The Curious History Of Steelyard Passage And The Hanseatic League

Walking along the Thames Path in the City of London involves many twists and turns. Each section has its own name evoking the history of the area, such as ‘Oystergate Walk’ and ‘Fishmonger’s Hall Wharf’.

One stretch, just before you dive into the gloomy passage underneath Cannon Street Station, known as ‘Steelyard Passage’, is called Hanseatic Walk. 

The names of both Steelyard Passage and Hanseatic Walk relate to an intriguing element of London’s history.

Steelyard Passage

This is what Steelyard Passage looks like today. 

This was once the site of the ‘Steelyard’: the enclave of a group of merchants known as the ‘Hanseatic League’.

There are a couple of theories behind the name for the Steelyard, it is either a derivation of ‘stiliard’, a type of metal weight used to weigh imported goods on scales or possibly the Middle German ‘stalhof’, meaning ‘sample-yard’. 

Who were the Hanseatic League?

The Hanseatic League were a confederation of merchants, largely from cities and ports in modern day Northern Germany such as Lübeck, Hamburg and Bremen, ‘hanse’ being the old German word for a guild or group. It is also where the airline name ‘Lufthansa’ comes from: the Hansa of the air. 

It was originally a small group of merchants who came together to offer mutual protection from pirates. They grew from this small group in the 1100s to 66 cities and 44 confederates by the 1370s. 

The League had trading posts all over North West Europe known as ‘kontors’ and they dominated trade in the North and Baltic Seas, often being given special privileges and free trade.

They did not have a permanent central governing body, an army or a charter but operated by a set of loose agreements between the individual merchants or companies. 

The Hanseatic League In London

The first record of them acquiring a base in London was in 1157, when they purchased a house at the site of the Steelyard. It was this same year they were given special privileges for trade by King Henry II. In 1194 Richard I gave them further privileges in exchange for financial aid. 

John Stow, writing in the 16th century, wrote that they generally traded: ‘Wheate, Rie, and other graine, as Cables, Ropes, Masts, Pitch, Tar, Flaxe, Hempe, linnin cloth, Wainscots, Waxe, [and] Steele’. 

The Steelyard grew over the centuries to essentially be its own walled city, within a city. They had their own warehouses, chapel, weigh-house, living quarters and even their own guildhall where they elected their own aldermen. They purchased the ‘Steelyard’ outright in 1475 and only mixed with locals when required.

The Decline of the Hanseatic League

The growing power of the English livery companies, or guilds, in London led to demands being made to the King for the League’s special status to be challenged. This resulted in the Anglo-Hanseatic War of 1469-1474, largely over the wool and cloth trade to Baltic cities. 

In 1551 Edward VI revoked the merchants special privileges, but some merchants remained. In 1598 Elizabeth I banished the merchants, they were restored under James I, but the days of their supremacy on trade was over.

The League was never officially dissolved but more or less disintegrated in the late 17th century. 

The Site Today

Most of the old Steelyard buildings predominantly burnt down in the Great Fire of London of 1666. The site was eventually sold by the merchants still operating there in the 19th century for the construction of Cannon Street Station on the site in 1865. 

Although there are no traces of the Hanseatic League’s buildings in London, in King’s Lynn in Norfolk, where they also had a base, there are two surviving 15th century warehouse buildings, today called the ‘Hanse House’. 

So next time you are having a wander along the river bank, it is worth remembering just how much history has past here, at this special spot, over the centuries. 

Thank you for reading, more of London’s hidden history below!