Byward Street was laid out between 1895 and 1906.
Byward Street was built because of the construction of the District Line underneath required the demolition of the older Black Swan Court which itself had been built the successor to a Roman thoroughfare.
It provided access to the Crown Gate of the Byward Tower. A byword was a password spoken to and by beefeaters.
A number of retail outlets and restaurants now line Byward Street. All Bar One occupies the building that was Mark Lane Station and its former access provides a subway under the road.