South out of Cannon Street, at No. 60, to Upper Thames Street (P.O. Directory). In Vintry and Cordwainer Wards.
First mention: Leake, 1666.
Former names : "Whytyngton Colledge," Agas, 1570. "La Riole" (q.v.) (1303-4). "Paternosterchurchstreet," 1232 (Cal. Charter Rolls, H. III. I. 167). "Paternosterstret," 1265 (Cal. P.R. H. III. 1258-66, p. 468).
It is interesting to note the various changes of name above set out, forming as it were a chronicle in brief of this street.
Its earliest name Paternosterchurch street commemorated the church, then in all probability its distinguishing feature.
The subsequent name "La Riole" recalls the memory of the foreign merchants assembled there for the purposes of their trade, of whom a great number are said to have imported wine from the town of "La Reole," near Bordeaux (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 49), and to have named the street in which they resided after their native town. The name appears to have been given in the first instance to one principal messuage or tenement, and only later extended to the whole street.
The present name commemorates the great foundation of Whittington College in the Church of St. Michael Paternoster Royal, 3 H. VI.
A Dictionary of London. Henry A Harben. 1918.