Thavie's Inn

Thavies Inn was a former Inn of Chancery, associated with Lincoln's Inn, established at Holborn, near the site of the present side street and office block still known as Thavies Inn Buildings. Thavie's Inn is one of the earliest Inns of Chancery on record, both by date of establishment and dissolution. It remains a well-known City of London landmark, where Lloyd's Bank is situated, on the opposite side of Holborn Circus from Ely Place.

In 1349 John Thavie, an armourer based in the parish of St Andrew's, Holborn, “left a considerable Estate towards the support of the fabric forever” of that church, a legacy which survived the English Reformation. It has been invested carefully through the centuries, and still provides for the church's current upkeep. [1]. His name has been transcribed as 'Thavy', 'Tavy' and 'Davy' ie. the Welsh surname.

In his Will the property is described as an Inn "wherein the apprentices used to dwell" (note the past tense) and the assumption is that these were "Law Apprentices" who were known to lodge along Holborn, to be near the Chancellor's Court, ie. at the Bishop of Lincoln's establishment there. The property in question is best located by the present Bartlett's Buildings on the south-side of Holborn.

More information on the Wikipedia page