II.
THE SUBURBS.
I. THE NORTH SUBURB.
BEYOND the North Gate of mediæval Leicester a suburb was in existence from very early times. It contained the Hospital and Church of St. Leonard, and led up to the great Abbey of St. Mary in the Meadows.
The principal thoroughfares were Northgate, Wood Gate, Abbey Gate, The Skeyth or Senvey Gate, and Soar Lane or Walker Lane.
The road lying beyond the North Gate of Leicester, "the highway which leads to the North Bridge," as it is termed in several documents, was generally known as the Northgate. The road so called was outside the walls of the town, for it was parallel with Buxton Lane, and Buxton Lane is stated to have been without the North Gate. In 1462 it was described as "the King's Highway called le Northgate." During the 13th and 14th centuries the district was occupied mainly by dyers and fullers.
After passing over the little North Bridge, the highroad ran through Frog Island, and crossed the main channel of the Soar by another bridge, which was generally known as the North Bridge. Beyond this point the road divided; one branch turning westwards to the Forest, and the other north towards the Abbey. At the point of divergence stood the Church of St. Leonard. The westward road still retains its old name of Woodgate, which it is said to have received because it was the; way by which wood was brought into the town from the forest; and the other road which led to the Abbey was, and still is called Abbey Gate. About the year 1323 it was described as "the street of the Abbey of Leicester."
The Skeyth, or Senvey Gate, ran eastward outside the North Gate under the wall of the town. In 1322 it was called Le Skeyth, and in 1392 Senvey Gate, and in a late 15th century lease it was described as "Le Skeyth alias Senvey Gate." In the early years of the 18th century it was still known as
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