VYSE LANE, SOUTHAMPTON OLD TOWN
This ancient narrow lane runs east to west from French Street to Bugle Street. It was more of an alleyway as can be seen in the photo of the north side of the Medieval Merchants House and two long but narrow vacant Medieval plots.
When The Normans arrived and bought prosperity and development to the town new businesses meant new streets.
Lanes and streets needed a name and so a street with butchers shops would be Butchers Row or Bugle Street, ...a bugle was a young bull. Simnel Street was where bakers made simnel cake.
Porters Lane was where The Company Of Porters stabled their horses. French Street was where The Normans and later French Huguenots lived. The English lived in English Street, which became High street in the reign of Henry VIII.
So Vyse Lane was named after the activities of the women who conducted their business there. But the original name of this lane is shocking.
Many years ago I saw a documentary on the origin of certain swear words. A language historian described a lane in the Southwark area of medieval London where prostitutes took their clients.
it was called "Grope **** Lane"
I was amazed to learn from a Southampton historian that we had one as well.
The first Grope**** Lane appeared in Oxford, England in 1230 and most towns had one in the middle ages including Southampton.
The one in Shrewsbury still exists as Grope Lane.