East from 42 Old Broad Street at London Wall to No.103 Bishopsgate at Camomile Street (P.O. Directory). In Broad Street Ward and Bishopsgate Ward.
First mention: O. and M. 1677.
It seems to have been made in Stow's time (p.176), but he does not give it a name.
Perhaps the name is derived from the plant, which readily springs up on waste land and may have grown over and about the City Wall in early days.
The City Wall ran along the north side of this street, as indicated in O. and M. 1677, and at the junction of this street with Bishopsgate a mass of rubble masonry has been found at a depth of 10 ft. resting on a bed of puddled clay and flint, and as this bed is only found in association with the City Wall, it seems probable that the remains were those of the Roman gate which occupied the site.
A Dictionary of London. Henry A Harben. 1918.