Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 9.djvu/380

 374

NOTES AND QUERIES. in s. ix. MAY 9, ww.

FRESH WHARF : FISH WHARF (11 S. ix. 248). Fresh Wharf appears to be quite distinct from the Fish Wharf, and should not be confused with it. The Fish Wharf is -described as in the parish of St. Magnus in JBridge Ward, 26 Henry VI., 1448 (' Calendar Patent Rolls, Henry VI., 1446-52,' p. 173) ; while Fresh Wharf is in the parish of St. Botolph, Billingsgate, in Billingsgate Ward.

The earliest mention of Fish Wharf occurs in 1273-4 as " Viswarf " (' Calendar Ct. Hus- ting Wills,' i. 17); and it is variously referred to in later records as " leFishwharf " (' Mun. Gild, Liber Custumarum, ' i. 385); " Le Fisshewarff," 14 Edward II. (' Placita de Quo Warranto,' p. 467) ; " Wysswarf," 1329 <'Ct. Hust. Wills,' i. 353); " Fichwharf," 1374 (ib. t ii. 165).

In early times the wharf was of consider- able importance, and was occupied by the fishmongers. In 14 Edward II. a serious dispute arose as to the right of these fish- mongers to sell fish by retail in their shops on the wharf, and their petition to the King and the consequent proceedings occupy many folios of the ' Liber Custumarum,' and are set out at length in the ' Mun. Gild., Lib. Oust.,' i. 385-406. Again, on the occasion of an Inquisition taken in the City in 17 Ed- ward III., as to the obstruction of certain lanes leading to the Thames, it was ascer- tained that the obstruction of a certain lane called " Fysshwharfe " was detrimental to the public interest, and that it had been and ought to be for the public use (ib., ii. 453). Later on, in the fifteenth century, by the will of Andrew Hunte, dated 1440, and enrolled 1446, the wharf was devised to the Rector and churchwardens of St. Magnus' Church, being described as a tenement formerly belonging to John Betherenden, otherwise called " Sandhurst," and formerly " le Fisshwharf at le Hole," situate " super " the new churchyard of the church of St. Magnus <' Ct. Hust. Wills,' ii. 508). There does not seem to be any reference to this wharf in the Endowed Charities Report relating to the charitable estates of this parish, and the latest reference I have been able to find is in Stow's ' Survey,' ed. 1603, p. 217, in which it is described as on the south side of Thames Street in the parish of St. Magnus, next to Drinkwater Wharf. The site of Fish Wharf may be identified as lying between the present London Bridge Wharf west, and Fresh Wharf east. It is true, as Stow says, that these wharves were generally named after their owners, but it seems more prob- able that Fish Wharf was so named as being one of the principal landing-places for the

large quantities of fish brought to the City for the use of the inhabitants. There was another " Fishwharf " in the parish of St. Mary Somerset in Queenhithe Ward.

As indicated above, Fresh Wharf has sur- vived to the present time, and is situated at the western end of Lower Thames Street, east of London Bridge Wharf. The earliest mention of it occurs in 41 Edward III. (1367) as " Fresshewharfe " ('Calendar Letter- Book G,' p. 221). Prior to this date, it seems to have been designated " Frosse- warf " and " Fresshffysshe wharf e," the former appellation being found as an en- dorsement on several early deeds of the twelfth century, calendared in the ' Ancient Deeds,' A. 1912, A. 7061, and A. 7309. The name " Fresshffysshewharfe " occurs in 1363/4, in the charter of Edward III. to the Fishmongers' Company granted in the thirty-eighth year of the reign, and set out in full in Herbert's ' History of the Twelve Livery Companies,' ii. 120.

In 1559, in common with other wharves and quays, Fresh Wharf was made by Act of Parliament a general place for lading and discharging goods, and it was of sufficient importance at that date to be distinguished as a water-gate, and was styled " Fresshe Wharffegate " (' London Inq. post Mortem,' i. 181).

The various changes of name may possibly indicate changes of ownership in early times, arid it is interesting to note in this connexion that John Fresfis was a resident and owner of property in the neighbourhood in 1301 ('Ct. Hust. Wills,' i. 153).

I. I. GREAVES.

DUCHESS OF BOLTON (US. viii. 349, 393). The accompanying extract from The Gentleman's Magazine evidently refers to Catherine, wife of the fourth duke, and shows that she did not live to become duchess : " Died 23 April, 1744, Lady of Lord Harry Powlet, brother to the Duke of Bolton." She does not appear to have been buried in the family vault at Basing, where her husband was interred in 1759, aged 68.

G. R. B.

" THE SECRETARY AT WAR "(US. ix. 326). The office of Secretary at War was abolished during the Crimean War, I think Mr. Sidney Herbert was the last to hold the appointment.

PARISHES IN Two OR MORE COUNTIES (11 S. ix. 29, 75, 132,210,273, 317). The parish of Presteign is partly in Herefordshire and partly in Radnorshire. A. R. W.