Names: and Their Meaning

Seven Sisters’ Road, Holloway, received its name from seven trees, said to have been planted by seven sisters, near Tottenham, six of which grew erect; but the seventh presented a deformed appearance, because the sister who had planted it was a cripple. Archway Road, Highgate, is spanned by the wonderful high arch completed in 1813. Flask Walk, Hampstead, derived its name from “The Flask,” a picturesque old inn close by. Judges’ Walk, known also as King’s Bench Avenue, was originally so called from a colony of judges and gownsmen of the City, who sought refuge here in tents during the Great Plague in 1665. Fleet Road, Haverstock Hill, affords us a pleasing remembrance of that little river, the Fleet, meandering through the fields in this neighbourhood, and eventually behind the older houses, on its way towards Battle Bridge, the City, and the Thames. Dale Road preserves the memory of Canon Dale, poet, and vicar of St. Pancras. Barrow Road and Barrow Hill Place commemorate the site of a battle between the Britons and Romans, and the sepulchre of the slain. The spot was formerly defined by a farmhouse that stood upon the actual barrow known as “Barrow Hill.” Abbey Road, St. John’s Wood, points to the existence of the ancient Abbey of the Holy Virgins of St. John the Baptist (see St. John’s Wood). Desborough Place, Harrow Road, received its name from Desborough House, the site of which it adjoins, and where lived John Dessborough (or Desbrowe), the brother-in-law of Oliver Cromwell. Church Street, Paddington, was so called from the parish church of St. Mary, situated on the open space still known as Paddington Green. Nottingham Place was designated after the county in which the chief landed estates of the Duke of Portland are situated; and Weymouth Street, in compliment to Lord Weymouth, son-in-law of the same nobleman. Paddington Street was formerly a narrow lane leading northwards into Paddington Fields.

Craven Hill Gardens and Craven Road, Bayswater, occupy the site of the mansion and grounds of the Lords Craven previous to the year 1700, when they migrated to Craven House, Drury Lane. Southwick Crescent and Southwick Place received their names from Southwick Park, the seat of the Thistlewayte family, formerly the joint lessees of Paddington Manor. Orme Square perpetuates the memory of Mr. Orme, a print-seller, of Bond Street, who bought the ground and commenced the building of the Square in question. Ladbroke Grove and Ladbroke Square likewise bear the name of the Ladbroke family, who built upon the land leased to them for the purpose. Norland Square, Notting Hill, covers the site of Norland House, a small, wooded estate, owned by one of the Drummonds, the bankers, of Charing Cross, in the reign of William IV. Kensington Gore took its name from Gore House, the residence of the Countess of Blessington, long the central literary and social attraction in the Metropolis. In Ennismore Place, the second title of the Earl of Listowel, the ground landlord, is repeated. On part of the site of Cromwell Road stood the house and grounds owned by Richard Cromwell, the son of Oliver Cromwell. Gloucester Road derived its title from Oxford Lodge, the residence of the late Duchess of Gloucester, in the immediate vicinity. Campden Hill defines the estate belonging to Campden House, still standing in Campden Square, and originally occupied by Sir Baptist Hicks, who built Hicks’ Hall, Clerkenwell, in 1612, afterwards created Viscount Campden. Warwick Road, Warwick Gardens, Holland Road, and Earl’s Court Road are spacious modern thoroughfares, designated after the Earls of Warwick, the original owners of the estate known as Earl’s Court, now in the possession of the Holland family. Addison Road reminds us that Joseph Addison, the poet, essayist, and dramatist, married the Dowager Countess of Warwick, and died in Holland House.

Cromwell Place, Putney, stands upon the site of Mr. Champion’s house, the lodging of General Ireton, Oliver Cromwell’s son-in-law, in 1646. King’s Road, Chelsea, was named in honour of Charles II., who caused it to be made passable, chiefly for the benefit of the frequenters of “The World’s End,” then a popular house of entertainment. Cheyne Row and Cheyne Walk perpetuate the memory of Lord Cheyne, who held the Manor of Chelsea in the seventeenth century. Justice Walk formerly contained the residence of a magistrate. Marlborough Square and Marlborough Road derived their names from a neighbouring tavern displaying the sign of “The Duke of Marlborough”; and Keppel Street, from “The Admiral Keppel,” situated at the corner of Fulham Road. Cadogan Street and Cadogan Square remind us that the manor of Chelsea came into the possession of the first Earl of Cadogan by right of his marriage with the heiress of Sir Hans Sloane, after whom Sloane Square, Sloane Street, and Hans Place were named. Danvers Street was so called after Sir John Danvers, who introduced the Italian style of horticulture into England during the reign of Elizabeth. The street covers the site of Danvers House in which he lived.

Grosvenor Place and Grosvenor Street received their names from Sir Thomas Grosvenor, the ancestor of the Duke of Westminster, the ground landlord of the district collectively known as Belgravia; Eccleston Street and Eccleston Square from Eccleston, in Cheshire, the county in which the landed property of the Grosvenors chiefly lies; and Belgrave Square and Belgrave Street from the Viscountcy of Belgravia, the second title of the Duke of Westminster before he was raised to his superior titles. Ebury Street and Ebury Square mark the site of Ebury or Eabury Farm, an ancient manor inherited by Miss Mary Davies, already referred to when speaking of Davies Street, Oxford Street, and carried into the family of the Grosvenors by her marriage. Chester Square reproduces the name of the city near which Eaton Hall, which gives its title to Eaton Square, the principal seat of the Duke of Westminster, is situated. Lupus Street perpetuates a favourite Christian name in the Grosvenor family, retained in honour of Henry Lupus, created Earl of Chester soon after the Conquest. St. George’s Square was designated after the adjacent church dedicated to St. George. Lowndes Street, Lowndes Square, and Chesham Street, Pimlico, are indebted for their title to Lowndes of the Bury, near Chesham, Buckinghamshire, the ground landlord, a descendant of William Lowndes, secretary to the Treasury during the reign of Queen Anne.

Vauxhall Bridge Road forms a connecting link between Vauxhall Bridge and Victoria Street, a gloomy modern thoroughfare named in honour of our present sovereign. Birdcage Walk comprised the place where the aviary of Charles II. was permanently located, under the superintendence of Master Edward Storey, the royal keeper, whose house covered the spot now styled Storey’s Gate in his memory. Queen Anne’s Gate derived its name from Queen Anne’s Square, in whose reign this characteristic enclosure was built. York Street was designated in honour of Frederick, Duke of York, son of George III., who lived in it for a short time. Delahay Street compliments a family of this name long resident in St. Margaret’s parish. Rochester Row was denominated after the Bishopric of Rochester, anciently combined with the Deanery of Westminster, but separated in the reign of George III. New Bridge Street leads to the handsome bridge over the Thames, opened May 24, 1862. Cannon Row is properly “Canon Row,” formerly the residence of the Canons of St. Stephen’s Chapel. King Street received its title because it was the direct road between the Court and the Abbey. Princes Street, a modern thoroughfare, occupying the site of Old Westminster Mews, was so called on account of its proximity to King Street. Parker Street perpetuates the memory of Archbishop Parker, one of the principal benefactors of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. This street was formerly known as Bennet Street, the old name of the College. Great George Street covers the ground originally occupied by the stable-yard of “The George and the Dragon,” a well-known coaching house in bygone days. The name of Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, reminds us of the protection which in olden times was afforded to criminals of all degrees so long as they remained beneath the shadow of a monastery or cathedral. Abingdon Street contained the mansion of the Earls of Abingdon. Holywell Street owes its title to the name of an estate of the Grosvenors in Flintshire, whose town residence was displaced by the formation of this street. Barton Street and Cowley Street were both built by Barton Booth, the actor; to the former he gave his Christian name, to the latter the name of his favourite poet. Marsham Street, Earl Street, and Romney Street comprise the property of Charles Marsham, Earl of Romney; while Old Pye Street and New Pye Street commemorate the existence of Sir Robert Pye, who lived in the more modern portion of this neighbourhood known as The New Way. Great Peter Street recalls the fact that the Abbey of Westminster was dedicated to St. Peter. Vine Street marks the situation of the vineyard, and Orchard Street the orchard, anciently possessed by the Abbots. Tothill Street received its name from Tothill Fields, comprising the old manor of Tothill, a corruption of Toothill, or beacon hill; toot being derived from the Welsh twt, a rising. Horseferry Road needs no comment. Millbank derived its name from an old mansion belonging to the Grosvenor family, that stood on the site of an old mill which alone graced this portion of the Thames bank.

On the site of Carlisle Lane, Lambeth, stood Carlisle House, the residence of the Bishops of Rochester from the thirteenth century downwards. Marlborough Road, Peckham, covers the ground plot of a Marlborough House, the residence of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. Hanover Street was named in compliment to the accession of George I. Basing Yard, at the rear of Hanover Street, occupies the site of Basing House, well known during the Restoration. Rye Lane leads to the Rye, or Common. Friern Place and Friern Road define the locality of Friern Manor; while Lordship Lane owes its designation to the lordship of the manor. Effra Road, Camberwell, marks the course of the little river Effra, now hidden, like the Fleet, from public view. Newington Butts denotes the archery grounds, formerly situated in the new town in the meadow. Holland Street, Southwark, preserves the name, at least in part, of an old manor, described as “Holland’s Leaguer.” Great Suffolk Street recalls the existence of Suffolk House, the residence of George Brandon, Duke of Suffolk; Winchester Yard, of Winchester House, the habitation of the Bishops of Winchester; and Sumner Street, of Dr. Sumner, Bishop of Winchester, one of the last occupants of the house just referred to. Mill Lane reminds us of an old windmill that stood here in less prosaic times; and Mint Street, of the Mint established by Henry VIII. in Suffolk House, when that property became demised to the Crown. Stony Street and Stones End received their names from the stony nature of the ground; the former having been the Roman continuation of Watling Street, south of the Thames, in a direct line to Dover. Bear Garden, situated at the corner of Sumner Street, marks the exact position of the old Paris Garden, a bear-baiting establishment, opened by Robert de Paris in the time of Richard I. Bankside, or the south strand of the Thames, is historically interesting on account of its theatrical associations.

Old Kent Road, which branches off at “The Bricklayers’ Arms” into Great Dover Street and Kent Street, forms the great Kentish highway into London. Thomas Street perpetuates the christian name of the philanthropic founder of Guy’s Hospital hard by. Grange Road and Grange Walk occupy the site of an old mansion known as “The Grange.” Spa Road derived its name from a spa, or mineral well, discovered here in the long, long ago. Russell Street preserves the memory of Richard Russell, who, dying here in 1784, left the whole of his estate to neighbouring charities. In Tooley Street lived the three tailors who, according to tradition, presented a petition to the House of Commons that began with the words, “We, the people of England, &c.” During the Commonwealth this street figured in documents as St. Tulie Street, but it is properly designated St. Olaff Street, after the neighbouring church dedicated to St. Olaff or Olave, the Scandinavian hero-prince. Blue Anchor Road and Blue Anchor Lane received their names from “The Blue Anchor,” an old tavern that stood in the latter thoroughfare; while Jamaica Road recalls a similar establishment, formerly situated on the site of Cherry Gardens, a popular place of resort in bygone times, known as “The Jamaica,” after the West Indian Island whence rum was shipped and disembarked on the exact spot where the penny steamboats now land and take up their passengers at Cherry Gardens Pier. Lastly, Evelyn Street, Deptford, was designated in honour of the present head of the Evelyn family, descendants of John Evelyn, the diarist, viz., William J. Evelyn, of Wotton, who built the adjacent Church of St. Luke, in the year 1872.