Place Name
Named by association with Knightrider Street, which used to be part of one of the big thoroughfares through the City. In the 18thCentury, it was divided into two: Great Knightrider Street and Little Knightrider Street running from Tower Royal to St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe. It is often claimed that it was used by the knights riding to the jousts at West Smithfleld. “They were accustomed to assemble here for inspection by their standard-bearer, whose appointment was attached to the soke (a jurisdiction outside the City Walls) which comprised this south-west corner of the city. As standard-bearers the Fitz Walters long held Baynard’s Castle, where they possessed a ‘liberty,’ or exemption from ordinary jurisdiction.” The name was first recorded as Knyghridestrete in 1322 which predates the purchase of the Tower Royal by nearly 50 years. Another suggestion is that the Middle English term knightridere may refer to an early medieval obligation to be carried out by those given land by the king or lord, such as being an escort of messenger.
