The history of Temple Bar

LONDON historians content themselves by simply remarking that Temple Bar is the place where the City freedom terminates; that anciently only posts, rails" and a chain separated the liberties of London from those of Westminster, such as were more recently to be seen at Holborn, Smithfield, and Whitechapel bars; and, finally, "that afterwards a house of timber was erected across the street with a narrow gateway and an entry on the south side of it under the house."

That there was only a bar or chain across the street at this period is very probable, as also that it took its name from the adjoining property belonging to the Templars; but at present, previous to the sixteenth century, we really have nothing to give us any description of the appearance of Temple Bar. Whatever it was like in the reign of Stephen, it must have fallen a prey to the fire which burnt all the buildings between London Bridge and St. Clement Danes in 1135, and if in existence in 1265, it must also have been taken away, and carried with the other bars and chains across the City streets to the Tower by the special desire of Henry the Third.

That a bar was erected to separate the London jurisdiction from that of Westminster previous to the year 1222 may be relied upon, especially as the decree which was passed in that year, and related in the first chapter of this work, was made to terminate a dispute between the Abbey of Westminster and the See of London, and naturally enough the Corporation would take equal interest in such a boundary.

The first mention of Temple Bar is quoted by the late Mr. Herbert, being a grant dated the 29th of Edward the First, A.D. 1301, to 'Valter Ie Barbour, of "a void place in the high street in the parish of St. Clement Danes, extra Barram Novi Templi," a spot considered to be the neighbourhood of Holywell Street. We have already shown that the Bar is mentioned in the petitions to Parliament in the year 1315, at, which date it is also mentioned in Letter Book E, preserved at Guildhall. During the rebellion of Wat Tyler in 1381, when we have evidence of the two forges falling a prey to their evil work at St. Dunstan's, the rebels on their way to the Strand to burn the Savoy would not be very particular about Temple Bar, for to them it decidedly would have acted as a bar to progress. Hence it was most (to be continued...)

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Last updated: 18 January, 2008