East from St. Paul's Churchyard to King William Street, London Bridge (P.O. Directory). In Candlewick, Cordwainer, Bread Street and Walbrook Wards.
First mention, under modern name : "Canon Street" (Leake, 1666).
Earliest mention found in records : "Candelwrichstrete," 1180-7 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. 16). "Candelwrictestrate," temp. John (Anc. Deeds A., 1957). "Candewyllestrate " (ib. A. 1980), temp. John. "Candelwrithestrate," c. 1190 (ib. A. 2025).
Other forms : "Candelwritestrate," temp. John (ib. A. 7821). "Kandelwrihtestrate," H. III. (ib. A. 1961). "Cande(wille)strate " (ib.) (ib. A. 1874-6). "Kandelwrithtestrate," H. III. (ib. A. 2044). "Candelwiccestrate," 1259 (Ct. H.W. I. 4). "Candelwrihcestrate," 54 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2101). "Kandelwricgstrate," H. III. (ib. A. 2271). "Kandelwycestrate," 43 H. III. (ib. B. 2104) "Candelwryhttestrate," 1271-2 (Ct. H.W. I. 10). "Kandelwrictestrete," "Kandelwickstrate," 1275 (Ct. H.W. I. 23). "Candelwriste-strete," 5 Ed. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2469) "Candelwestrete," 6 Ed. I. (ib. A. 2001). "Candelwrihttestrate," "Candelwryhtstrate," 1272-3 (Ct. H.W. I. 14). "Candelwekstrate," 1281 (ib. 62). "Candlewystrate," 1282 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 53). "Candelwer3-strate," "Candelwer3tstrete," 1298 (Ct. H.W. I. 139). "Candelwyestrete," 1377 (ib. II. 197). "Candelwylwykstrete," 2 Ed. IV. (Anc. Deeds, B. 2098). "Canwikstrete," 14 H. VII. (ib. B. 2282). "Canwykstrete," H. VIII. (Dugdale, IV. 232). "Canninge Street " (temp. Q. Eliz.) (Proc. in Chancery, II. 277). "Candlewright," or "Candlewicke, strete" (S. 219). "Canning Street," near London Stone, 1647-8 (L. and P. Chas. I. XXII. p. 8). (Now commonly called Candlewick.)
In a will of 1372 direction is given for the purchase of cloth of "Candelwykstrete" for the making of coats and hoods (Ct. H.W. II. 145), and Dr. Sharpe says that it was famous for its cloth so late as temp. of Henry VI., and that it was at one time the centre of the cloth trade (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 136 note).
The fraternity of Burellers of Candelwykestrete are mentioned1345 (Ct. H.W. I. 484).
Originally Candlewick Street or Cannon Street did not extend beyond Walbrook, but in 1853-4 it was decided to continue it further west and make it a thoroughfare to St. Paul's Cathedral, removing for the purpose the narrow line of streets known as Great St. Thomas Apostle, Basing Lane, Little Friday Street, Great Distaff Lane, etc. The thoroughfare was at the same time widened throughout. This western extension was at first and until 1866 known as Cannon Street West, now the whole street is called Cannon Street.
Stow says the street took its name of Chandlers or makers of Candles, both of waxe and tallow, for Candlewright is a maker of candles or of "weeke," which is the cotton or yarne thereof ; or otherwise "wike," the place where they used to work them (S. 219). "Wrich," "wricte," "wrihte" are the earliest forms. "Wyce" does not occur until the middle of the 13th century
There were certainly wax-chandlers here in early times. In 1311 mention is made of John le Cierger de Kandelwikstrate (Cal. L. Bk. D. p. 137) of John le Chaundeler de Candelwykstrete, 1305 (Cal. L. Bk. B. 163) and of Matthew le Chaundeler de Candelwykestrete, 1326 (ib. E. p. 210).
Cannon Street is a corruption of the old name, as indicated in the forms set out above.
A Dictionary of London. Henry A Harben. 1918.