My research sometimes turns up something that makes me smile. This time it happened because I want to know exactly when the two branches of the River Tyburn that enter the Thames at Westminster (and thus formed Thorney Island) were actually covered over. The abbey and palace at Westminster once stood upon this island, of which there is now no trace.
The above image shows quite clearly that a branch of the Tyburn once flowed through the present site of New Palace Yard. But when was this river course culverted? When did Thorney Island cease to be an island?
In my copy of the Town & City Historical Maps’ Medieval London, the City, Westminster and Southwark, which shows what was there in the late 13th century, the area is marked as the Outer Courtyard, with no sign of a waterway except for the Thames itself on the west. If this is correct, when the Tyburn had been enclosed by then.
Dare I take it for fact? Especially when this site— https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/the-middle-ages/oldandnewpalaceyards-/—states: “….During the time of Edward the Confessor, Old Palace Yard connected the Palace with Westminster Abbey, and was a quiet secluded spot where one could meditate or rest….” Correct me if I’m wrong, but Edward the Confessor pre-dated William Rufus, in whose reign the hall was first erected. The illustration at the top of this article clearly shows the hall and the tributary arm of the Tyburn. Ah, but did the Confessor meditate in the open area shown between the hall and the abbey? I’m not too sure about the differences between Palace Yard, Old Palace Yard and New Palace Yard.
So I still don’t know the date I seek for certain, but the following paragraph (from this link London’s Lost Rivers – River Tyburn – London’s Lost Rivers – Book and Walking Tours by Paul Talling (londonslostrivers.com)) raised a laugh:
“….An organisation, named the Tyburn Angling Society has garnered much publicity in recent years with their tongue in cheek plans for the restoration of the Tyburn river as the prime fishing stream they imagine it to have been in centuries past. This would require the destruction of more than £1 billion of property including Buckingham Palace. They stated that as building owners are often compensated when their view is blocked by new development, in this case owners of buildings whose view is improved by demolition of their neighbours could pay for the privilege….”
Can you imagine the uproar? Wonderful.
Oh, and by the way, if anyone does know exactly when Thorney Island ceased to be an island, I’d be very grateful for the information. All I can find are vague mentions of culverting and so on, without a year or even a century.
If the Town & City Historical Maps reference above is wrong, and it was post-1375, I have some rewriting to do! You see, at the moment I have my characters walking to and fro between the hall and the bell tower on the other side of the yard. The bell is called Great Tom, from late 13th century, and you can see more about it at this link https://www.ascy.org.uk/articles/great_tom_of_westminster.php)). Crossing from the hall to the bell tower would be a little difficult in midwinter with a tidal arm of the Tyburn in the way. It would need a bridge….but I find no mention of a bridge.
Help?
And to put it all in context, here is an image of what the original Thorney Island would probably look like if the modern Palace of Westminster were to be suddenly placed upon it.
murreyandblue 