List of eponymous roads in London

The following is a partial list of eponymous roads in London - that is, roads named after people - with notes on the link between the road and the person.

This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Road Borough Named after Comments Coordinates
Addison Road Kensington and Chelsea Joseph Addison English essayist, poet, playwright and politician (1672–1719). Also Addison Avenue, nearby.[1] 51°30′09″N 0°12′33″W / 51.5025°N 0.2093°W
Adler Street Tower Hamlets Nathan Marcus Adler Chief Rabbi of Great Britain 1845–1890 51°30′57″N 0°04′03″W / 51.5157°N 0.0674°W
Albemarle Street Westminster Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle Previous owner of the property on which the road was built in 1683-4 51°30′33″N 0°08′32″W / 51.5091°N 0.1421°W
Albert Embankment Lambeth Prince Albert Consort of Queen Victoria. The Embankment was built between 1866 and 1869, under the direction of Joseph Bazalgette 51°29′28″N 0°07′21″W / 51.4910°N 0.1225°W
Baker Street Westminster William Baker Builder who laid the street out in the 18th century 51°31′12″N 0°09′24″W / 51.5200°N 0.1566°W
Baylis Road Lambeth Lilian Baylis (1874–1937) Theatrical producer and manager of the Old Vic Theatre, located on the road. Previously called Oakley Street. 51°30′02″N 0°06′39″W / 51.50051°N 0.11091°W
Beauchamp Place Kensington and Chelsea Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp Beauchamp Place, on the site of the road, was also a 16th-century mansion of the Seymour family, whose titles included Viscount Beauchamp[2] 51°29′52″N 0°09′54″W / 51.4977°N 0.1650°W
Bedford Square Camden Dukes of Bedford All named after the Dukes of Bedford on whose land they were built[3] Much of the area is still owned by the Bedford Estate. Other examples include Bedford Row, Bedford Avenue, Bedford Street, and Bedford Place. 51°31′07″N 0°07′51″W / 51.5187°N 0.1309°W
Berkeley Square Westminster Berkeley family The family's Berkeley House had stood nearby until 1733 51°30′35″N 0°08′45″W / 51.50964°N 0.14578°W
Black Prince Road Lambeth Edward, the Black Prince Son of King Edward III 51°29′31″N 0°07′12″W / 51.4920°N 0.1200°W
Bob Marley Way Lambeth Bob Marley Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician, one of the most widely known performer of reggae music[4] 51°27′33″N 0°06′32″W / 51.4592°N 0.1090°W
Bond Street Westminster Sir Thomas Bond Property developer of Bond Street, Dover Street and Albemarle Street, from 1683 51°30′45″N 0°08′41″W / 51.5126°N 0.1448°W
Bouverie Street City of London Earls of Radnor The Pleydell-Bouveries, Earls of Radnor, were landlords of this area.[5] 51°30′48″N 0°06′29″W / 51.51345°N 0.10796°W
Cadogan Place Kensington and Chelsea Earl Cadogan The road is built on land acquired by Charles Cadogan, 2nd Baron Cadogan on his marriage to Sir Hans Sloane's daughter. Also Cadogan Lane, running parallel. 51°29′48″N 0°09′27″W / 51.49663°N 0.15753°W
Cavendish Square Westminster Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Mortimer née Henrietta Cavendish Holles The square and adjoining streets were named after the various relatives of Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, and of his son, Edward. Henrietta was Edward's wife[6] 51°30′59″N 0°08′42″W / 51.5165°N 0.1450°W
Caxton Street Westminster William Caxton English merchant, diplomat, writer and responsible for the introduction of the printing press to England; the first such press was established in 1476 in Westminster, close to the present road.[7] 51°29′55″N 0°08′06″W / 51.4986°N 0.1350°W
Charles II Street Westminster King Charles II 51°30′30″N 0°07′57″W / 51.5082°N 0.1325°W
Charlotte Street Camden Queen Charlotte Married to King George III in 1761; the street was formed in 1763 51°31′11″N 0°08′09″W / 51.5196°N 0.1359°W
Chester Terrace Camden Earl of Chester One of the titles of George IV before he became king in 1820. The terrace was constructed in 1825[8] 51°31′44″N 0°08′43″W / 51.5290°N 0.1454°W
Cheyne Walk Kensington and Chelsea William Cheyne, 2nd Viscount Newhaven Owned the manor of Chelsea until 1712.[9] 51°28′56″N 0°10′22″W / 51.4823°N 0.17274°W
Cleveland Street Camden 2nd Duke of Cleveland Owner of the estate at the time of the layout of the road[10] 51°31′15″N 0°08′21″W / 51.5209°N 0.1392°W
Connaught Square Westminster Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh Also known as the Earl of Connaught 51°30′52″N 0°09′50″W / 51.51437°N 0.16384°W
Cromwell Road Kensington and Chelsea Oliver Cromwell English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth 51°29′42″N 0°11′00″W / 51.495°N 0.1832°W
Cumberland Terrace Camden Duke of Cumberland Younger brother of King George IV at the time of the terrace's construction, 1826. Also Cumberland Market 51°31′56″N 0°08′47″W / 51.5322°N 0.1464°W
Curzon Street Westminster George Howe, 3rd Viscount Howe Curzon was a family name; George Howe was the ground landlord[11] 51°30′23″N 0°08′59″W / 51.5065°N 0.14982°W
Dacre Street Westminster Lady Anne Dacre Lady Dacre endowed Emmanuel Almshouses which were located nearby. Although now demolished,[12] their legacy continues in the three schools, Westminster City School, Grey Coat Hospital and Emanuel School. 51°29′43″N 0°07′37″W / 51.4952°N 0.1269°W
Dean Bradley Street Westminster George Granville Bradley Dean of Westminster Abbey from 1881. 51°29′43″N 0°07′37″W / 51.4952°N 0.1269°W
Dean Farrar Street Westminster Frederic William Farrar Sometime canon of Westminster Abbey. 51°29′57″N 0°07′55″W / 51.4993°N 0.1320°W
Dean Ryle Street Westminster Herbert Edward Ryle Dean of Westminster Abbey from 1911 51°29′39″N 0°07′36″W / 51.4943°N 0.1268°W
Dorando Close Hammersmith and Fulham Dorando Pietri[13] Famed for finishing first in the marathon 1908 London summer Olympics, but being disqualified for receiving assistance. 51°30′48″N 0°13′45″W / 51.5132°N 0.2291°W
Downing Street Westminster Sir George Downing, 1st Baronet Built by and named after Downing 51°30′12″N 0°07′39″W / 51.5032°N 0.1275°W
Drury Lane Westminster Sir William Drury Knight of the Garter in Queen Elizabeth's reign 51°30′54″N 0°07′22″W / 51.5150°N 0.1228°W
Fitzroy Square Camden Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton The square takes its name from the family name of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, into whose ownership the land passed through his marriage.[14] His descendant Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton developed the area during the late 18th and early 19th century. 51°31′25″N 0°08′25″W / 51.5235°N 0.1404°W
Flowers Close Brent Tommy Flowers Flowers was the designer of the Colossus computer and worked at the Post Office Research Station adjacent to the road. 51°33′42″N 0°14′17″W / 51.56180°N 0.23816°W
Frith Street Westminster Richard Frith Wealthy builder.[15] 51°30′51″N 0°07′55″W / 51.51420°N 0.13190°W
Gainsborough Road Richmond upon Thames Thomas Gainsborough Painter, buried in St. Anne's Church, Kew.[16] 51°28′13″N 0°17′26″W / 51.4704°N 0.2906°W
Garth Road Merton Richard Garth[17] A Sir Richard Garth became the owner and Lord of the Manor of Morden just after the Dissolution of the Monasteries and maintained their connection with the parish for the next four centuries, until the manor was sold by another Sir Richard Garth in 1872.[17] 51°22′58″N 0°13′25″W / 51.3829°N 0.2235°W
George Street Richmond upon Thames King George III Main street of Richmond. Took current name in king's honour 1769. Formerly known as Richmond High Street.[16] 51°27′36″N 0°18′19″W / 51.4601°N 0.3052°W
Golborne Road Kensington and Chelsea Dean Golbourne One time vicar of St. John's Church in Paddington. 51°31′18″N 0°12′32″W / 51.52162°N 0.20881°W
Goodge Street Camden Mr. Goodge Goodge was a speculative builder of the houses which form the street in the late 18th century.[14] 51°31′10″N 0°08′07″W / 51.5195°N 0.1352°W
Great Marlborough Street Westminster John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough 51°30′52″N 0°08′20″W / 51.51440°N 0.13883°W
Gresham Street City of London Thomas Gresham (1519–1579) Created in 1845 and named for a notable sixteenth century city financier 51°30′55″N 0°05′36″W / 51.51537°N 0.09321°W
Grosvenor Square Westminster The Grosvenor Family - Dukes of Westminster[18] Owners of the land on which the Square is built. Also Grosvenor Hill, Grosvenor Street. 51°30′41″N 0°09′05″W / 51.5115°N 0.1514°W
Hallam Street Westminster Henry Hallam English historian[19] 51°31′15″N 0°08′37″W / 51.52079°N 0.14373°W
Hamilton Road Merton Emma Hamilton Mistress of Horatio Nelson, who owned the estate on which the road was later built. See also Nelson Road. 51°25′02″N 0°11′29″W / 51.4171°N 0.1914°W
Hardy Road Merton Thomas Hardy Flag captain of HMS Victory in the time of Horatio Nelson, who owned the estate on which the road was later built. See also Nelson Road. 51°25′02″N 0°11′25″W / 51.4171°N 0.1903°W
Harley Street Westminster Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer Was the 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer and had one son, Edward Harley 51°31′14″N 0°08′52″W / 51.5206°N 0.1477°W
Hatton Garden Camden Christopher Hatton Derives its name from the garden of the bishops of Ely, which was given to Hatton by Elizabeth I in 1581, during a vacancy of the see 51°31′12″N 0°06′30″W / 51.5201°N 0.1084°W
Henriques Street Tower Hamlets Basil Henriques 1890–1961 Location of a social club run by philanthropist Henriques 51°30′50″N 0°03′56″W / 51.51397°N 0.06547°W
Hogarth Lane Hounslow William Hogarth Painter, who is buried in St. Nicolas' Church, Chiswick, and whose house, now a museum, is in the road. 51°29′14″N 0°15′19″W / 51.4871°N 0.2552°W
Hungerford Road Camden Edward Hungerford Also give his name to the Hungerford Bridge and Islington school 51°33′00″N 0°07′31″W / 51.5500°N 0.1254°W
King's Road Kensington and Chelsea Charles II Originally a private road used by the king to travel to Kew 51°29′15″N 0°10′08″W / 51.48737°N 0.168874°W
Jermyn Street Westminster Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans Developed the St. James's area around the year 1667 51°30′31″N 0°08′11″W / 51.5085°N 0.1365°W
John Islip Street Westminster John Islip Abbot of the monastery of Westminster at the time of Henry VIII 51°29′35″N 0°07′39″W / 51.4930°N 0.1275°W
Ladbroke Grove Kensington and Chelsea James Weller Ladbroke Developed the North Kensington area around 1840. Ladbroke Road, Terrace, Square, Gardens, Walk and Crescent are also named after him.[20] 51°31′02″N 0°12′35″W / 51.5171°N 0.2098°W
Leicester Square Westminster Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester Owner of the land on which the square is built, from 1630; ordered by the Privy Council to allow public access to the square. 51°30′37″N 0°07′49″W / 51.5103°N 0.1303°W
Malet Street Camden Sir Edward Malet Married to Lady Ermyntrude Sackville Russell, daughter of Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford who owned much of the surrounding area. 51°31′17″N 0°07′49″W / 51.5214°N 0.1302°W
Manoel Road Richmond upon Thames King Manuel II of Portugal Last king of Portugal, who lived at nearby Fulwell Park House from 1910 (the year of the Portuguese Revolution) until his death in 1932. Manoel is the Portuguese spelling of his name.[21] 51°26′26″N 0°21′37″W / 51.4406°N 0.3603°W
Matthew Parker Street Westminster Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 until 1575 51°30′01″N 0°07′50″W / 51.5002°N 0.1305°W
Meard Street Westminster John Meard, the younger Carpenter, later esquire, who developed it in the 1720s and 1730s.[22] 51°30′48″N 0°07′59″W / 51.51329°N 0.13295°W
Milton Street Islington Mr. Milton Carpenter and builder who in 1830, at the time of the name change, owned the building lease of the street at the time. The street was previously known as Grub Street[23] 51°31′13″N 0°05′27″W / 51.5203°N 0.0908°W
Mortimer Street Westminster Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer Developer of Cavendish Square in London, and the streets around it, from 1715. Amongst his titles were Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, and Baron Harley of Wigmore Castle[6] 51°31′04″N 0°08′25″W / 51.5178°N 0.1403°W
Nelson Road Merton Horatio Nelson Owned the land on which road was later built 51°25′02″N 0°11′21″W / 51.4171°N 0.1893°W
Newton Street Camden Isaac Newton Scientist and mathematician 51°31′01″N 0°07′18″W / 51.51686°N 0.12157°W
Northumberland Avenue Westminster Dukes of Northumberland The Avenue was built in the 1870s on the site of Northumberland House, Home of the Dukes of Northumberland 51°30′24″N 0°07′27″W / 51.5068°N 0.1242°W
Ormond Road Richmond upon Thames Earls of Ormond Owned the land on which the road was later built (1761-1778).[16] 51°27′31″N 0°18′15″W / 51.4585°N 0.3043°W
Oxford Street Westminster Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer Developer of Cavendish Square in London, and the streets around it, from 1715[6] 51°30′49″N 0°09′20″W / 51.5136°N 0.1556°W
Pigott Street Tower Hamlets Francis Pigott Stainsby Conant Together with family, owners of the land on which the road was built[24] 51°30′46″N 0°01′33″W / 51.51287°N 0.02595°W
Pleydell Street City of London Earls of Radnor The Pleydell-Bouveries, Earls of Radnor, were landlords of this area.[25] 51°30′50″N 0°06′30″W / 51.51393°N 0.10822°W
Portland Place Westminster William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland Margaret Bentinck, Duchess of Portland, the daughter of Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer inherited his land and property and married into the Portland family[6] 51°23′57″N 0°04′27″W / 51.3991°N 0.0742°W
Portman Square Westminster Henry William Portman Built between 1674 and 1684 on land belonging to Portman 51°30′57″N 0°09′21″W / 51.51575°N 0.15581°W
Pope's Grove Richmond upon Thames Alexander Pope Poet who owned nearby Pope's Grotto, and is buried in St. Mary's Church, Twickenham. Pope's Avenue is also named after him. 51°26′31″N 0°20′08″W / 51.4420°N 0.3356°W
Praed Street Westminster William Praed Chairman of the company which built the canal basin which lies just to the north 51°31′01″N 0°10′23″W / 51.5170°N 0.1731°W
Prince Consort Road Westminster Albert, Prince Consort Part of Albertopolis 51°29′59″N 0°10′37″W / 51.49986°N 0.17703°W
Pepys Street City of London Samuel Pepys 1923 renaming; Pepys lived there during the Great Fire of London.[26] 51°30′39″N 0°04′41″W / 51.51076°N 0.07804°W
Queen Anne's Gate Westminster Queen Anne Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1702, and after the Act of Union, Queen of Great Britain until 1714 51°30′02″N 0°07′59″W / 51.5005°N 0.1330°W
Queensway Westminster Queen Victoria named Queen's Road in honour of Victoria, who had been born at nearby Kensington Palace. Later renamed. 51°30′47″N 0°11′15″W / 51.51308°N 0.18763°W
Regent Street Westminster King George IV Named c. 1811, when George IV was Prince regent 51°30′39″N 0°08′19″W / 51.5108°N 0.1387°W
Rathbone Place Camden Captain Rathbone One Captain Rathbone was the builder of the road and properties thereon, from about 1718[14] 51°30′39″N 0°08′19″W / 51.5108°N 0.1387°W
Russell Square Camden Dukes of Bedford Family name of the Dukes of Bedford who owned the land[3] 51°31′18″N 0°07′34″W / 51.5217°N 0.1261°W
Savile Row Westminster Lady Dorothy Savile Wife of the Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, architect and developer.[27] 51°30′40″N 0°08′26″W / 51.51109°N 0.14059°W
Savoy Place Westminster Peter II, Count of Savoy Gave his name to the Savoy Palace, which stood on the site of the road 51°30′33″N 0°07′15″W / 51.50924°N 0.12093°W
Shaftesbury Avenue Westminster Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury Shaftesbury was an active philanthropist, and as a Member of Parliament he was responsible for several reforming acts designed to alleviate the suffering of the poor. The new Avenue replaced slum housing, and was finished in the year of his death, 1886. 51°30′43″N 0°07′55″W / 51.5120°N 0.1320°W
Sloane Square Kensington and Chelsea Hans Sloane His heirs owned the land on which the square and nearby Sloane Street are built.[28] 51°29′33″N 0°09′26″W / 51.4925°N 0.1572°W
Smith Square Westminster Sir James Smith/the Smith Family Owners of the land on which the square was built, c. 1726 51°29′45″N 0°07′37″W / 51.4959°N 0.1270°W
Southampton Row Camden Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton Also Southampton Street. 51°31′11″N 0°07′20″W / 51.5198°N 0.1221°W
Steve Biko Way Hounslow Steve Biko South African anti-apartheid activist 51°28′04″N 0°22′08″W / 51.4679°N 0.3689°W
Throgmorton Street City of London Nicholas Throckmorton Chief banker of England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth 51°30′54″N 0°05′11″W / 51.5149°N 0.0865°W
Vere Street Westminster Earls of Oxford A family name of the area's owners at the time of its construction, the Earls of Oxford[29] 51°30′54″N 0°08′50″W / 51.51499°N 0.14722°W
Victoria Street Westminster Queen Victoria The road runs from Westminster into an area of London known as Victoria 51°29′53″N 0°08′01″W / 51.4980°N 0.1335°W
Victoria Embankment Westminster Queen Victoria 51°30′30″N 0°07′15″W / 51.5084°N 0.1207°W
Villiers Street Westminster George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham The Street was built in the 1670s on the site of York House, Villiers' Mansion 51°30′29″N 0°07′26″W / 51.5080°N 0.1238°W
Vincent Square Westminster William Vincent Dean of Westminster Abbey who caused the square to be carved out for the use of Westminster School boys, when Tothill Fields was being developed 51°29′36″N 0°08′06″W / 51.4932°N 0.1351°W
Wardour Street Westminster Archibald Wardour Architect of several buildings on the street 51°30′51″N 0°08′05″W / 51.5142°N 0.1346°W
Warren Street Camden Anne Warren Wife of Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton, the land owner responsible for the development of the area[14] - see Fitzroy Square 51°31′26″N 0°08′27″W / 51.5238°N 0.1409°W
White Kennett Street City of London White Kennett Bishop of Peterborough (1707), and previously rector of the nearly St Botolph's Aldgate 51°30′55″N 0°04′38″W / 51.5154°N 0.0773°W
Whitfield Street Camden George Whitefield Builder of Whitefield's Tabernacle, in the vicinity, in 1756[14] 51°31′16″N 0°08′10″W / 51.5212°N 0.1361°W
Wilberforce Road Hackney William Wilberforce British politician, a philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade 51°33′48″N 0°05′54″W / 51.5633°N 0.0983°W
William IV Street Westminster King William IV 51°30′34″N 0°07′31″W / 51.5095°N 0.1252°W
Wilton Crescent Kensington and Chelsea Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton Second son of Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster; the road forms part of the Grovesnor estate. Also Wilton Row, Wilton Place, nearby 51°30′03″N 0°09′20″W / 51.50086°N 0.15543°W

See also

References

  1. ↑ Addison Avenue, W14, The London Encyclopaedia, Pan MacMillan / Britain Express
  2. ↑ Melissa Franklin Harkrider, Women, Reform and Community in Early Modern England, p. 47
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Russell Square and Bedford Square in Old and New London: Volume 4 (1878), pp. 564-572, from British History Online
  4. ↑ "2007 Pop Conference Bios/Abstracts". Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. 2007.
  5. ↑ Smith, A. (1970). Dictionary of City of London Street Names. David & Charles. p. 27. ISBN 0-7153-4880-9.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Oxford Street and its northern tributaries: Part 2 of 2 in Old and New London: Volume 4 (1878), pp. 441-467, from British History Online
  7. ↑ Westminster: Modern Westminster, in Old and New London: Volume 4 (1878), pp. 35-46, from British History Online
  8. ↑ Weinreb, B. and Hibbert, C. (ed)(1983) The London Encyclopaedia Macmillan ISBN 0-333-57688-8
  9. ↑ The Gentleman's magazine, Volume 108
  10. ↑ Survey of London: volume 21: The parish of St Pancras part 3: Tottenham Court Road & neighbourhood (1949), pp. 1-6
  11. ↑ Mayfair at British History Online
  12. ↑ Victoria Street, London-Footprints.co.uk
  13. ↑ Did you know - walk 8 from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, retrieved 10 April 2008
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Tottenham Court Road in Old and New London: Volume 4 (1878), pp. 467-480, from British History Online
  15. ↑ Weinreb, Ben; Hibbert, Christopher (1993). The London Encyclopaedia (revised ed.). London: Papermac. pp. 303–304. ISBN 0-333-57688-8.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Dunbar, Janet. A Prospect of Richmond (1977 ed.). George Harrap. pp. 199–209.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Morden in A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4 (1912), pp. 235-37, from British History Online
  18. ↑ Grosvenor Square and its neighbourhood in Old and New London: Volume 4 (1878), pp. 338-345, from British History Online
  19. ↑ Melvyn Bragg, In Our Time, BBC Radio 4, 30 June 2011
  20. ↑ Ben Weinreb and Christopher Hibbert. The London Encyclopædia (1991 ed.). p. 454.
  21. ↑ "King Manoel II of Portugal - The Twickenham Museum". Twickenham Museum. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  22. ↑ Sheppard, F. H. W. (1966). "The Pitt Estate in Dean Street: Meard Street". Survey of London: volumes 33 and 34: St Anne Soho. pp. 238–246.
  23. ↑ 'Milk Street - Mint Street' in A Dictionary of London (1918)
  24. ↑ East India Dock Road, North side at British History Online
  25. ↑ Smith, A. (1970). Dictionary of City of London Street Names. David & Charles. p. 161. ISBN 0-7153-4880-9.
  26. ↑ Smith, A. (1970). Dictionary of City of London Street Names. David & Charles. p. 159. ISBN 0-7153-4880-9.
  27. ↑ Weinreb, Ben; Hibbert, Christopher (1983). The London Encyclopaedia. Macmillan. p. 772. ISBN 978-0-333-57688-5.
  28. ↑ British History Online: British-history.ac.uk; 2004
  29. ↑ Peter Cunningham (1850). Hand-book of London: past and present. John Murray. p. 521.

External links