My wife's ancestors - Maltass - Contents

Winchester House, Old Broad St, City of London

Winchester House, off Old Broad St, City of London. Close to London Wall.
This was the medieval house (built after 1539) of William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester (died 1572).
Built on the site of Austin Friars.

It was of vast size. It was much altered and sub-divided.
By the 19th century only part of it remained. It was used as commercial premises.
[Gentleman's Magazine, 1839] says the building had been recently used as "warehouses".
[Wheatley, 1891] says that in the early 19th century the building was "deformed by modern alterations and divided into warehouses".

William Maltass of Smyrna lived in England for a time.
He is listed in 1820 to 1835 as a merchant at Winchester House, 52 Old Broad St, City of London.
In his time, Winchester House was densely packed with different companies. So this would be his business premises not his home.
He is gone back to Smyrna by 1839.

Winchester House was demolished.
[Gentleman's Magazine, 1839] shows that the surviving part of Winchester House is then being demolished.
Though [Wheatley, 1891] thought part of Winchester House still existed in 1844.
A large new office building called Winchester House was built c.1886 between Great Winchester St and London Wall.
This itself was demolished around 1965.
In 1998 a new massive office building called Winchester House was built between Great Winchester St and London Wall. It is the London headquarters of Deutsche Bank. See modern 3D view.
See modern street view of Great Winchester St.

The area around London Wall, Broad St (i.e. Old Broad St), Great Winchester St (i.e. Winchester St) and Little Winchester St, City of London.
From 1819 map.
[Gentleman's Magazine, 1839] says Winchester House extended across the S side of Great Winchester St and the W side of Broad St.
By the 19th century only a small part of it remained.
It seems clear that the surviving part was on the S side of the bend on Winchester St. At that bend note the outer wall of a courtyard and the buildings set back from the wall. This is the only spot that matches the pictures below.
However there is an issue. Why (see below) does Winchester House appear on the street listing for Old Broad St but not on the street listing for Great Winchester St?

The surviving part of the medieval Winchester House.
Engraving of 1800.
See full size. From Meisterdrucke fine art.

The surviving part of the medieval Winchester House.
Engraving of 1830.
See full size. From Posterazzi.
It seems clear that the surviving part is on the S side of the bend on Winchester St.

The demolition of the surviving part of the medieval Winchester House.
Engraving printed in [Gentleman's Magazine, 1839]. See copy from here.
This copy from London Museum. See full size.
See London Picture Archive.

William Maltass listed in 1820 at Winchester House, Old Broad St, City of London.
From p.221 of Kent's London Directory, 1820.
From here.

William Maltass listed in 1835 at Winchester House, 52 Old Broad St, City of London.
From p.579 of Robson's London Directory, 1835.
From here.

Part of Old Broad St on p.77 of Robson's London Directory, 1835.
Shows that Winchester House was then a densely packed business premises. William Maltass was only one of many businesses on the premises.
From here.
There is an entry for Great Winchester St on pp.303-304. Why does Winchester House not appear on that street?

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References

• "Winchester House, Broad Street, London", pp.372-373 of The Gentleman's Magazine, Vol.11, April 1839.
• "Winchester House" on pp.523-524 of vol.3 of London, past and present, by Henry Benjamin Wheatley, 1891.