St Mary Woolchurch Haw, Medieval parish church site at Mansion House, City of London, United Kingdom.
St Mary Woolchurch Haw was a medieval parish church that stood on the eastern side of Stocks Market in the City of London, where the Lord Mayor's Mansion House now stands. The building shaped the neighborhood for centuries as a religious and commercial center.
The original church dates back to the reign of King William I, when Hubert of Ryes granted it to the Abbot and Convent of St John's in Colchester. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666, after which the parish merged with St Mary Woolnoth.
The name Woolchurch comes from a weighing beam for wool that stood permanently in the churchyard during medieval times. This installation made the location a significant hub for the wool trade in the City.
The site is now occupied by the Mansion House and surrounding modern buildings, so only historical records remain to mark where the church once stood. Those interested in the past can find detailed information about life in this area through surviving parish documents from 1538 onward.
The parish registers from 1538 onward provide a window into city life, with detailed records of clergy, church officials, and financial accounts. These documents remain a rare source for understanding daily life in central London centuries ago.
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