street names

Does anyone know how to find the origins of street names in SE1. Some are obvious while others are a mystery. And how are names choosen?

Some interesting links, and some good links off these sites. Doesn't quite answer your question but explains why street names changed in 1888.

http://www.bermondseyhistory.com/

http://www.gendocs.demon.co.uk/lon-str.html

http://users.bathspa.ac.uk/greenwood/index.html

http://www.thrale.com/history/english/hester_and_henry/brewery/index.php

A

I have researched the origins of 40 street names in the Waterloo area. It is not exhaustive, but that you may find it useful:

http://www.southbanklondon.com/walk_this_way/building.asp

Lambeth and Southwark Local Studies Libraries also have a number of books that cover street name origins, although many of them do not go very far south of the river.

John

If you want to research street names you could start at the Local Studies Library, The John Harvard Library, in Borough High Street. Speak to Stephen Humphries or Steven Potter.

As with many places, street names can give you an idea of what went on in that area. If you look at some of the streets off Bermondsey Street (Leathermarket St, Tanner St, Morocco St, Lamb Walk) you can make the connection with tanning which was, until the first half of the 20th century, one of the major employers in the area.

Abbey Street, the Grange and Grange Walk are references to what used to be the general location of Bermondsey Abbey.

Other street names can be chosen to honour individuals and Brunel Way, Salter Road and Mandela Way are examples of that theme. Whilst the Local Authority will confirm a street name, members of the public can lobby for a particualr name and, at times, a change of name.

Regards

Niall Connolly