Holford court, Fenchurch street.†
Holford’s walk, Fore street, Lambeth.†
Holiday’s court, 1. Blue Anchor alley.† 2. Narrow Wall.†
Holiday’s yard, Creed lane.†
Holiwell, a fine spring, now choaked up with soil and a hill of rubbish called Holiwell Mount, near Shoreditch. This spring, in the times of popery, was famed for its miraculous virtues, and thence obtained the name of Holy.
A little to the south of this well, but within its precinct, stood an ancient priory of Benedictine nuns, which after many repairs, was rebuilt by Sir Thomas Lovel, Knight of the Garter, in the reigns of Henry VII. and VIII. who also gave to this priory a considerable benefaction in land, and was here buried in a chapel which he himself had erected. In commemoration of this benefactor, the following lines were curiously painted in most of the glass windows:
All the nunnes in Holiwell,
Pray for the soul of Thomas Lovel.
This priory, at the general suppression of monasteries, was surrendered to Henry VIII. in the year 1539, and its ruins are still to be seen in St. John’s court in Holiwell lane: the populace unjustly consider these as the remains of St. John’s palace, tho’ it does not appear that ever any royal mansion was in this neighbourhood.
Holiwell court, 1. Holiwell lane, Shoreditch. 2. St. Catharine’s.