Chancery Lane is a one-way street that forms part of the western boundary of the City of London.

[2] The route originated as a 'new lane' created by the Knights Templar from their original 'old Temple' on the site of the present Southampton Buildings on Holborn, in order to access to their newly acquired property to the south of Fleet Street (the present Temple) sometime before 1161.

[1] Local government boundaries were changed considerably in this area in 1994 – previously only a small part of the street, on its southern end, was within the City.

On the eastern side of the street, below Bream's Buildings and opposite the Law Society, was the original site of the Domus Conversorum founded by King Henry III in the 13th century.

[5][6] The site later became the Public Record Office (which has since become the National Archives), the present Grade II* listed, Gothic Revival building designed by Sir James Pennethorne was built in 1851.