Cordwainer (ward)
| Ward of Cordwainer | |
 Location within the City |
|
  Ward of Cordwainer |
|
| OS grid reference | TQ323811 |
|---|---|
| Sui generis | City of London |
| Administrative area | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | EC2 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | City of London |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Cities of London and Westminster |
| London Assembly | City and East |
Coordinates: 51°30′46″N 0°05′36″W / 51.51285°N 0.09324°W
Cordwainer is a small, almost rectangular-shaped ward in the City of London.[1] It is named after the cordwainers, the professional shoemakers who historically lived and worked in this particular area of London;[2] there is a Livery Company for the trade — the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers. The ward is sometimes referred to as the "Cordwainers' ward".
It is bounded to the north by Poultry and Cheapside (the boundary with Cheap ward); to the west by the eponymous Bread Street and the ward of the same name; to the south by Cannon Street (and Vintry and Dowgate wards); and to the east by Walbrook ward and a street of the same name.
Streets within Cordwainer's boundaries are, amongst others, Bow Lane, Pancras Lane and part of Watling Street. Queen Street runs north-south through the centre of the ward.[3]
Former precincts
In mediaeval times and long before the most recent boundary changes in 2003, Cordwainer was divided into eight precincts:[4]
- St. Mary, Aldermary, upper and lower
- Allhallows, Bread Street
- St. Mary-le-Bow
- St. Antholin, upper and lower
- St. Pancras
- St. Bennet, Sherehog and St. John
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Trinity[5]
Today
The contemporary ward is home to many large businesses and new initiatives such as Bow Bells House,[6] named after the bells of St Mary-le-Bow church—and not as sometimes thought the area of Bow. Cordwainer contains one other church, St Mary Aldermary, and the site of St Antholin, Budge Row, demolished in 1875.[7] Cordwainer ward is quite distinctive for its high number of licensed premises, but in addition has its own club[8] dedicated to promoting the area positively.[9]
Politics
Cordwainer is one of 25 ancient wards of the City of London, each electing an alderman to the Court of Aldermen and commoners (the City equivalent of a councillor) elected to the Court of Common Council of the City of London Corporation. Only electors who are Freemen of the City are eligible to stand for election.
References
- ↑ Ward Map
- ↑ Chambers Dictionary 9th Edition (2003) p335 ISBN 0-550-10105-5
- ↑ City of London Police Force description
- ↑ Book 2, Ch. 17: Cordwainer Ward , A New History of London: Including Westminster and Southwark (1773), pp. 597-600 25 September 2007
- ↑ Thomas Allen, The City of London and Parts Adjacent: Volume 3
- ↑ Details of Project
- ↑ Vanished Churches of the City of London Huelin,G: Guildhall Library Publishing, London, 1996 ISBN ISBN 0-900422-42-4
- ↑ Club Website
- ↑ Ward Newsletter
External links
- Cordwainer The Official Ward Website
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