Place    From 1320  To 1853

Steelyard, Stilliarde or Stalhof

Categories: Commerce

Countries: Germany

The Hanseatic League was a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and their market towns dominated trade along the coasts of Northern Europe, from the 13th to the 17th century. Their trading posts were known as kontors and could become substantial sites. The London kontor was established in 1320 and grew into a separate walled community with its own warehouses, weighing house, chapel, offices and houses. It became known as the Steelyard or Stahlhof. The chapel was not large so they used nearby All Hallows the Great.

Wikipedia has a 1667 plan clearly showing the extent of the site. Most of the buildings were lost in the Great Fire so perhaps this plan was drawn up as part of the rebuilding exercise.

A steelyard balance was erected here to weigh the goods. We’ve read that the Steelyard acquired its name from this weighing device and also that the device got its name from its use at this site. They can’t both be true. The Hansas imported steel along with everything else so that is an alternative derivation of the name of their London base.

The Hanseatic League lost its power and influence from the late 16th century on but the Steelyard was not sold until 3 years before Cannon Street Station was built on the site in 1866.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Steelyard, Stilliarde or Stalhof

Commemorated ati

Cannon Street Station

The Sir John Hawkshaw Cannon Street Station was officially opened by South Ea...

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Hanseatic merchants and 60 years of peace

Let's cover the easy bit first: The German at the end translates as “The old ...

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Other Subjects

Alec W. Poupart

Alec W. Poupart

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Group, Commerce

1 memorial
Sir Francis Baring

Sir Francis Baring

Merchant and merchant banker. Born at Larkbear, Exeter. He founded the bank that bore his name with his brother John. Director of the East India company from 1779. Grandfather of Thomas and of Evel...

Person, Commerce

1 memorial
Michael Tierney

Michael Tierney

Mine host of the Windsor Castle pub in 1990. Distinguished member of the Handlebar Club since 2007.

Person, Commerce, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Joseph da Costa Andrade

Joseph da Costa Andrade

This person's grave was destroyed by a WW2 bomb. The name is on the south-west face of the pedestal. Joseph da Costa Andrade was born circa 1836 in London. He was the fifth of the eleven children ...

Person, Commerce, Community / Clubs, Liveries & Guilds

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Robert Seaward

Robert Seaward

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We can find no information about the "facilities" behind this green door. Can someone help?

1 subject commemorated
Edward Geoffrey Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby

Edward Geoffrey Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby

Tory politician. Born at Knowsley Park, Lancashire. Overcame his early boisterous jollity and three times became Prime Minister, each time a coalition caretaker between the giants: Peel and Gladsto...

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

6 memorials
Thomas Haynes Parker

Thomas Haynes Parker

Churchwarden in Clerkenwell in 1845. Insurance papers for 1835 list a Thomas Haynes Parker at 25 Winyatt Street, Goswell Street, "paper stainer". By 1836 he has become "gent" with another property ...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Emiliano Zapata

Emiliano Zapata

Leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, the main leader of the peasant revolution in the state of Morelos, and the inspiration of the agrarian movement called Zapatismo. Born Mexico and died ther...

Person, Nationalism, Politics & Administration, Mexico

1 memorial