Unusual London Street Names

The street names of areas can tell us a lot about the history of an area although many names do not mean what you think they might.

Many names date back to the Elizabethan times as are shown here but can also be related to the Saxons.

Many buildings, unfortunately, were destroyed by the Great Fire of London so much of London's history in buildings no longer exists. However street names live on :)

Streets are named after:

- people to celebrate their contribution to the history of this great city,
- events, like fairs,
- areas in which people or traders reside, like candlestick makers or fishmongers,
- interesting facts like the course of rivers or Brooks or to guard the approach to London.

This lane was not something to do with prostitutes (as stated in A Walk around Haunted London) but just very near here was a pit for cock-fighting. However John Wittich who wrote Discovering London Street Names states that it is!

Who is correct? Anyone know?

The gilded boy statue at the corner of this lane was once a part of the pub that used to be situated here named, 'The Fortune of War.'

This lane also stands at the junction of Giltspur Street along with Pie Corner, one of the well known areas in London because of the Great Fire of London in 1666.

This street was found in the 12th Century named as Fridei Strete.

Friday Street was named after the Friday Market of Fishmongers who sold fish to the public who ate fish on Fridays in memory of Good Friday.

A number of streets in Britain are named Friday Street but it's doubtful that all were used to sell fish on Friday's.

'To the amazement of foreign tourists and the irritation of Londoners, a large proportion of London's street name signs are unreadable or non-existent, as Christopher Long has discovered...' London's Nameless Streets Evening Standard 06-08-1996

'A unique, made-to-order 255 map jigsaw centred on a place of choice (simply provide an address and Postcode).' London Street Map Puzzle (255 piece)

Abingdon Street SW1
Named after Mary Abingdon who wrote the letter that would lead to the uncovering of the plot to blow up Parliament in 1605.

Andre Street E8
Major John Andre was unjustly hanged as a spy in 1780 when he was captured. He'd been on a secret mission for Benedict Arnold in the American War of Independence.

Avondale Park W11
This park was formed in 1892. In this year the future Edward VII's elder son, the Duke of Clarence and Avondale, died of influenza. The Duke of Clarence was implicated in the crimes of Jack the Ripper.

Lamb's Conduit Street
William Lambe (a very wealthy philanthropist) built a conduit on the land around the area as a fresh supply of water.

The Bleeding Heart Yard is the scene of a gruesome murder of Lady Elizabeth Hatton although many state that this is an urban myth.

The morning after a grand ball (27 January 1626), she was found on the cobblestone in the yard with her heart still pumping blood from her torn body. The yards' name commemorates her murder.

It's more likely that the area was named after a sign dating back to the Reformation that was displayed on a pub called the Bleeding Heart in nearby Charles Street. The sign showed the heart of the Virgin Mary pierced by five swords.

Bleeding Heart Yard at:
Wikipedia
Shady Old Lady
Wikimapia

Bear Gardens SE1
Gardens in which bear-baiting took place. Bears were chained to a post in the middle of the gardens after being starved. Dogs were then set upon them whilst spectators gambled on the outcome.

Fair Street, SE1
Named after the once famous Horseley Down Fair.

Knightrider Street, EC4
Knights rode down this street from the Tower of London.
Little Britain
The site of Booksellers and publishers. Books bear the imprint of sold in Little Britain...
Recovery Street
Shoulder of Mutton Alley
Hanging Sword Alley
Bollocks Terrace
Ha-Ha Road
An invisible fence or hedge.
Crooked Usage
Bird-in-bush Road

Wardrobe Terrace is likely to be very close to Wardrobe Court, the site of Edward III house for storing the royal state robes.

The Master of the Wardrobe at the time was the Earl of Sandwich (another unusual name!)

The house was later burnt down by the Great Fire of London.

Birdcage Walk SW1
Owes its name to the aviary owned by Charles II which contained exotic birds including a crane with a wooden leg.

Barbican EC1
A barbican was a high tower built on a mound. A guard was placed inside the tower to watch over the city and the surrounding countryside.

Bow Street WC2
This street is shaped like a longbow and is the only street in London to have the lights outside the police station in white. This was ordered by Queen Victoria.

Clink Street SE1
Clink Street houses the famous prison named the Clink. Its name is derived from the French word 'clenche' or 'clinque' meaning catch on the outside of the door as opposed to the inside.

Cowcross Street EC1
Named after the poor cows who had to cross here on their way to the slaughterhouses and Smithfield market.

Theobalds Road
This was a track that led to the Stuart kings' hunting ground at Theobalds Park, Hertfordshire.

Held in the churchyard of St Bartholomew the Great was the principal cloth fair in England at the time of Elizabeth I.

To ensure fair trading, Members of the Merchant Taylors' and Mercers' companies were present.

Connected to this Cloth Fair the Merchant Members were also set up at Piepowder Court to ensure the cloth trading law was given to the passing traders. Piepowder comes from the French for 'dusty feet'.