Fisher's Folly was a large mansion on Bishopsgate Street, in

Bishopsgate Bishopsgate was one of the eastern gates in London's former defensive wall. The gate gave its name to the Bishopsgate Ward of the City of London. The ward is traditionally divided into ''Bishopsgate Within'', inside the line wall, and ''Bishop ...

, London, built by Jasper Fisher in the 16th century. In his 1598 ''Survey of London,'' Stow reports that the home was "so large and sumptuosly builded" by a man deeply in debt that it became known as Fisher's Folly.Nelson, Alan H. (2003), ''Monstrous Adversary: the life of Edward de Vere,17th Earl of Oxford, Liverpool University Press'', , p 231. Despite his own excessive debt, Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford bought the mansion in 1580. Oxford's biographer, Alan H. Nelson, quotes Stow's 1598 description of the house as "farre more large and beautifull" than its neighbors "with Gardens of pleasure, bowling Alleys, and such like." The Queen lodged at Fisher's Folly, though it's unclear whether she stayed at the home "before, during, or after Oxford's approximately eight-year-tenure." William Cornwallis (c. 1545 – 1611) purchased the home from Oxford in 1588. Stow reports that a "Roger Manars"—presumably

Roger Manners Roger Manners, 5th Earl of Rutland (6 October 1576 – 26 June 1612) was the eldest surviving son of John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland and his wife, Elizabeth ''nee'' Charleton (d. 1595). He travelled across Europe, took part in military ca ...

—owned the property by 1603. In the 17th century, the Earls of Devonshire owned it. By 1773, it was gone. the location is still called Devonshire Square. It and nearby

Devonshire Street Devonshire Street is a street in the City of Westminster, London. Adjoining Harley Street, it is known for the number of medical establishments it contains. The street is named after the 5th Duke of Devonshire, who was related to the ground l ...

and

Devonshire Place Devonshire Place is a street in the City of Westminster, London, that runs from Marylebone Road in the north to Devonshire Street in the south. A number of literary and society figures have lived in the street. At the north of the street is The L ...

all take their names from the Earls of Devonshire who called the place home more than three centuries ago.

References

{{coord, 51, 31, 00.9, N, 0, 04, 49.3, W, region:GB, display=title Buildings and structures in the City of London