.[13] By 1680, in the aftermath of the Great Fire, the Company were receiving c.£45 annually from the Mincing Lane properties.[14] Their annual Mincing Lane expenses in this year amounted to £54 19s.[15]

Individuals associated with this property

• Dunstone Anne, Leaseholder, 13-10-1552. Document reference: CL/b/1/1/f. 182r (Hall Gate, Clothwokers' Hall)
• Dunstone Anne, Leaseholder, 24-11-1551. Document reference: CL/b/1/1/f. 176r (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Dunstone Annes, Leaseholder, 8-10-1551. Document reference: CL/b/1/1/f. 174v (Hall Gate,Clothworkers' Hall)
• Dunstone Anns, Late occupier, 6-8-1550. Document reference: CL/b/1/1/f. 165r (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Dunstone Anns, Leaseholder, 8-12-1552. Document reference: CL/b/1/1/f. 184r (Hall gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Benson, Leaseholder, 20-11-1683. Document reference: CL/b/1/11/p. 13 (Vaults under Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Benson, Leaseholder, 20-8-1678. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 481 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Benson, Leaseholder, 2-4-1679. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 499 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Benson, Leaseholder, 6-10-1676. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 426 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Benson, Leaseholder, 6-4-1680. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 539 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Benson, Leaseholder, 6-5-1679. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 503 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Benson, Suitor, 20-11-1683. Document reference: CL/b/1/11/p. 13 (Vaults under Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Benson, Suitor, 20-8-1678. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 481 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Benson, Suitor, 4-7-1678. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 478 (Vault under Clothworkers' Hall)
• Maurice Blount, Late occupier, 18-1-1665. Document reference: CL/b/1/9/f. 280v (Hall Gate, Mincing Lane)
• Maurice Blount, Lease taker, 10-3-1641. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 31v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Maurice Blount, Lease taker, 16-11-1641. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 47v
• Maurice Blount, Lease taker, 22-10-1656. Document reference: CL/b/1/9/f. 83v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Maurice Blount, Leaseholder, 22-4-1642. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 58r
• Maurice Blount, Leaseholder, 26-4-1642. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 59r
• - Blount, Leaseholder, 5-7-1643. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 81v (Hall Gate)
• Maurice Blount, Suitor, 13-1-1641. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 29av (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Richard Boylston, Petitioner, 24-7-1673. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 332 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Bullock, Lease taker, 8-2-1623. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 20v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Hugh Bullocke, Suitor, 18-1-1583. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 19v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Bullocks, Leaseholder, 14-3-1585. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 58v-59r
• James Burkin, Late occupier, 14-10-1673. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 340 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Francis Chaplin, Late occupier, 2-4-1679. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 499 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Robert Chatterton, Leaseholder, 15-2-1572. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 157v (Hall gate, Mincing Lane)
• - Dannett, Late occupier, 1-10-1673. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 338-339 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Davies, Leaseholder, 16-7-1677. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 452 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Davies, Occupier, 27-11-1633. Document reference: CL/b/1/6/f. 142r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Jonathan Dawes, Occupier, 23-4-1672. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 295 (Clothworkers Hall)
• Peter De Rewes, Lease taker, 8-11-1559. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 9r (Two cellars under the hall and parlour, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Domelawe, Late occupier, 10-3-1641. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 31v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Domelawe, Late occupier, 16-11-1641. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 47v
• - Domelawe, Late occupier, 5-7-1642. Document reference: CL/b/1/6/f. 64v (Two vaults, Mincing Lane)
• - Domelaw, Leaseholder, 23-5-1638. Document reference: CL/b/1/7/f. 120v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Domelawe, Leaseholder, 18-3-1607. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 3v (A vault and great cellar, Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Domelawe, Leaseholder, 30-6-1607. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 10v (North side of hall gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Domelowe, Lease taker, 22-8-1615. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 203r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Dove, Surveyor, 20-3-1564. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 61v-62r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Dowelane, Occupier, 13-1-1641. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 29av (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Dunlaw, Leaseholder, 15-1-1640. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 7v (Vault, Mincing Lane)
• - Forth, Occupier, 17-10-1671. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p.279 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Fynche, Leaseholder, 14-3-1585. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 58v-59r
• Richard Gardener, Leaseholder, 21-4-1556. Document reference: CL/b/1/1/f. 214r (Hall yard, Clothworker's Hall)
• - Gawdon, Petitioner, 4-12-1666. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 45 (Clothworkers' Hall, Mincing Lane)
• Thomas Godfrey, Occupier, 16-7-1572. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 162v (Old gate house)
• Thomas Gold, Occupier, 8-6-1677. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 449 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Gold, Occupier, 8-8-1677. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 456 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Gold, Suitor, 18-10-1676. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 428 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Gore, Late occupier, 20-11-1573. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 176r (Near Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Gould, Suitor, 2-9-1675. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 393 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Grenewaye, Lease taker, 5-2-1556. Document reference: CL/b/1/1/f. 212r (Cellar, Clothworker's Hall)
• John Gyle, Late occupier, 23-10-1538. Document reference: CL/B/1/1/f. 42r (Hall Gate, Mincing Lane)
• Peter Haiborne, Leaseholder, 3-8-1607. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 13r (Hall gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Arthur Hall, Late occupier, 26-11-1669. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 216 (A chamber above the hall, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Daniel Hall, Occupier, 23-4-1672. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 295 (Clothworkers Hall)
• Mary Hall, Occupier, 26-11-1669. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 216 (A chamber above the hall, Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Halliday, Lease taker, 23-10-1538. Document reference: CL/B/1/1/f. 42r (Hall Gate, Mincing Lane)
• - Haute, Tenant, 21-4-1556. Document reference: CL/b/1/1/f. 214r (Hall yard, Clothworker's Hall)
• Peter Hayborne, Occupier, 18-3-1607. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 3v (South side of hall gate)
• Thomas Holte, Leaseholder, 1-10-1610. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 64v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Holte, Suitor, 18-3-1607. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 3v (South side of hall gate)
• William Hoocker, Late occupier, 20-11-1674. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 369 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Hoocker, Leaseholder, 21-10-1674. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 365 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• William Hoocker, Leaseholder, 5-11-1674. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 366 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• William Hoocker, Suitor, 1-10-1673. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 338-339 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Hunt, Lease giver, 6-8-1550. Document reference: CL/b/1/1/f. 165r (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Hunt, Leaseholder, 20-3-1564. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 61v-62r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Nicholas Huntley, Assignee, 16-10-1655. Document reference: CL/b/1/9/f. 68v (Two vaults, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Robert Jefferys, Lease taker, 15-9-1685. Document reference: CL/b/1/11/p.60-61 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Robert Jefferys, Suitor, 19-8-1685. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 57-58 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• William Jennings, Lease taker, 11-11-1611. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 96r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• William Jennings, Leaseholder, 17-7-1615. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 199v-200r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Jennings, Leaseholder, 18-2-1612. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 103v (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Jennings, Leaseholder, 21-1-1612. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 99r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Jennings, Suitor, 21-1-1612. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 99r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Robert Knightley, Petitioner, 29-4-1679. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 500 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Robert Knightley, Suitor, 29-4-1679. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 500 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Lethuaileer, Late occupier, 13-10-1675. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 399 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Lethuialeer, Late occupier, 2-9-1675. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 393 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Linsey, Suitor, 23-7-1673. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 330 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Linsey, Suitor, 24-7-1673. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 332 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Laurence Mellor, Leaseholder, 21-1-1574. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 178r (New house at the gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Mellow, Leaseholder, 5-12-1582. Document reference: CL/b/1/7/f. 18v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Mellowe, Late occupier, 12-3-1583. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 22r (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Mellowe, Late occupier, 19-2-1583. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 20v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Lawrence Mellowe, Lease taker, 16-7-1572. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 162r (Hall Gate)
• Lawrence Mellowe, Lease taker, 17-10-1572. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f.165r (Hall Gate and Cellar, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Mellowe, Leaseholder, 14-11-1575. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 198r (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Mellowe, Leaseholder, 14-12-1582. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 19r (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Lawrence Mellowe, Leaseholder, 17-10-1572. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f.165r (Hall Gate and Cellar, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Mellowe, Leaseholder, 19-2-1573. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 168v (House and Cellar, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Laurence Mellowe, Leaseholder, 7-7-1579. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 232v (Hall Gate)
• - Mellowe, Suitor, 14-11-1575. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 198r (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Lawrence Mellowe, Suitor, 1-7-1572. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 161v (Hall Gate)
• - Mellowe, Suitor, 18-9-1582. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 16v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Mellowes, Leaseholder, 26-11-1582. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 18r (Hall Gate, Clothworker's Hall)
• John Moore, Late occupier, 25-11-1672. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 315 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Moore, Occupier, 23-4-1672. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 295 (Clothworkers Hall)
• Nicholas Mugg, Suitor, 13-1-1641. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 29av (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Parker, Leaseholder, 2-12-1668. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 153
• - Parker, Leaseholder, 8-7-1668. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 114
• Marmaduke Rawdon, Suitor, 5-7-1642. Document reference: CL/b/1/6/f. 64v (Two vaults, Mincing Lane)
• - Rayden, Leaseholder, 26-2-1640. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 10v
• John Robinson, Leaseholder, 22-2-1680. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 532 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Robinson, Occupier, 21-10-1662. Document reference: CL/b/1/9/f. 203r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Robinson, Occupier, 22-2-1680. Document reference: CL/b/1/10/p. 532 (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Robinson, Occupier, 5-11-1663. Document reference: CL/b/1/9/f. 235v (Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Robinson, Occupier, 9-12-1662. Document reference: CL/b/1/9/f.212v (Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Robinson, Suitor, 13-10-1662. Document reference: CL/b/1/9/f. 202r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Rogers, Lease taker, 13-1-1641. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 29av (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Thomas Rogers, Occupier, 18-7-1638. Document reference: CL/b/1/7/f. 126r (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Royden, Leaseholder, 5-11-1640. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 26r (Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Ryxman, Lease taker, 30-8-1554. Document reference: CL/b/1/1/f. 199r (Great Cellars, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Henry Walton, Suitor, 18-1-1583. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 19v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• - Watts, Occupier, 10-12-1616. Document reference: CL/b/1/5/f. 229v (House adjoining the hall, Mincing Lane)
• Thomas West, Leaseholder, 7-6-1637. Document reference: CL/b/1/7/f. 99v (Hall Gate, Clothworkers' Hall)
• Richard Wheeler, Lease taker, 14-12-1540. Document reference: CL/B/1/1/f. 78r (Hall Gate, Mincing Lane)
• John Wood, Lease giver, 16-10-1655. Document reference: CL/b/1/9/f. 68v (Two vaults, Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Wood, Leaseholder, 6-7-1647. Document reference: CL/b/1/8/f. 166v (Two great vaults, Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Yeoman, Lease taker, 20-11-1573. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 176r (Near Clothworkers' Hall)
• John Yeomans, Leaseholder, 1-4-1579. Document reference: CL/b/1/2/f. 227v (near Clothworkers' Hall)
• name missing, Owner, 24-3-1596. Document reference: CL/b/1/3/f. 152r (Gardens, Clothworkers' Hall)