Place Name
Originally called Pissing Alley, this was most likely a public toilet from at least Georgian times but probably much earlier and featured on Rocque’s map of 1738. It no longer follows its historic monastic path, which was a continuation of what is now Briset Street. It was moved a little south as part of a late Victorian redevelopment. By that time the name had already changed to Passing Alley, as seen on Horwood’s map of 1799. According to thestreetnames.com: “At one end of the the alley was a tavern where prisoners on their way from Clerkenwell to Newgate were allowed to pause for refreshment. Presumably they then also stopped in Pissing Alley for relief.” Others suggest it may have been a reference to cesspits that were in the area. Gillian Bebbington is London Street Names offers this caustic entry: “Was originally Pissing Alley, a descriptive relic from the middle ages. The modern equivalent is the euphemistic ‘Commit No Nuisance’ sign, and in fact there is one of these notices at the entrance the alley, showing that its reputation has not improved over the course of the centuries.” (Today, that sign has been replaced by a CCTV notice.)
