TOWER LIBERTY
Tower Liberty before 1686 consisted of the land
within the walls of the Tower of London and the land immediately outside - Tower Hill. In
1686 three further areas were added by James II's charter, Minories, Old
Artillery Ground and Wellclose. These were all former monastic lands sold for
redevelopment and previously used to store ordnance. Being granted the privilege status of
Tower Liberties the inhabitants were outside the jurisdiction of the City of London and
the County of Middlesex and free from jury service at assizes. Although having the right
to raise taxes, these were only levied occasionally. The Tower Liberties had its own
courthouse and prison, originally on Tower Hill and later in Wellclose Square. Various
Police Acts gradually eroded these rights in the 19th century and by 1900 the area became
part of the Borough of Stepney.
Holy Trinity, Minories: The convent of the Order of St. Clare was
founded in 1293 by Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, brother to Edward I. The royal connection
gave this convent the privilege of becoming a Papal Peculiar and as such was outside the
jurisdiction of the English bishops. The convent was surrendered in 1539 to Henry VIII as
part of the "Dissolution of the Monasteries". Part of the buildings were then
used as an armoury for the Tower of London and the rest a workhouse. The chapel was given
the name St. Trinities and became a parish church, rebuilt in 1706 and finally destroyed
in 1940.
Greenwood's Maps 1827:
Tower of London and
surrounding area [363 Kbytes]
Church Records:
- St Peter ad Vincula , (Chapel Royal in Tower of London)
Baptisms & Marriages 1538- date,
Burials 1538-1871 : Not deposited
- Holy Trinity, Minories, Haydon Square
Baptisms 1563-1897,
Marriages 1579-1898,
Burials 1566-1852 : GL
Marriage Index 1676-1754 :
EoLFHS Publications
- Irvingite Church, Old Artillery Ground, Parliament Court, Bishopsgate
Baptisms 1829-1840 : PRO
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