Foster Lane, EC2V

Place Name

This is a corruption of Vedast, named after the adjacent St Vedast Church, which was originally built in the 12thCentury. Vedast was a 6thCentury bishop of Arras and possibly introduced by the Normans. He died on February 6, AD539 at Arras and that night the locals saw a luminous cloud ascend from his house, apparently carrying away his soul. Vedast was venerated in Belgium as well as England (from the 10thCentury) where he was known as Saint Foster. It was written as Seint uastes lane in 1271, Seint Fastes lane in 1321, Seynt Fastreslane in 1360 and Faster Lane in 1524.

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